88 FISHEEY AND FUK INDUSTRIES OP ALASKA IN 1912. 



Accordingly, before these skins were salted, but after each was 

 laid in the kench by the native workmen preparatory to havmg 

 salt thrown upon it, it was measured by laying a steel tape across 

 its greatest length and width as it lay. The number on the tag 

 which each skin bore was noted also, and the measurements arranged 

 in accordance with these numbers. No instructions were given to 

 the men as to how to lay the skins in the kench previous to measuring 

 them, except that they should be laid as ordmarily they would be 

 laid for saltmg. No instructions whatever were given the native 

 men as to how the seals should be skinned, i. e., whether more or 

 less blubber should be left on the skin. 



These skins were then salted by having three shovelfuls of salt 

 thrown upon each. This is one more shovelful than would be thrown 

 upon them were a large number to be salted. On July 17, eight 

 days after they were first salted, they were hauled out of the kench, 

 measured and weighed, and again salted, but more lightly, in the 

 book. 



On July 16, another 100 seals, approximately, were treated in 

 exactly the same manner as were those taken on July 9. On July 22, 

 six days thereafter, they were hauled out, weighed and measured 

 again, and booked. 



From these 210 skins interesting data were gathered. So far as 

 the weights are concerned, it is shown that without exception these 

 skins lost weight m salt during periods of eight and six days, respec- 

 tively. Some lost as much as 10 per cent, some lost only a fraction 

 of 1 per cent; but without exception all lost weight. Moreover, the 

 salted weights of all skins taken durmg the summer, mcluding the 

 210 specially mentioned here, when contrasted with the green weights 

 of the same skms, demonstrate the fact that over 95 per cent thereof 

 lost weight through salting. 



As regards measurements, the data show that by the best methods 

 that could be devised it was not possible to measure a green skin 

 within inches of its subsequent dimensions after salting. It was 

 found, furthermore, that the measuring of green skms in the kench 

 just before salting so delayed and confused the native workmen 

 that the time necessary to salt each 100 skins was increased more 

 than one hour while numerous inaccuracies in salting were dis- 

 covered afterwards, which undoubtedly were due to the confusion 

 incident to measuring, and which had they not been discovered 

 .within a week would have seriously depreciated the value of the 

 skins. 



The table of measurements constructed from these operations is 

 mteresting in showing that at no time after the pelt has been removed 

 from the carcass does it assume the dimensions it had while on the 

 animal. While the time necessary to prove the fact has not been 



