1867-8. TRANSACTIONS. 7 1 



into a complete bundle about the diameter of a stove-pipe and 

 about 18 inches long. The bundle is securely tied with a 

 stout cord and the skins are then ready for shipment. In that 

 condition they reach London where they are again sorted, and 

 divided into sizes and sold by auction in their salted raw 

 condition. The dressing of seal-skins is done almost exclu- 

 sively by one London firm. The process differs from that 

 used in dressing all other skins. The longer, coarser hairs 

 penetrate a little further into the skin than do the finer softer 

 ones which constitute the fur. The under-side of the skin is 

 carefully scraped until the ends of the longer hairs are cut 

 when they are easily removed. The skins are then dyed and 

 are ready to be made into garments. 



The native seal-killer on the islands knows nothing of all 

 this, however, and is concerned only with the work of killing 

 the seals and the consequent feasting such an ample supply of 

 fresh meat affords him. While the men are busy clubbing 

 and skinning the seals, the women and children are employed 

 in cutting off the best parts of the carcase for use as food. 

 All parts of the seal are eaten, tongue, heart and liver, as well 

 as the solid flesh. A part of what is not consumed during the 

 summer is dried for winter use, though the process is a long 

 one on account of the prevailing foggy or wet weather, and 

 the drying meat is unsavoury to a white man, both in appear- 

 ance and odour. At the table of the sealing company such 

 meat is served in some form at every meal. As dressed by 

 cooks of experience it is very palatable, though rather gamy 

 in flavour. The liver, is particularly good, at least those 

 who are fond of liver say so. 



The seals begin to leave the breeding islands in October 

 and by the middle of November all the cows and pups have 

 gone. The bulls, or at least some of them, remain on the 

 islands until the first heavy snow-fall when they, too, dis- 

 appear. Very little is known of the fur-seal when at sea 

 during the winter. They spread over the whole North Pacific 

 Ocean, being occasionally found as far south as the Sandwich 

 Islands. In early January they come in near the coast and 

 are during that month found along the whole coast line be- 

 tween San ' Francisco and Vancouver Island, not however, 

 coming in recent years very near the shore, though formerly 

 they were found in large numbers about New Years in some 

 of the bays on the west coast of Vancouver Island. During 

 February and March they move gradually northward follow- 

 ing the general trend of the coast and during April and early 



