CHAPTER V. 



BEFORE resuming our narrative, it will be as well to give 

 the reader some information concerning that curious and 

 almost unknown animal the sea otter. In doing so, I have 

 thought it advisable to amplify our own observations by 

 those to be obtained from the few authentic sources available, 

 and so to place all possible knowledge concerning the 

 animal at the service of the reader, and more especially to 

 give him details as to the hunting, since the method 

 employed by the tribes along whose coasts it is found 

 differed very much from that adopted by our party. 



From the tiny weasel with its lithe body and active move- 

 ments the family of Mustelidx> through well-defined genera 

 of maiteus, skunks, badgers, etc., culminates at length in 

 the sub-family Enhydrinae. This group is represented by a 

 single genus and species, the sea otter (Enhydris lutris] ; 

 it is, moreover, the only thoroughly marine member of the 

 whole family, and its only habitat lies around the islands 

 and coasts of the North Pacific Ocean. 



The length of the full-grown male is as nearly as possible 

 four feet from nose to root of tail. Our largest skin when 

 nailed upon the drying frame measured sixty-three inches 

 over all, of which the tail was about nine inches. This skin 

 was not stretched more than was absolutely necessary, as 

 to do so destroys the appearance and value of the pelt, but 

 so loose or rolling is it that nearly, if not quite, twelve 

 inches must always be allowed for in estimating the length 

 of the carcase which it has covered. The girth of the long, 

 cylindrical body varies from two feet six inches to three 

 feet. 



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