INVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 193 



business with the sale or nomenclature of the skins in London. So, therefore, we 

 eliminated that from our report, and we spoke of the settled standard on the islands; 

 that they killed ''prime," or "short" skins or "7-pound" or "6-pound" skins, as 

 the case might be. We never alluded to them as being "middlings" or "smalls." 

 We prepared a table, which you will find on page 81 of Special Bulletin No. 176 of 

 the United States Fish Commission. That is the official publication which was agreed 

 upon by the four Treasury agents with whom I was associated, the seven agents of 

 the lessees (who were very much interested, indeed, in what we agreed upon), and 

 a special commissioner of "the United States, Lieut. Commander Washburn Maynard, 

 United States Navy, who was with me in 1874. In that table you will find that a 

 "yearling" seal weighs 4J pounds. 



Mr. Townsend. You mean the pelt or hide? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes; with a small amount of blubber which is attached, varying all 

 the way from a quarter of a pound to a pound, as the agent orders it "loaded." 



In 1882 the elaborated and final notes of Mr. Elliott's work of 1874, 

 published by the Department of the Treasury in 1875, were again 

 republished by order of the Government in Volume VIII, Tenth 

 Census, United States of America, and in Special Bulletin No. 176. 

 The original table, as above, of 1874-75 publicationis on page 46. 

 Then on page 81 appears the elaboration of those grades of fur which 

 belong to the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 year old skins, as follows, to wit: 



GRADATION OF THE FUR OF CALLORHINUS URSINUS. 



The gradation of the fur of Callorhinus may, perhaps, be best presented in the 

 following manner: 



One-year-old male, well grown, at July 1 of every season: Fur fully developed as to 

 uniform length and thickness and evenness of distribution; it is lighter in color and 

 softer in texture than hereafter during the life of the animal; average weight of skin 

 as removed by the sealers from the carcass, 4J pounds. 



Two-year-old male, well grown, at June 1 of every season: Fur fully developed as 

 to even length and thickness and uniformity of distribution; it has now attained the 

 darker buff and fawn color, sometimes almost brown, which it retains throughout the 

 rest of the life of the animal; it is slightly and perceptibly firmer and stiff er than it 

 was last year, not being at all "fluffy" as in the yearling dress now; average weight of 

 skin as taken from the body, b\ pounds. 



Three-year-old male, well grown, at June 1 of every season: Fur fully developed as 

 to even length, but a shade longer over the shoulders, where the incipient "wig" is 

 forming; otherwise perfectly uniform in thickness and even distribution; this is the 

 very best grade of pelt which the seal affords during its life; average weight of skin, 

 as taken from the body, 7 pounds. 



Four-year-old male, well grown, at June 1 of every season: Fur fully developed as 

 to even length, except a decided advance in length and perceptible stiffness over the 

 shoulders, in the "wig"; otherwise perfectly uniform in thickness and even distribu^ 

 tion ; this grade is almost as safe to take and as good as in the 3-year-old ; average weight 

 of skin, as removed, 12 pounds. 



Five-year-old male, well grown, at May to June 1 of every season: Fur fully devel- 

 oped, but much longer and decidedly coarser in the "wig" region; otherwise uniform 

 in thickness and distribution; the coarseness of the fur over the shoulders and dispro- 

 portionate length thereon destroys that uniformity necessary for rating Al in the 

 market; in fact, it does not pay to take this skin; average weight, 16 pounds. 



Six-year-old male, well grown, from May to June 1 of every season: Fur fully 

 developed, still longer and stiffer in the "wig" region, with a slightly thinner dis- 

 tribution over the post-dorsal region, and shorter; this skin is never taken — it is 

 profitless; average weight, 25 pounds. 



Seven-year-old and upward male, from May to June 1 of every season: Fur fully 

 developed, but very unevenly distributed, being relatively scant and short oyer 

 the posterior dorsal region, while it is twice as long and very coarse in the covering 

 to the shoulders especially and the neck and chest; skins are valueless to the fur 

 trade; weight, 45 to 60 pounds. 



Then follows, on page 168, same publication, the following recapit- 

 ulation of the above-cited growth and weights of fur seals. 



53490—14: 13 



