46 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 
THE NOMENCLATURE OF THE FUR SEAL. 
The eccentricities of the nomenclature of the fur seals have frequently been 
noted. Attention is here called to the matter merely to avoid confusion. It is, for 
example, incongruous that a “cow” should occupy a place in a “harem” on a 
“‘rookery ” and bear a “pup,” which, if a male, should be known for the first four 
years of its life as a “bachelor” and afterwards as a “bull.” Moreover, it is absurd 
that this animal, which is in reality more like a bear, should be called a “seal,” thus 
confounding it with a distinctly different animal. But these names are all so closely 
identified with the animals and their history that it is useless to attempt to change 
them, and so we may expect the “sea bears” of the North Pacific to continue to 
produce “seal skins,” which, though originally and properly taken only on land, will 
remain the product of a “fishery.” 
The Russian names “sikatch” (grown bull), “polosikatch” (half bull), ““holostiak” 
(bachelor), “matka” (mother), and “kotik” (pup) are in common use among the 
Aleuts on the Pribilof and Komandorski islands. These words form their plurals 
in i, thus: sikatchi, holostiaki. The Aleut names “atagh” or ‘“adakh” (bull), 
“ennatha” (cow), “lakutha” (pup) are now used mainly by the native children. 
THE CATEGORIES OF SEALS. 
THE MALE. 
The male fur seal or bull reaches full maturity at the age of about 7 years. 
He is probably sexually mature at an earlier age, but does not possess the strength 
and courage necessary to win and hold a place on the breeding grounds. The weight 
of the adult bull is about 350 to 450 pounds. A typical animal measures about 6 feet 
in length, has a girth over the shoulders of about 44 feet, and measures nearly 6 
feet from tip to tip of the outstretched fore-flippers. In color the adult males vary 
considerably, the general shade being blackish or dark brown, with longer hairs 
or bristles of yellowish white. These are especially long and numerous on the 
thickened back of the neck, forming the so-called “wig.” The bulls are excessively 
fat on their landing in the spring, but grow gradually lean and thin during the season 
on land, never tasting food or leaving their posts during the breeding season. Early 
observers nade use of the appropriate name of “beachmaster” for the bull, aname 
which deserves to be retained for its descriptive qualities. 
THE FEMALE. 
The female fur seal or cow is much smaller than the male. When fully grown she 
measures about 4 feet in length, has a girth of 24 feet over the shoulders, and measures 
4 teet from tip to tip of the outstretched fore-flippers. The cow has a soft, smooth 
fur of varying shades of grey, the younger females being usually, though not 
always, silvery white underneath the throat. The cow bears her first offspring at 
the age of 3 years, but her full growth is not attained until a year or two later. 
Her average weight is about 70 pounds. The name “clap-match,” used by early 
explorers to designate the female, is now obsolete. 
THE BACHELOR. 
The young male or bachelor is very similar to the female in color, size, and 
appearance until the end of the third year. In this year his skin is at its best. In 
