FUR ANIMALS. 



455 



fraction of tins number can now be taken in the same time, 

 as they have been almost decimated in some places. 



Another fur animal that is hunted extensively by nearly 

 all the littoral Indians of the North Pacific Ocean is the 

 fur-seal; and some of them, at least, find it a profitable 

 business, judging from the number of peltries to be seen 

 in the markets of San Francisco. The Russian-American 

 Fur Company have the monopoly of the trade in Alaska; 

 hence the red men dwelling south of that region do much 



FUB-SE.VL8 AT ENGLISH BAY, ST. PAUL'S ISLAND. 



better with the animal than their Northern kindred, as 

 they can kill it wherever they find it; whereas the latter 

 cannot. 



An adult male seal has a length of about seven feet, and 

 the female of five feet. The former is polygamous, his 

 harem usually consisting of eight or ten of the opposite 

 sex, and more, if he can get them; and for these he will 

 fight desperately against all rivals. 



The lords of the harems and their spouses go ashore on 



