RELATING TO FUR-SEALS AND SEALSKIN INDUSTRY. 355 



On the 15th instant I examined 194 salted fur-seal skins ex- American 

 barkentine J. A. Falkeriberg, from Sound Point, Alaska, 

 and found the same to be fresh skins taken oft the ani- m^f^l) 011 La 

 mal within 9 months last past, and that they were 

 killed within the North Pacific, and as I am informed are the catch of 

 the American schooner La Ninfa. 



On examination, I found they were the skins known as the North west 

 Coast seals, and belong to the herd which have their rookeries on the 

 Pribilof Islands. The lot contained 3 skins of the fur-seal bull, 24 

 skins of the fur-seal male (matured), 7 skins of the fur-seal grey pup 

 less than one year of age (sex doubtful), 160 skins of the fur-seal cow 

 (matured). 



From the shape of these cow-skins most all of them must have been 

 heavy with pup, and the same cut out of them when captured. 



Chs. J. Behlow. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 21st day of September, A. D. 

 1892. 

 [seal.] Clement Bennett, 



Notary Public. 



Deposition of Charles J. Behlow, furrier. 



State of California, 



City and County of San Francisco, ss : 



Charles J. Behlow, being duly sworn,deposes and says: 



I reside in San Francisco, State of California, and am by occupation 

 a fur merchant, and have been so engaged permanently 

 for the last 35 years, during which time I have been con- Ex P erience - 

 stantly handling large quantities of raw fur-seal skins from all different 

 locations, and can readily distinguish their respective quality, size, 

 age, and sex. 



On the 14th instant I examined 362 salted fur-seal skins, ex- Ameri- 

 can barkentine J. A. Fallcenberg, from Sound Point, 

 Alaska, and found the same to be fresh skins taken off a Composition mu- 

 the animal within 8 months last past, and that they 

 were killed within the North Pacific. To the best of my knowledge 

 and belief they are the catch of the British steam schooner Thistle. 



On examination, I found they were the skins known as the North- 

 west Coast seals, and belong to the herd which have their rookery on 

 the Pribilof Islands. The lot contained: 1 skin of the large fur-seal 

 bull, 28 skins of the fur-seal male (matured), 29 skins of the fur-seal 

 grey pup less than one year of age (sex doubtful), 304 skins of the fur- 

 seal cow (matured). From the shape of these cow-skins most all of 

 them must have been heavy with pup, and the same cut out of them 

 when captured. 



Chs. J. Behlow. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 21st day of September, A. D. 

 1892. 

 [seal.] Clement Bennett, 



Notary Public. 



