30 



FUR-SEAL HEED OF ALASKA. 



Table showing the relative growth, weight, etc., of the fur seals. 

 JCompiled from the field notes of the author, made upon the killing grounds of St. George and St. Paul.] 



Growth of fail' average example. 



3 years 

 old. 



Length: i 



Callorhinus ursinus (male) inches 



Callorhinus m'sinus (female) do. . 



Gii'th immediately behind fore-flippers: 3 



Callorhinus ursinus (male) do.. 



Callorhinus ursinus (female) do. . 



\Veight (avoirdupois): •> 



Callorhinus ursinus (male) pounds 



Callorhinus ursinus (female) do. . 



1 Direct from tip of nose to root of tail. 



2 Ceases. 



3 Eight year old citation an estimate only. 



^ Seven and 8 year estimates are not based upon actual weights; an opinion merely. 



Note. — All fur seals, from yearlings to puberty, are termed "bachelors," or "holluschickie," and all 

 male fur seals from the age of 5 years on are termed ("virile") bulls, or "seaeatehie." All female 

 fm- seals from 1 year and upward are termed "cows," or "matkamie" ("mothers"). All the young under 

 yearlings are termed "pups," or "kotiche" ("little cats"). 



Since this publication by the Government of the above tables of 

 fur seal skin weights in 1875 and 1882, there has been no other 

 attempt made to do so. There has been no witness before the House 

 committee who has been able to show that an error of any kind is 

 published in those tables. 



The Hitchcock rules of May 1, 1904, as well as the CarUsle rules of 

 May 14, 1896, were based upon those records of the weights of fur- 

 seal skins taken from seals 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years old. 



The attempt made to deny the accuracy of these tables by Nagel's 

 confederates. Bowers, Lembkey, Evermann, and Lucas, ended 

 instantly when those men were put under oath. Bowers declared he 

 did not know what a yearhng skin weighed. Lembkey has admitted 

 its weight was 4^ pounds. He testified as follows: 



Mr. Lembkey. I have taken the weights on the island of all seal skins weighed 

 there. 



Mr. Elliott. You have? I want to call your attention to this, and the attention of 

 the committee. You say you have taken note of the weights? 



Mr. Lembkey. I have testified before the committee that every skin taken on the 

 islands except a few that inadvertently were omitted were weighed there. 



Mr. Elliott. ^\Tiat is the weight of a yearling fur seal skin? 



Mr. Lembkey. I weighed very few yearling skins, but they would usually run up 

 to 4 or 4| pounds. (Hearing No. 9; p. 435, Apr. 13, 1912, H. Com. Exp. Dept. C. & L.) 



No other member of the advisory board save Lembkey knew what 

 a yearling seal skin weighed or measured, and all confessed their 

 ignorance under oath to the committee. (See pp. 914-919; hearing 

 No. 14, July 25, 1912, H. Com. Exp., Dept. C. & L.) 



