86 American Fisheries Society 



eliminated and at this time the herd is very well propor- 

 tioned. These old males which have attained the age of 

 about seven years are known as "wigs," probably because of 

 the development of a mane which was suggestive of the wool- 

 sack worn by English judges. This name became known to 

 the trade in the early days when that trade was first centered 

 in London, and has continued up to the present time. In 

 the days of regular commercial sealing there was very little 

 market for "wigs." The skins are very large; the leather 

 part is extremely thick; and when these seals were taken in 

 the olden days and sent to London for sale, they were sold 

 for the most part to Russia and used for the lining of the 

 sod houses of the Russian peasants. Their value was from 

 $3.50 to $7.50 each. It occurred to me that there ought to 

 be a market for these large skins which had been accumulated 

 during the enforced close time, and at our suggestion a St. 

 Louis firm that dresses and dyes furs experimented with them. 

 It seemed to me that they might be useful for automobile 

 wraps or robes in an undyed condition. It developed, how- 

 ever, that under proper treatment these very heavy skins 

 could be trimmed down, dressed, dyed and used for ladies' 

 furs; and the most interesting development of the seal busi- 

 ness in recent years has been the use that we have been able 

 to make of these formerly discarded elements of the herd. 

 They have, in fact, become the most valuable part of the seal 

 herd today, their skins bringing higher prices than the best 

 grade of skins from smaller seals. At one of the recent sales 

 these "wigs," of which I am going to show you some samples, 

 brought $169 apiece as against their former price of $3.50 

 to $7.50 — when they could be sold at all. 



Now, just a word about the financial results of the present 

 arrangement. The United States has certainly profited by 

 the stoppage of pelagic sealing. During the past ten years 

 the net revenue from the seals taken in that time is about 

 $6,000,000. Some of these skins have not yet been sold, and 



