The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-12-19
FUR OF THE SEAL.


Early in June the desolate shores Of the
Pribylof Islands, Alaska, become vocal
with the hoarse voices Of the seals that have
made this their gathering places during the
breeding season for annHinbered years. 1t
is estimated that 3, 900, 900 seals congregated
ON the rookeries of st. PauTs Island this
summer, ana those who have looked down
upon these rookeries at the height of the
! season report it as q most astounding spec
tacle. Acres of the rocky shore are alive
with seals of all sizes and kinds, and the
very ground seems to be writhing and
squirting as the ungainly creatures drag
themselves over the rocks, or pause to fan
themselves with their fippers, Great bat
ties are waged between the heads of seal
families from June to August, and the harsh
chorus of their voices is heard at sea above
the roar Of the breakers, and is the sailors
guide in making the islands during the
heavy summer fogs. Only the male seals
from two to four years of age are killed,
and the skins of the three-year-old have the
finest and closest fur. The method of kill
ing them has nothing heroic or human-like
about 1t. The natives start out before dawr
and, running down the shore, get between
the sleeping seals and the water and then
drive them, MS they would drive SO many
sheep, to the killing ground, half-mile in
land. They drive them slowly, giving them
frequent rests for cooling, and gradually
turning aside and leaving behind all seals
that are not up to the requisite age and con-
dition. When the poor, tame things have
reached their death ground the natives go
round with heavy clubs and kill them with
one blow ON the head. The skins are quick
| ~ stripped from them and taken to the salt
| ing house, where they are covered with salt
and laid in great piles. The natives receive
forty cents for each skin taken in this way.
After few weeks in the sailing house the
company's steamer brings them down to
San Francisco, and the special agents of the
United States Treasury at the islands counts
the skins before they are shipped, and ac-
| companying them to San Francisco they are
again counted in his presence by the Collec-
tor of that port The tax of $2 is then paid
on each skin, they are treated to more salt,
rolled into bundles and packed into tight
barrels, ready to ship to London. Two
weeks ago the st. Paul brought down 6S, 900
| sealskins, valued at 81, 800, 900, and the
tax paid to the government amounted to
some $136, 0e0. When Callorhinus ursinus
had thus delivered up his skin, and been
sailed and packed into barrels here, he is
sent on by railfo Dad and steamship to Lou
| don. Over seven firms in London are now
engaged in the dyeing and dressing of seal
skins, although there is a fiction still pass
| ing around about the secret of dyeing being
held by one family of London furriers.
Smiths, Oppenheimers and other great firms
| buy the sealskins, dress them, plush them,
and give them the deep velvety brown and
black dye that constitutes them such articles
| Of luxury and fashion. A firm of Paris fur
riers has been setting the fashion of dyes
for several years, and in accordance with
their behests the color has been made dark
er and darker, until it is now nearly black.
| The old London furriers shake their heads
at this change, as the strong nut gall and
acids used to obtain this rich dark tone are
liable to eat and destroy the leather.-St.
Lostfs Globe Democrat.