172 ■ CARNIVORA. 



ship. In 1810, 21,367 South Sea Seal-sldns were sold 

 in London. 



On the 5th of March, 1812, 2,500 were sold at 22s. 6d. 

 to 25s. In 1816, 20,776 were sold at 6s. to 8s. In 

 1819, 11,923 ; and in 1821-2, 320,000 are said to have 

 been imported from the South Shetland Islands. 



The value of the skin has enhanced of late years. A 

 few years ago 212s. was paid for large pups. 



A few years ago a schooner or so left New London in 

 the United States for South Georgia, sometimes return- 

 ing with a few hundred or thousand skins, and some- 

 times with but six or eight. The supply has since been 

 gradually diminishing, till only 200 skins were imported 

 in 1887. The last few schooners seem to have started 

 from Sandy Point in the Straits of Magellan, but for the 

 last few years this fishery has been abandoned owing to 

 the risks attendant on it. One year a crew was left a 

 whole season in these inhospitable regions. 



The general colour is light grey with a beautiful 

 silvery hue ; the cheeks and neck are whitish ; the colour 

 of the sides and belly behind the flippers is deep, bright, 

 rich brown. The under fur is extremely thick and 

 abundant, of a reddish or deep pink colour. In the 

 smaller animals this under fur is white. The pelt is 

 rather thick and spongy. The ears are short ; the 

 whiskers are strong ; and the flippers placed about the 

 centre of the body. 



This Seal closely resembles that of the Kerguelen 

 and Crozet Islands {Otaria gazella). 



The South Georgian Seal is rather yellower than the 

 South Shetland, having yellow cheeks ; it appears to be 

 intermediate between the South Shetland and the 

 Crozet Island Seals. 



