The examiner., 1886-01-02

FOR WoMAH's WEAR.
How Seals are Killed, ana how thei
 skins are Prepared. ~sa

How Seals are Killed. ana now tnelr
 Skins are Prepared.
 It is unsafe to drive the seals more than five or six miles during any one day, as they easily become oyerheated, ana tne skins are thereby injured. When nlgnt comes on the driving ceases, and senrnes are posted round each division. to prevens the animals from straying during tnq nipbt. occasional whistling being suf1clen1 +o kaen them together In the nnorning,i if the weather is favorable, the driving 1sh continued until the killing ground IS reached. where the victims are allowed te rest over night under guard, ana nnatly, as early as possible in the morning the sealers appear with their clubs, when agaln small parties of twenty or thirty seals are separated from their fellows surrounded by the sealers, and the slaughter com mences. Even at this last moment an other selection is made, and any animal appearing to the eye of the Aleut to pc either below or above the specified age IS left unnoticed and allowed to go on US way to the shore. The men with the clubs, proceed from one group to another, ln- mediately followed by the men with knives who stab each stunned seal 70 the heart to insure its immediate death These men are in turn followed by the skinners, who with great rapidity divert the bodies of their valuable covering leaving, now: ever the head and fippers intact. A Few paces behind the skinners come carts dfaWn by mules, into which the skins are rapidly thrown and carried away. The wives and daughters of the sealers finger III the rear of the death-dealing column, taking away the blubber, which they carry on their heads, the oil dripping down their faces and over their garments The skins. yet warm from the body, are discharged into capaciOus Salt-hOuSes and sRiteQ down for the time being. This treatment is continued for some time, and after the application of heavy pressure, they are finally tied into bundles containing two skins, securely strapped, ana are then ready for shipment.
 The following is the process by which the skins are prepared and dressed in New York: When the skins are received by the furriers in the salt, the latter IS wash ed off, and the fat removed from the in- side with a knife, great care being taken that no cuts or uneven places are made ID the pelt. The skins are next thoroughly cleansed by being stretched upon beams and dried After the drying process they are soaked in water and thoroughly wash ed with soap. After this the fur is dried again, the pelt being kept moist, and the workman pulls out the long hair with the assistance of dull knife. This operation, a very delicate one, is repeated several times until nothing but the soft fur re- mains The skins are then dried again and moistened on the pelt side, and shay ed until fine ever surface is obtained.
 Then follows the process, slow and tedious one, of working, drying and soft ening the skins by treading them with bare feet, in hogshead, with fine sawdust to absorb the grease. In dying, the liquid is put on with brush, the points of the standing fur being carefully covered. The skin is then pulled so as to make the -r.-A-&---~a.-sc.el.-vt for-r0rf little time, and partially dried. The dry dye is removed and another coat applied, and the same process is repeated number of times. A few of the coats of dye are put on, heavily pressed down to the edge of the fur, from eight to twelve coats pro ducing good color. The skins are then wasted again and cleansed with sawdust