The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-01-03
HEB SEAL SKIN sACQUE
And the Accommodation Animal which
Furnishes the Raw Material.

And the Accom- odnting Animal when
Furnishes the Raw Material.
New York Times.
Although the weather has been compa-
ratiyely mild since Winter opened, New
York ladies show as decided q lining for
fur garments and fur trimmed clothing as
in any previous year. In viewing the pro-
cession OF well dressed women in Broad
way or Fifth avenue one is impressed with
q thought Of the vast number Of animals
slain annually to meet the demand for the
iavorite furs It is interesting to calculate
how many playf seals, sharp.eyed lynxes,
sly foxes, spry squirrels, timid rabbits, and
other interesting creatures have been de.
nuded Of their pelts to warm or adorn the
throng OF women passing by. 1t takes three
fur sealskins to make a sacque and about 70
sQuirrel.skins TO make lining for silk
or satin dolman. The wearer Of the furs
has scarcely any conception OF the hard
ships and dangers incurred in the hunting
Of the animals and the collecting OF their
skins, or the great work in preparing the
pelts for use. When they are dried and
received by the dealer they are first assort-
ed and graded into different colors and
qualities. A skin in its rough state is not
an attractive article. II must be carefully
cleaned and dressed by processes which
take 9 long time before 1t assumes the
handsome appearance which 1t presents in
the fur stores. Most furs have TO be dyed,
the majority Of people preierring dark
colors. Seal fur Is always dyed, (seal brown,
as the color is known,) and the bulk Of it
in London. Our American dyers, with one
exception, have not been as successful in
the preparation OF dye-the manufacture Of
which Is trade secret-as the European
dyers.
The chief source OF supply for choice fur
sealskins is Alaska. There are two islands
in that region, st. Paul and St George,
leased 10 company, but under strict con-
troll OF our Government, from whence the
greater portion OF fur sealskin comes.
These islands, situated in Behring Sea, are,
50 to speak, seal stock-yards and yield the
larger portion OF the revenue from Alaska
to this Government, every skin taken being
taxed. Near these islands are Behring and
Copper Islands, under the control OF the
Russian Government, which are also leased
10 company, The seals arc more abund.
ant on the American islands.
Under the administration OF the Ameri.
can Government in Alaska, the killing OF
fur seals is limited. Only 5000 animals
are allowed TO be killed annually on the
Island Of 81. Paul and 5000 on the Island
Of St. George. The seals come from the
ocean to these islands, from nobody
knows where, every year, and, climbing
onto them, rest, or breed their young The
COW seals, when they land, are protected
by old bull seals, who, like rooster in
barn-yard, have multiplicity OF wives.
All the "bachelor" seals, male animals be-
low six years Of age, are driven away from
the breeding ground or "rookeries," as
they are termed, by the bulls, and are fore.
ed 10 take up their quarters on the land some
distance away. The bachelor seals only
are allowed TO be killed for their skins, by
the Government, and the regulations OF the
company who lease the breediDg.grounds
enforce its command, it being to its in
terest. A certain quantity OF young pups,
under restrictions, are allowed to be Killed
for food for the islanders, but only enough
for their necessities. The females and the
bulls generally are unmolested. Every.
thing possible is done to coax the shoals OF
animals who traverse the Pacific Ocean
TO make the islands their home. The
bachelor" seals are only killed in the
months OF June, July, September and
October. Natives OF the islands, employed
by the company, 60 to to the ground
where the bachelor" seals are. resting,
and, getting between them and the
water, frighten them by noises (no
firearms being allowed,) and the
seals are driyen to slaughtering grounds,
where they are Drained with clubs and
stripped OF their skins. These are then
sailed and shipped to the markets OF the
world to he dressed. Many writers have
confounded the hair seal with the fur seal.
The skin Of the former is only serviceable
for leather, and it is killed for this and its
oil. A fleet OF 60 sailing vessels and steam
ers 90 every year from St John, Newfound.
land, and elsewhere to capture the hair
seal, and take about 100000 every season.
The quantity OF fur sealskins received in
the worlds markets from Alaska every
year is 100000, and from other quarters
about $4,000. As the supply is limited
now by nearly all countries which have
seal fisheries by various restrictions, it is
not likely that the article can ever become
common and cheap.