IS.] COLOUR OF THE SEAL. 205 



supposed, upon the couditiou of the animal from which it was 

 obtained. 



Most ladies, if the truth were known, and I daresay not a few 

 of the sterner sex also, imagine that the fur seal (as to whose 

 identity with the hair seal they are perhaps somewhat hazy) dis- 

 ports itself in its native element with its jacket in exactly the 

 same condition as those which grace their own fair figures. This, 

 however, is by no means the case. The natural colour of the 

 animal is a dark greyish or brownish black upon the upper surface 

 of the body, shading into a steely grey over the shoulders, while 

 beneath it is much lighter, becoming pale yellowish, or even almost 

 white, upon the chest. The whole of the true fur, which in the 

 prepared skin is all that is allowed to remain, is covered with a 

 thick layer of coarse, shiny hairs, and the appearance of the natm^al 

 skin, though pretty enough upon the animal, would be anything 

 but pleasing if made into a garment. 



We watched the rookery until we were tired, and then, anxious 

 to see the process of slaughtering and skinning, asked that a few 

 seals might be driven up for that purpose. But either from its 

 being contrary to custom, or from a distinct unwillingness to oblige 

 us, our request was abruptly refused; and it was only with the 

 greatest difficulty that we got the overseer to allow some to be 

 separated and driven up in order that we might photograph them. 

 It was in vain, after this was over, that w^e begged to be allowed 

 to take away two or three of the animals ; they were to be counted 

 by tens of thousands close at our feet, yet permission was un- 

 ceremoniously refused us. We were, however, determined, by fair 

 means or foul, to get hold of a specimen for museum purposes, and 

 at length, after much discussion, we were given a weakly two-year- 

 old suffering from ophthalmia, with which we had to be content ; 

 and making him as comfortable as we could upon one of the 

 sledges, we started on our homeward journey. 



Before leaving the subject of the fur seals and theu^ rookeries, a 

 word or two anent the Alaska Commercial Company is necessary. 



