1048 FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [18] 



number are taken on the Pribylov Islands, in Alaska, and on the Com- 

 mander Islands,' leased from the Russian Government by the Alaska 

 Commercial Company. Some fur seals are captured in the vicinity of 

 Cape Flattery, at the entrance to Puget Sound, and others farther south 

 along the California coast. Another fur-seal fishery is worked by Amer- 

 icans in the vicinity of Cape Horn, South America, and yields annually 

 from 7,000 to 10,000 skins. Nearly all the seal skins are sent to Europe 

 to be plucked and dyed, and many of them afterwards returned to be 

 manufactured into cloaks, capes, hats, and other wearing apparel. At 

 Albany, in the State of New York, there has been for many years a fac- 

 tory for dyeing these skins, but the number anuually dyed is not large. 



In 1880 some 0,000 skins of the sea-otter, worth $600,000, were taken 

 in Alaska. Other fur-bearing animals are captured in various parts of 

 the United States. The common otter (Lutra canadensis) is found in 

 the Lake Superior region, in many of the Western States, and in Flor- 

 ida, though the skins of Florida otter are but half the value of those 

 from Lake Superior. The beaver [Castor canadensis) is taken in Utah, 

 the Lake Superior region, and other places. Some excellent white 

 and light-colored beaver skins from Alaska are shown in the exhibit. 

 The musquash (Fiber zibetMcus), mink (Putorius vison), and the fisher 

 or pekan (Mustela Pennanti), are also taken for their fur. 



In bird furs there is shown a cape or robe made by the Makah In- 

 dians of Washington Territory from the down of the loon (Colymbus 

 torquatux), and a robe from California, made from the skins of the 

 brown pelican (Pelecanus fuscus). 



LEATHERS, IVORY, AND BONE. 



The exhibit of leathers prepared from the skins of aquatic animals in- 

 cludes rough hides and manufactured articles from the tea-lion (Eume- 

 topias Stelleri), from the banded seal (Eistriophoca fasciata), and other 

 species of seals, harpoon-lines from hide of walrus and seal, a large col- 

 lection of objects made from the skin of the Florida alligator (Alligator 

 missisdjypiensis), and some articles from skins of salmon, cusk, and other 

 fishes. 



In ivory and bone there are shown walrus and narwhal tusks, teeth 

 of sperm whale, and alligator teeth, both in the crude and the manufac- 

 tured conditions. Baleen, commonly called whalebone, is exhibited in 

 all its varieties, both in rough slabs and prepared for use in numerous 

 trades. Tortoise-shell, fish-scales, pearls, cameo, and other shells are 

 shown in several varieties. 



FISH GLUE AND GUANO. 



An industry of recent origin and one which is rapidly growing is the 

 preparation of glue from the skins of cusk, cod, and other fishes. It 

 is confined to Cape Ann, in Massachusetts, where there are three fac- 



