1G8 



REPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 



(551. Tlie general conclusion to be derived from an examination of tlie 

 statements above noted is, that in i^roportion to the number of skins 

 obtained, that ])art of the pelagic; catch made in the early part of the 

 season, and to the south of the Aleutian Islands, is the most damaging 

 to seal life as a whole, while the skins taken after this date, whether 

 without or within Behriug Sea, are obtained at much less proportionate 

 cost to seal lile. 



()52. With reference to the composition of the catch of the pelagic 

 sealers, a note may be added resi)e(;ting the relative amounts of those 

 portions of the catch made to the south and to the north of the Aleu- 

 tian chain, known as the "coast catch" and "Behriug Sea catch" 

 respectively. These may be represented iu tabular form as follows: 



113 053. Evidence has been put forward as to the composition ot 



the catches on shore and at sea, based upon the reports of skins 

 as sorted in the factories in London where the skins are prepared for 

 the market. It is, however, to be borne in mind, that the skins arrive 

 at these factories classed as they were for sale, and the titles used do 

 not necessarily im])ly the actual source of origin, but rather the kind 

 and quality of the skin. 



It is, however, asserted by the experts, that the diflferent localities 

 produce somewhat dilferent skins, which is probable. Thus it is said 

 that while the skins known as "Alaska" (assumed to come from the 

 Pribyloft' Islands) and "Co])per" (assumed to come from the Com- 

 luaiuler Islands) are distinguishable, in that the former have as a rule 

 a longer and liner fur, that yet the skins from the two sources are often- 

 times identical iu quality. Indeed, it would appear that in many cases 

 skins are classed as "Alaska " because they have longer and finer fur, 

 and not because of any knowni place of origin. As a rule, the "Alaska" 

 skins have come for lifteen years past in much better order than any 

 others. They have been originally better skinued aud better cared for 

 all through. 



It ai)pears that at the factory, as a matter of fact, they can chiefly 

 tell which are " north-west catch " skins by the ol)vious marks of shot 

 or spear, which often reduce the market value of a skin by 25 or 30 per 

 cent. But there is nothing to show that such skins were not taken close 

 to or even ui)on the Pribyloft" Islands. 



It is also easy, especially after the skins are ready prepared, to rec- 

 ognize the four teats of the female. But, more especially in the ^smaller 

 skins, the marks of sex are extremely diflicult to trace. For instance, 

 in one parcel examined in London, wiiich Avas marked "faulty," all the 

 skins with the excei)tion of three, were female, and most of them badly 

 shot-marked. But the great majority were young females, giving but 

 little or no evidence of having suckled any young. There was no 

 evidence to show Avhether these seals were obtained at sea or on the 

 rookeries by raids. 



