244 SKAL LIFE ON THE PRIIJILOF ISLANDS. 



heavy with pup, and same cut out of them when captured. Eleven 

 skins of the fur-seal male (matured). Forty skins of the fur seal gray 

 pup, from (> to !) months old; sex doubtful. 



On the same date I also examined 124 salted fur seal skins, ex steamer 

 I'mntiHa from Victoria, and found the same to be fresh skins taken off 

 the animal within three months. They were killed in the North Pacific. 

 On examination I found that they were the skins known as the North- 

 west coast seals and belong; to the herd which have their rookery on 

 the Pribilof Islands. The lot contained !)'> skins of the fur seal cow 

 (matured). From the shape of the skin most all of these eows must 

 nave been heavy with young', and the same cut out of them when cap- 

 tured. Fifteen skins of the fur seal male (matured). Sixteen skins of 

 the fur seal gray pup, from (> to months old; sex doubtful. 



I notice on examining seals caught this spring' that there is a lack of 

 the larger size of productive animals, and the lots mostly contain the 

 skins of the medium-sixed seals, running; from "2 to ."> years of age. 

 (Charles J. Behlow.) 



On the 29th instant I examined 2,1 70 salted fur seal skins, ex schooner 

 K nun ft and LnniM from the North Pacific Ocean, and found same to be 

 fresh skins taken off the animal within four months. They were killed 

 in the North Pacific. On examination I find they were the skins known 

 as the Northwest coast skins, and belong- to the herd which have their 

 rookery on the Pribilof Islands. The lot contained 4 skins of the fur- 

 seal large bulls (breeding bulls): 123 skins of the fur seal male (mostly 

 matured): 1)8 skins of the fnr seal gray pup, less than 1 year old, sex 

 doubtful; 1,112 skins of the fur seal cow (mostly matured). From the 

 shape of the skin most all these cows must have been heavy with pup, 

 and same cut out of them when captured, (diaries ,7. Behlow.) 



As a result of the work 1 have performed for so many years I am able 

 to distinguish without difficulty the skin of a female seal from that of 

 a male seal. There are generally several ways in which I can tell 

 them apart. Oue of the surest ways consists in seeing whether any 

 teats can be found. On a female skin above the age of 2 years teats 

 can practically always be discovered: when the animal is over 3 years 

 old even a person who is not an expert at handling skins can discover 

 two prominent ones on each side of almost every skin. This because 

 after the age of 3, and often even after 2, almost all females have been 

 in pup. There are also teats on a male skin, but they are only very 

 slightly developed. When the fur is matted, as it is in salted fur seal 

 skins, the male teats can not be found, but the female teats of skins 

 more than 2 years old can be found under all circumstances. 



I have been able to test all my observations as to the teats on salted 

 fur-seal skins by following these skins through the various processes 

 which I have desciibed. During these processes the skins become thin- 

 ner and thinner, and the teats more and more noticeable, and at an 

 early stage in the dressing they must be wholly removed. There are 

 other ways of distinguishing the skins of the two sexes. I will state a 

 few of them. 



A female has a narrower head than a male seal. By the word " head " 

 I mean here to include that part of the body from the head down to the 

 middle of the back. I believe all men who have handled the skins of 

 both sexes have noticed this point. Then, again, when the whiskers 

 have not been cut off they generally afford a safe means of distinguish- 

 ing the sexes. Male whiskers are much more brittle and of a darker 

 color than those of the female animal. When the male seal is over G 



