94 HABITS OP THE ALASKAN SEAL. 



Doterniinatio nonce be recognizecl by one familiar witli the 



of inciense or de- 



ciease of seals, rookerles. The spaces occupied by the breeding 

 seals can be correctly measured.^ If there has 

 been an increase in the number of seals, the areas 

 formerly occupied will be filled and new ground 

 covered, for the seals crowd together on the 

 breeding grounds as closely as the nature of 

 the ground will permit.^ Therefore, an increase 

 in the extent covered by breeding seals is a.n 

 infallible indication of an increase in the seal 

 herd. 



THE ALASKAN SEAL HEED. 



Distinction be- The two great herds of fur seals which frequent 



tween Alaskan and 



Rnssiau iierds. tjie BerinoT Sea and North Pacific Ocean and 

 make their homes on the Pribilof Islands and 

 Commander (Komandorski) Islands, res})ec- 

 tively, are entirely distinct from each other. 

 The difi"erence between the two herds is so 

 marked that an expert in handling and sorting- 

 seal skins can invariably distinguish an Alaskan 

 skin from a Commander skin.^ Mr. Walter E. 

 Martin, head of the London firm of C. W. Martin 

 & Co., which has been for many ^^ears engaged 

 in dressing and dyeing seal skins, describes the 



iW. B. Taylor, Vol. II, p. 177; J. H. Monlton, Vol. II, p. 71; B. 

 F. Scribner, Vol. II, p. 89. 



2 J. H. Monlton, Vol. II, p. 71; Daniel Webster, Vol. II, p. 181. 



3W. E. Martin, Vol. II, p. 569; C. W. Price, Vol. II, p. 521; 

 George Ban tie, Vol. II, p. 508; George Kice, Vol. II, p. 573; Alfred 

 Eraser, Vol. II, p. 557. 



