602 INVESTIGATION OF THE FUB-SEAL INDUSTBY OF ALASKA. 



skins in the kench previous to measuring them, except that* they should be laid as 

 ordinarily they would be laid for salting. No instructions whatever were given the 

 native men as to how the seals should be skinned, i. e., whether more or less blubber 

 should be left on the skin. 



These skins were then salted by having three shovelfuls of salt thrown upon each. 

 This is one more shovelful than would be thrown upon them were a large number to 

 be salted. On July 17, eight days after they were first salted, they were hauled out 

 of the kench, measured and weighed, and again salted, but more lightly, in the book. 



On July 16, another 100 seals, approximately, were treated in exactly the same 

 manner as were those taken on July 9. On July 22, six days thereafter, they were 

 hauled out, weighed and measured again, and booked. 



From- these 210 skins interesting data were gathered. So far as the weights are con- 

 cerned, it is shown that without exception these skins lost weight in salt during periods 

 of eight and six days, respectively. Some lost as much as 10 per cent, some lost only 

 a fraction of 1 per cent; but without exception all lost weight. Moreover, the salted 

 weights of all skins taken during the summer, including the 210 specially mentioned 

 here, when contrasted with the green weights of the same skins, demonstrate the fact 

 that over 95 per cent thereof lost weight through salting. 



As regards measurements, the data show that by the best methods that could be 

 devised it was not possible to measure a green skin within inches of its subsequent 

 dimensions after salting. It was found, furthermore, that the measuring of green 

 skins in the kench just before salting so delayed and confused the native workmen 

 that the time necessary to salt each 100 skins was increased more than one hour, while 

 numerous inaccuracies in salting were discovered afterwards, which undoubtedly 

 were due to the confusion incident to measuring, and which had they not been dis- 

 covered within a week would have seriously depreciated the value of the skins. 



The table of measurements constructed from these operations is interesting in show- 

 ing that at no time after the pelt has been removed from the carcass does it assume 

 the dimensions it had while on the animal. While the time necessary to prove the 

 fact has not been afforded, it is believed that the skin on the live animal is in a state 

 of tension, varying in degree as the animal may be fat or lean — if fat, the tension is 

 greater; if lean, the tension is less. A contraction of the skin seems to occur imme- 

 diately upon its removal from the animal; whether this is due to the releasing of the 

 natural tension of the skin, or whether there is an actual muscular contraction due 

 to the reflex of muscles which continued to contract for a short period after death, it 

 is not possible to say. It is certain, however, that as accurate a measurement of the 

 green skin as can be made shows that it is inches shorter and narrower than before 

 its removal from the body. The effect of salting was to increase in every instance 

 the size of the green skin as ascertained previous to salting. However, neither the 

 length nor the width of the salted skin equals that of the same skin on the animal. This 

 can be made more apparent by a scrutiny of the table of comparative sizes of green 

 and salted skins with the length and width of that skin on the animal. 



On June 27, 10 skins were picked out at random from those lying on the pile with 

 only the hair side exposed, and were weighed just as they came from the field. After 

 this first weighing they were given to expert skinners with instructions to remove 

 carefully all blubber from each pelt. After the blubber was so removed the skins 

 were weighed again and salted. On August 1 and 7 they were again weighed. The 

 results of the weighing are here given in detail: 



Weights of sealskins with and without blubber and before and after salting. 



Serial number. 



With ordinary 

 blubber. 



With no 



blubber. 



Aug. 1, after 5 

 days' salting. 



Aug. 7, after 11 

 days' salting. 



675 



Pounds. 

 6 

 6 

 6 

 6 

 5 

 6 



: 



6 

 6 

 5 



Ounces. 

 12 



8 



14.5 

 14.75 



4 

 14.75 



1.75 

 13.25 

 15.5 



6.75 



Pounds. 

 5 

 5 

 5 

 5 

 3 

 4 

 5 

 4 

 4 

 3 



Ounces. 



1.75 



1.25 



6.25 



2.75 



7.25 



12.5 



4.5 



12.75 



13.75 



14.75 



Pounds. 

 4 

 5 

 5 

 5 

 3 

 4 

 5 

 4 

 5 

 4 



Ounces. 



13.25 

 2.25 

 2.25 

 1.75 

 8.5 



11.25 



Pounds. 

 4 

 5 

 5 

 5 

 3 

 4 

 5 

 4 

 4 

 4 



Ounces. 

 14.75 



676 



3.75 



677 



5.75 



678 



5.5 



679 



9 



680 



12.5 



681 



1 



6S2 



8 



.5 

 2.5 



12 



683 



15.25 



684 



3.25 



Total 



65 9- 25 



47 



13.5 



47 2.25 



48 2. 75 

















