THE ALASKAN SEAL HERD. 95 



difference as follows : ''The Copper Island (one^ ^i^^'f,^*"'" ^%- 



i i ^ tween Alaska nana 



of the Commander Islands) skins show that the^^**®^^^^''^*^^- 

 animal is narrower in the neck and at the tail 

 than the Alaska seal, and the fur is shorter, 

 particularly^ under the flippers, and the hair has a 

 yellower tinge than the hairs of the Alaska seals." ^ 

 In this statement he is borne out by Sneigeroff, a 

 native chief on the Commander Islands and once 

 resident on the Pribilof Islands.^ C. W. Price, 

 for twenty years a dresser and examiner of raw 

 seal skins, describes the difference in the fur as 

 being a little darker in the Commander skin.^ 

 The latter skin is not so porous as the Alaskan 

 skin, and is more difficult to unhair/ The dif- 

 ference between the two classes of skins has-been 

 further recognized by those engaged in the seal- 

 skin industry in their different market value, ^ the 

 Alaska skins always being held at from twenty 

 to thirty per cent more than the "Coppers" or 

 Commander skins.*^ This difference in value has 

 also been recognized by the Russian Government.' 



1 W. E. Martin, Vol. II, p. 569. 



2T. F. Morgan, Vol. II, p. 201. 



3 C. W. Price, Vol. II, p. 521; George Bautle, Vol. II, p. 508. 



« John J. Plielan, Vol. II, p. 520. 



5 C. A. V/illianis, Vol. II, p. 537; W. E. Martin, Vol. II, p.5G9; 

 C. W. Price, Vol. II, p. 521 ; George Bantle, Vol. II, p. 508. 



6 C. A. Williams, Vol. II, p. 537; William C. B. Stamp, VoL lb 

 p. 575. 



' C. A. Williams, Vol. II, p. 537. 



