124 SEALS AND SEA-LIONS 



The size of the Fur-Seal has been carefully observed by 

 Mr. Henry W. Elliott, and recorded as follows: 



MALES AND FEMALES 



LENGTH GIRTH WEIGHT 



At birth (June 20) 12 to 14 in. 10 in. 6 to 1 1 A Ibs. 



At six months 24 25 " 39 



At one year 38 &5 k 39 



MALES ONLY 



LENGTH GIRTH WEIGHT 



At two years 45 in. 30 in. 58 Ibs. 



At three years 52 " 36 " 87 " 



At six years 72 " 64 " 280 " 



At 8 to 20 years 75 to 80 in. 70 to 75 in. 400 to 500 Ibs. 



The Fur-Seal has two kinds of hair. Its outer coat is 

 long, stiff, coarse, and gray in color. In preparing skins for 

 market, all this is plucked out and thrown away, leaving 

 only the fine, soft, brown under-fur, which before manufac- 

 ture is dyed a rich, blackish-brown color. Fur-Seal garments 

 vary in price from $200 to $700. 



The Fur-Seal has strange and interesting habits. It 

 spends about two-thirds of each year far at sea, making a cir- 

 cuit of 6,000 miles in the open ocean without touching land. 

 For some strange reason, the herd in American waters has 

 chosen the two Pribilof Islands, St. Paul and St. George, as 

 the only spots in our waters whereon they are willing to land 

 and bear their young. To these favorite breeding places, on 

 these islands known as "hauling-grounds," the Fur-Seal mil- 

 lions were wont to repair in the early summer of each year, to 

 bear their young. The returning herd begins to arrive be- 

 tween May 1 and 15, the breeding-season is over by September 



