176 CAENIVORA. 



restricted to 20,000, the contract having been obtained 

 by another Company. 



The skins taken are those of the bachelor Seals, from 

 one to five years old. Since 1847 no females have been 

 allowed to be killed ; but sometimes a few are found 

 amongst the number, evidently by mistake. In the 

 early days of the Alaska Commercial Company, a few 

 bulls, or " wigs," as they are called on account of the 

 long hair at the back of the neck, were taken ; but this 

 has been discontinued for some years. Most of the 

 skins are now taken in good condition, the animals being 

 selected before slaughter. If the skins are not flayed at 

 once, and the weather be warm, an hour to an hour and 

 a half's delay will suffice to spoil a skin. They then 

 become pinky, which condition is also brought about 

 through the salt not being rubbed in sufficiently. Skins 

 out of condition in the fur are called " stagey," i.e., 

 when the new hair grows up in the fur. 



The skins are imported in batches of 200 to 300 

 casks, through San Francisco and New York, to London. 

 Each cask contains 40 to 45 skins, rolled up separately, 

 tied with cord, and packed in salt. In London they are 

 stowed in the spacious vaults of the South-Eastern 

 Wharf. 



The skins are sorted into 



Middhngs, 



Middlings and Smalls, 



Smalls, 4 years old. 



Large Pups, 3 years old. 



?■ 4 to 5 years old. 



MiddHng Pups, 

 Small Pups, 

 Extra Small 

 Grey Pups, 



y 2 years old. 



Extra Small Pups, ) ^ 



> 1 year old. 



