THE SEA OTTER IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN 41 



was also used). The greased skins were then trampled underfoot in large 

 barrels or tubs (so called 'tubbing'). Excess grease was removed by tumbling 

 the skins in sawdust contained in revolving drums ('drumming'). After this 

 the leather was reduced in weight by cutting down or shaving (by hand or by 

 machine). The guard hairs were not removed. . . . 



With regard to the quotation from Poland's book, he is referring to the 

 colour of the fur. Poor quality furs were sometimes up-graded (temporarily!) 

 by hanging the skins in smoke from a smouldering, smoking fire whereupon a 

 thin film of soot and tarry matter deposited on the fur turned light yellowish 

 fur into a darker richer brown. The effect was purely temporary but was an 

 unethical way of up-grading fur prior to sale. 



The remarks on "dyeing or topping" refer to more lasting improvement of 

 colour (after the raw skins have been auctioned) by deliberate use of dyes. 

 These could be applied by immersing the skins in solutions of the metallic 

 mordants and vegetable dyes then used, or alternatively the materials could 

 be applied to the fur only by brushing, i.e. "topping", a method which left 

 the leather undyed and the article then looked more like a better grade skin 

 which had been dressed only. 



Skins taken in recent years were tanned by modern conventional 

 methods. In describing the color, a fur dealer who examined 

 several typical specimen pelts used the following terms: ''dark 

 brownish underwool," "brown wool," "very silvery-good top hair," 

 "brownish with a greenish cast." 



Value of pelts 



Fisher (1941a) summarized information on prices paid for sea 

 otter skins from the time of Bering to 1940: In the mid-1700's 

 skins sold for 20 rubles (about $10) in Kamchatka to 100 rubles 

 (about $50) at the Chinese frontier. During the 1880's prices on 

 the London market ranged from about $105 to $165. By 1903, 

 when sea otters had become scarce, extra rich, large skins sold 

 for as much as $1,125. Fisher was unable to verify or find the 

 source of the statement by Evermann (1923) that during the 

 1920*s (after the sea otter received protection) the prices paid for 

 sea otter pelts ranged from $2,000 to $3,000 each. Among 54 con- 

 fiscated sea otter skins sold at auction for the account of the U.S. 

 Government from 1924 to 1940, the most valuable brought $465. 

 Only 3 skins were sold for more than $400, 7 for $300 to $350, 

 7 for $200 to $295, 12 for $105 to $190, and the remaining 25 for 

 less than $100. The average price per skin was $148.54. 



On 12 April 1957 at public auction, 117 dressed skins sold for 

 the account of the U.S. Government brought an average price of 

 $22.88 per skin (F. G. Ashbrook, letter 29 April 1957). 



On 1 January 1968 the first collection of sea otter skins taken 

 for commercial use since 1911 was offered for sale at the Seattle 

 Fur Exchange, Seattle, Wash. The auction was held for the ac- 



