MAMMALIA. 59 
[21] 2. Lurra (Ennypra) marina. (Erxlebein.) The Sea Otter. 
Genus. Imtra. Ray. Sub-genus. Enhydra. FLEMING. 
Sea-Beaver. KrascHENTNIKOFF, Hist. Kamsk. (G@RIEVE’s Trans.), p. 131. An. 1764. 
Lutra Marina. STELLER, Nov. Com. Petrop., vol..xi. p. 367, t. xvi. ERXLEBEIN, Syst. An. 1777. 
Sea-Otter. Coox’s Third Voy., vol. ii. p. 295. An. 1784. PENNANT’sS Arctic Zool., vol. i. p. 88 An. 1784. 
Meares’ Voy., pp. 241-260. An. 1790. MenzrEs, Phil. Trans., p.385.. An. 1796. 
Enhydra Marina. Furmine’s Phil. Zool., vol. ii. p. 187. Am. 1822. 
Lutra Marina. Haran. Fawna, p. 73. 
The Sea Otter. Gopman’s Nat. Hist., vol. i. p. 228. 
Kalan. KamskaTDALEs. 
The Sea Otter inhabits the northern parts of the Pacific, from Kamskatcha to 
the Yellow Sea on the Asiatic side, and from Alaska to California on the 
American coast. It seems to have more the manners of a seal than of the 
Land Otter. It frequents rocks washed by the sea, and brings forth on land, but 
resides mostly in the water, and is occasionally seen very remote from the shore, 
sometimes, according to Pennant, more than a hundred leagues. The fur of the 
Sea Otter being very handsome, was much esteemed by the Chinese, and, until 
the market at Canton was overstocked, prime skins brought extraordinary high 
prices. The trade for a considerable period was in the hands of the Russians, 
who soon after the discovery of the north-west coast of America, by Beering and 
Tschirikow, sent mercantile expeditions thither. Captain Cook’s third voyage 
drew the attention of English speculators to that quarter, and vessels were 
freighted both by private adventurers and by the India Company, for the purpose 
of collecting furs on the American coast and conveying them to Canton. Pennant, 
alluding to this traffic, says, “ what a profitable trade (with China) might not a 
colony carry on, were it possible to penetrate to that part of America by means 
of rivers and lakes.” The event that Pennant wished for soon took place. Sir 
Alexander Mackenzie having traversed the continent of America, and gained the 
coast of the Pacific, his partners in trade followed up his success, by establishing 
fur posts in New Caledonia, and a direct commerce with China; but the influx of 
furs into that market soon reduced their price. 
DESCRIPTION. 
[Extracted from Meares’ Voyage.] 
The Sea Otter is furnished with a formidable set of teeth; its fore-paws are like those of 
the River Otter, but of much larger size, and greater strength ; its hind-feet are skirted with a 
membrane, on which, as on the fore-feet, there grows a thick and coarse hair. The fur varies 
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