JAPANESE FUR SEAL. 197 



of the skins are taken, are the yellow necks, cheeks, 

 and sides of the mouth, and the shortness of the fur. 

 The hair is short, and slightly grizzled, the ears are 

 short, and the under fur abundant. The males are of a 

 dull grizzly colour, and are lighter near the fins. The 

 skins are usually taken with much blubber attached to 

 them, and are preserved in fine salt, but skins are also 

 taken in the stagey or out-of-season condition. They 

 usually arrive about January, and vary from 2,000 to 

 12,000 skins. In 1890, there were 11,098 skins. A 

 crest of longer hairs is occasionally found between the 

 eyes. The young, or black pups, have a white mark 

 under the fore flipper. This Seal, when young, has often 

 been confounded by the older naturalists with the South 

 Sea Seal. 



The shortness of the fur is probably due to the new 

 growth of fur not having attained its full length. The 

 salt used for preserving these skins is afterwards sold, 

 the Tramway Companies buying at times several tons. 

 It is also sometimes sold for manuring lawns. 



The skins, when prepared, are especially suitable for 

 caps, and other small articles, where evenness and 

 shortness of fur are desirable. 



Although the Japanese Fur Seal resembles the Eobben 

 Island more closely than any of the others, the four 

 varieties, Alaska, Copper Island, Kobben Island, and 

 Japanese might well be included under one species. 

 The relative habits, the time of arrival at and departure 

 from the various islands, deserve the attention which has 

 been bestowed on the Alaska Fur Seal. 



