DISTINCTION BETWEEN HERDS. 93 



of which is readily distinguishable from that of the Pribilof herd, aud 

 that the two herds do not intermingle. 



Deponent further says that the distinction between the skins of the 

 several catches is so marked that in his judgment 

 he would, for instance, have had no difficulty had Alfred Fraser, p. 558. 

 there been included among 100,000 skins in the 



Alaska catch 1,000 skins of the Copper catch in distinguishing the 

 1,000 Copper skins and separating them from the 99,000 Alaska skins, 

 or that any other person with equal or less experience in the handling 

 of kins would be equally able to distinguish them. 



In the pursuit of my business I have had an opportunity to buy and 

 examine fur-seals taken from the Commander Is- 

 lands, and can readily distinguish them from the George Liebes,<p. 511. 

 northwest coast catch and those taken from the 



Pribilof Islands. They are evidently a distinct and separate herd, as 

 the foundation of the fur is much coarser, and at the same time does 

 not cover the belly 'as thickly as on the Alaska seal and is of very much 

 less value. The proof of this is that the Commander Island skins 

 bring 30 per cent less in the market than the Alaska skins. From my 

 knowledge and experience in the purchase and handling of fur-seal 

 skins I know that the skins taken from seals along the coast and those 

 taken from the Pribilof Islands belong to the same herd. In buying 

 the skins taken from seals caught by hunters in the Bering Sea, the 

 price is usually made for the lot as it runs without any limitation as to 

 yearlings, the yearlings not averaging more than 2 per cent, whereas 

 the coast skins are always bought with a limitation as to yearlings, one 

 price being made for the skins and the other for the yearlings. In these 

 lots the yearlings usually average 10 per cent. 



I herewith attach samples of dressed and dyed fur-seal skins of the 

 Alaska seals, labeled as follows: 



Exhibit No. 1, showing the teats on the belly of a virgin female. 



Exhibit No. 2, showing the teats on a cow heavy with pup. 



Exhibit No. 3, showing teats on a cow suckling pups. 



Exhibit No. 4, showing teats on a batchelor seal. 



Exhibit No. 5, showing the teats on a wig. 



The seals to which I have thus far had reference are known to myself 

 and to the trade as the Northwest Coast Seals, 

 sometimes also called Victorias. This herd be- Isaac Liebcs, p. 455. 

 longs solely to the Pribilof Islands, and is easily 



distinguishable by the fur from the fur-seals of the other northern rook- 

 eries, and still easier from those of the south. All expert seal-skin 

 assorters are able to tell one from the other of either of these different 

 herds. Each has its own characteristics and values. 



I have found that the Russian skins were flat and smaller, and some- 

 what different in color in the under wool than 

 those caught on the American side. In ray opinion Sidney Liebes,p. 516. 

 they are of an inferior quality. The Alaska skins 



are larger and the hair is much finer. The color of the under wool is 

 also different. I have no difficulty in distinguishing one skin from the 

 other. I am of the opinion that they belo ng to an entirely separate 

 and distinct herd. 



