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The fur seal Callorhinus ursinus, together with the sea- 

 otter are specimens of the riches of the Commander Islands. 



At the beginning of the eightieth years of the last 

 century, taking as a basis of several observations, which 

 existed as the time about the migration of seals, I stated 

 my opinion, that the herds of the Asiatic and the Ameri- 

 can shores live quite separately and never mix with one 

 another, a statement, which is in exact opposition to the 

 opinion of the American naturalists, who are afraid, that 

 the fur seals of the Prybiloff Islands would leave for the 

 Commander Islands. At the present time, when the migra- 

 tion of the fur seal is well studied; thanks to the develop- 

 ment of sea-hunting, also stating, that the Ocean current 

 has an influence of direction of their migration and the 

 distribution of animal organism, which serve as food for 

 fur seals, American naturalists have marked the frontier 

 of distribution between the fur seals of the American and 

 those of the Asiatic shore, though in reality, they are 

 not mixed with each other and they have appointed a 

 special name for the fur seal of the American shore, calling 

 it Callorhinus alascanus, leaving the old name of Callor- 

 hinus ursinus to the Asiatic fur seals. 



The special arrangements for the American fur seal, 

 as well as the fur seals from the Okhotsk sea (Callorhinus 

 Curilensis) will not bear scientific criticism. 



The fur seal of the Commander Islands is superior to 

 the American one in size and all other respects, but it 

 has a coarser fur and is cheaper in market value. For- 

 merly the prices were lower, but the perfection in pre- 

 paring these skins increased their price. The value and 

 quality of the skins from Robben Island (Call. Curilensis) 

 are greater, than those from the Commander Islands and 

 America, but to great regret of the traders, there are 

 very few of them. Up to the present time the designation 

 of the quality of skins, according to the dwelling-place 

 of the seals is not stated, though it is a doubtless fact,, 

 that such is the case. 



