202 CARNIVOEA. 



there would be a greater number of larger skins. The 

 fishing would then be able to recover itself. 



The small skins realize at times hardly more than the 

 price of some of the Hair Seals, but a few shillings being 

 paid for them. The large pups, i.e., the three-year- 

 old animals, fetch about 50s. to 60s. The " wigs " or 

 bulls are very similar to the Cape Horn, and are worth 

 only a few shillings, being fit for little more than leather. 

 Skins with no fur are sometimes met with. The pelt of 

 this Seal, like that of the Cape Horn, is thin and rather 

 spongy. Many skins of both these Seals are washed, 

 and exported to Eussia for use with the hair unremoved. 

 The Lobos Island skins arrive in London in October, 

 November, and January. The Falkland Islands Seal, 

 sometimes classed as Otaria jiihata, attains to an enor- 

 mous size, a good many reaching 20 feet, and the skins 

 often weighing 65| pounds. These Seals delight in 

 rough stormy weather. They are said to be becoming 

 scarce. The price of the skins varies from 2s. 6d. to 

 15s. 6d. Several of this species have been taught to 

 perform tricks in the Zoological Gardens. Many skins 

 are used for leather, but some are used for fur pur- 

 poses, the latter being mostly pups, while the large 

 and heavy skins are used for leather. The aged males 

 here appear to have an island to themselves wherein 

 to end their days, like the Callorhinus iirsinus, and 

 Steller's Sea-Lion in the Pribylov Islands. 



