AND THE WALRUS 



fishermen observe the greatest care as to what animals 

 they destroy. The invariable rule nowadays is, kill no 

 females. There need be no difficulty in keeping to this 

 regulation, for size is the predominant distinguishing 

 feature between the sexes ; whereas a well-grown bull-seal 

 will be seven or eight feet long, the cows rarely reach 

 more than four feet. 



The skin is at its best when the young male has 

 reached nearly the age of three years. As soon as the 

 animals are killed the skin is removed, separated from the 

 fat and well coated with salt. A sealskin that has been 

 newly removed would be almost unrecognisable to those 

 who have only seen the article when worked up into a 

 lady's jacket. Apparently it is a mere rough mat of 

 coarse, long hair. If, however, the coat be closely 

 examined it will be seen that the hair is simply an outer 

 covering to a thick mat of soft fur. 



To get rid of the long hairs is easier than would appear, 

 for the roots penetrate far more deeply than those of the 

 under hair. Therefore it suffices to peel or scrape the 

 inside of the skin with sharp knives till the roots are cut 

 free and the long hairs come away like separate threads. 



The skins thus prepared are shipped to London or New 

 York for final treatment. Their value varies according to 

 size and fineness ; some are worth a sovereign, others as 

 much as five pounds. Recently South Africa has gone in 

 largely for sealing, and several thousands of skins taken 

 in the Indian Ocean are sent from Cape Town to London 

 every year. 



Three other important members of the family are the 



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