416 RESULTS. 



glance, from the shape of the skins, texture of the fur, and development 

 of the teats. 

 I have read the affidavit of John J. Phelan, verified the 18th day of 

 June, 1892. I was present at the examination of 

 Chas. E. McClennen, P . sea l-skms therein referred to. While Phelan in- 

 spected all of these seal-skins I assisted him in 

 the inspection of about three fourths of them. I 

 know that of those we inspected jointly none were improperly classed 

 as the skins of female animals. 



I was visiting in San Francisco in the winter of 1890-'91, and I worked 



in a fur store during several months of my stay 



AntonMelovedoff,j). 144. there, and I was called on to handle and inspect 



thousands of the skins taken by schooners in 



Bering Sea, and they were nearly all cow sealskins. 



I assort the furs into different classes and qualities and usually divide 

 them into four grades — first, second, third, and 

 Chestoqua Peterson, p. fourth 



The first class is composed mostly of the skins 

 of full-grown cows. I distinguish the skins of males from those of 

 cows because the skins of the cows have white whiskers and those of 

 males black whiskers. 



The second class I place the skins of younger seals that are 2 years 

 old and over. They all have black whiskers, both male and female, 

 except perhaps a few seals, whose whiskers are beginning to turn 

 white. 



The third class I place the skins of all seals that are less than 2 years 

 old, excepting the gray pups. 



The fourth class I put the gray pups. 



The third and fourth classes are about half male and half female. 

 About one-third of all the skins taken here are graded as first-class 

 skins, and are mostly female skins. In former years the Indians would 

 take a greater proportion of pups than they do now. I know this be- 

 cause of the skins that are offered for sale now. In the schooner James 

 G. Swan this year the Indians captured 198 skins, and among the whole 

 lot there were only 2 skins of pups. The seals taken far off the shore 

 are larger than those caught near the coast or in the straits. 



In buying the catch of schooners engaged in the sealing business, 



I have observed that fully 75 j)er cent of them 



B. E. stern fete, p. 522. were females and had either given birth to their 



young or were heavy in pup when killed, which 



was easily observed by the width of the skin of the belly and the 



small head and development of the teat. 



While the Northwest Coast catches have of late years placed upon 



the market comparatively cheap skins, and in that 



Geo. H. Treadiveli, p. wny perhaps benefited my particular business, 



yet I recognize the fact that such benefit can only 



be of temporary duration, for I have always noticed that these catches 



are largely composed oi female skins, and I know that to kill female 



animals seriously impairs the herd. 



