ISO 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



of a uniform brownish-white color above, and of a somewhat deep 

 brown beneath. The fur-skin of this valuable animal is prepared in a 

 peculiar manner. The long hair which conceals the fur is first re- 

 moved, by heating the skin, and then carding it with a large wooden 

 knife. The fur then appears in all its perfection, and was formerly- 

 much used in Europe for linings and borders of cloaks and mantles, for 

 caps, etc. 



Fig. 10. 



Indians catching Musk -Rats. 



But by far the most valuable fur that passes under the name of 

 seal is that of the sea otter, or Alaska seal, which, while it has the 

 habits of the seal, forms a connecting link between it and the otter. 

 A large portion of this fur is obtained from two islands, St. Paul and 

 St. George, in latitude about 56|° north, in the Sea of Behring or 

 Kamtchatka, about 250 miles northwest of the peninsula of Alaska. 

 These islands were sold by Russia to the United States as a part of 



