CAPE HORN FUR SEAL. 201 



The skins usually arrive in London in time for the 

 November and January sales. Many skins are imported 

 in "pinkey" or unseasoned condition. The name 

 pinkey is derived from a pink mould which comes on 

 the pelt. In November, 1888, 13,333 skins were sold in 

 London. Mr. Cunningham, in the " Natural History of 

 the Straits of Magellan "' (page 270), thus relates : — 



" Near the Island of St. Magdalena, the water was 

 populous with Sea-Lions, and other Seals, which, from 

 being seldom disturbed by man, were apparently much 

 astonished and little dismayed at our appearance. A 

 herd of between thirty or forty of the former followed 

 our boats at a few yards' distance, plunging beneath the 

 water, and then raising themselves partially out of it, 

 gazing at us with intentness, showing their white tusks, 

 and occasionally uttering a cry intermediate between a 

 growl and a roar ; while many of the latter, bending 

 themselves into a curve, leaped high out of the water 

 in all directions. The herd on the beach allowed us to 

 land, and then rearing up so as to display their manes, 

 rushed into the water, from which they eyed us at a safe 

 distance." 



The Lobos Island Fur Seal appears o be more 

 numerous, frequenting the islands at the mouth of the 

 La Plata in great numbers, but it is to be feared that 

 the indiscriminate slaughter of the young, more than 

 half the number taken being yearlings or two-year-old 

 animals, will end in extermination. The lease of these 

 islands for the Seal fishery lasts only a period of four 

 years ; still, if the lessees would forego one year's catch, 

 they would almost double their income in the following 

 year, if they were to take only tw^o-thirds of the 

 quantity of the two years' total ; nay, half the quantity 

 ought to pay them, and in the third and fourth years 



