NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



The skins are prepared for use by shaving away 

 with a sharp knife the inner layer of skin. This 

 process cuts off the roots of the long coarse hair, 

 which is deeper rooted than the soft under-fur, 

 and it thus becomes loose and may be brushed off, 

 leaving the soft fur still adhering to the skin. 



When prepared and dressed ready for converting 

 into various articles of apparel and adornment, 

 the fur is quite as soft and glossy as that of the 

 Arctic seal, but it is shorter, which makes it of 

 much lesser commercial value. 



188 



