Diagram of a Vertical Section of the Skin of the Fur Seal, showing how (h) the coarser Hairs penetrate quite through (s) the Skin, while (f) the Fur has Roots comparatively superficial. (After Murie.)
If we look at a lady’s Seal-skin jacket, we at once observe its rich brown colour, and the velvety softness and denseness of the fine hairs composing it. If this be compared with the coarse, hard, or salted dry Seal-skin as imported, or, still better, with the coat of the living Fur Seals, one is struck with the vast difference between them, and wonders how the coarse or oily-looking, close-pressed hair of the live animal can ever be transformed into the rich and costly garment above spoken of. Passing our finger among the hairs of the Cat or Dog, we may notice short fine hairs at the roots of the longer, coarser, general covering of the animal. This is the so-called under-fur. It equally obtains in most of the land as in the aquatic Carnivora. But in the greater number of these animals the short hairs are so few and often fine as to be comparatively speaking lost sight of among what to our eyes constitutes the coat. The remarkable feature, then, in the Fur Seals is its abundance and density. The operation which the skin undergoes to bring out, so to say, the fur may be briefly described as follows:—The skin, after being washed rid of grease, &c., is laid flat on the stretch, flesh side up. A flat knife is then passed across the flesh substance, thinning it to a very considerable extent. In doing this the blade severs the roots of the long strong hairs which penetrate the skin deeper than does the soft delicate under-fur. The rough hairs are then got rid of, while the fur retains its hold. A variety of subsidiary manipulations, in which the pelt is softened and preserved. are next gone through. These we need not enter into, but only further state that the fur undergoes a process of dyeing which produces that deep uniform tint so well known and admired. We may, however, mention that it is the dyeing process which causes the fur to lose its natural curly character and to present its limp appearance.
THE NORTHERN FUR SEAL.[209]—The habits and life history of this animal are probably more accurately known than those of any other of the Eared Seals. Fully a hundred and twenty years ago Steller, a naturalist in the employ of the Russian Government, spent a season in Kamstchatka and the islands in the neighbourhood of Behring Strait. During his sojourn he carefully studied the habits and anatomy of an animal termed by him Sea Bear, which existed in innumerable quantities in the region in question, publishing the results of his observations in the “Transactions” of the St. Petersburg Academy. A missionary, Krasheninikoff by name, some years later, under the title of Sea Cat, also gave an account of the same animal, but possibly deriving his information from the preceding writer. For a long period little was added to their narratives. In 1868 the Russian Government ceded to the United States the territory of Alaska, including several of the Aleutian Islands, and among others the Pribyloff group. These latter are remarkable and important, inasmuch as they are the resort of literally myriads of Seals, some of which are exceedingly valuable for their fur. A Captain Pribyloff had discovered the small island which bears his name in 1786, and thereafter a Russian company established themselves, carrying on an extensive trade in skins and oils up to the date of cession. The Russian Bishop Veniaminov, in 1840, gave an account of the Seals of the Pribyloff group, containing a statistical table of their probable numbers and evident decrease unless measures were taken to prevent their wholesale extermination.
The American Government wisely appointed agents, the result being reports by Captain C. Bryant and Mr. H. W. Elliott, which contained wonderfully graphic histories and descriptions of this Fur Seal and others of the group. To these gentlemen’s reports we are chiefly indebted, and do not hesitate to abstract without stint.
The “Kautickie” is the name given by the Russians to this Fur Seal. It repairs to the Pribyloff Islands to breed in almost fabulous numbers, between the beginning of May and the middle of September, some few stragglers occasionally remaining even to the close of December; but between the beginning of June and end of September, they remain on the islands in grand force. The haunts of these creatures during the winter season, after leaving the islands, are doubtful; but it is supposed that they take up quarters by a southward migration to the Pacific coasts of the United States. At all events, it is known that in the stomachs of the voracious Killer-Whales and Sharks the remains of these and other species of Seal are not unfrequently obtained by the whalers in the region in question; and likewise the Indians of the North-west American coast, as low as California, then capture them in numbers.
The males, when full-grown, are between six and seven feet long, the females not being over four to four feet and a half in length, from head to tail. The former will weigh between four to six hundred pounds, the latter scarcely reaching one hundred pounds, but oftener eighty or less. The male, with a greyish shoulder, has the rest of the body varying from a reddish-grey to deep, almost pure, black; the nose and lips are brownish; the breast and abdomen with more of an orange and reddish-brown tint; the naked parts of the hind limbs are much blacker. The female is considerably lighter, being nearly uniform grey above, and brownish-grey on the sides. The young, previous to the first moult, is uniformly glossy black, with a yellowish-brown tint on the under parts. As it grows older, it becomes gradually lighter, especially in the females, and the two sexes then can hardly be distinguished. The distinction even in the young animal between the long, coarse hairs of the outer coat, and the dense silky fur of the inner coat, is very marked. There is occasionally some variation in the colour of the sexes, both as regards age and otherwise, but the above is that most common. The male of this Fur Seal does not attain its full size until about the sixth year, although it breeds at the fourth year. The females bear their first young when three years of age. The breeding-ground, or “rookery,” as the colony of the Seals is termed, lies among the belt of loose rocks along the shores, between high-water line and the base of the cliffs, and varies in width from 60 to 150 feet. There are, besides, sand-beaches of large extent, and these stretch more inland to grassy hillocks; the said areas are used as temporary resting-places, playgrounds, and neutral territory, where young, old, and infirm or wounded may resort to undisturbed. To these sandy beaches and uplands the term “Hauling-grounds” is given, from the manner in which the Seals drag themselves out of the water in going towards them.
“ROOKERY” OF FUR SEALS.
From whatever reason, the adult males seem to leave the herd and betake themselves to the Pribyloff Islands in the spring months, when, in the first few days of May, they make their appearance, and in a suspicious, doubtful manner swim idly about, apparently reluctant to land. Soon, however, the older “bulls” approach the loose rocky shore, and commence to locate themselves. Each individual animal takes possession of a piece of ground about ten feet square, and, as those fresh from the sea approach, there begins a series of battles as to which is to retain the ground first occupied. All during the month of May, and even to the first week of June, this terrible warfare proceeds incessantly, and those next the water have to resist all comers, or themselves be forced farther back. Meantime, from the beginning till almost towards the end of June, the pregnant females make their appearance, first in small numbers, until the great body arrive in mass at the close of the month. Each male retains his position as best he can, whilst some of the females hesitate to land, calling out as if in search of some particular mate. The males coaxingly strive to inveigle them ashore, and no sooner do the females approach than they are laid hold of, and a general warfare among the whole “rookery” ensues. The quiet, unoffending, small-sized females are subjected to dreadful usage. The strong and powerful males secure, where possible, from twelve to fifteen partners in their seraglio, but to retain these is indeed a most serious business. Day and night the males, who have never left their station for at least six weeks, have still to keep watch and ward over their accommodating spouses, the only sense of meum and tuum being force. If the master of the harem dare for a moment to doze, down comes his more wideawake neighbour from behind, to obtain by foul means what he cannot obtain by fair; or some slippery partner, desirous of change, seeks to escape the bondage of her lord. Then ensues internecine and domestic strife, in which all the neighbouring males join, whenever there is a chance of capturing a coveted female. The poor wives suffer equally with their spouses—trampled, bitten, and dashed about. It results that he alone keeps who has the power to withstand his numerous assailants. Some of the females may have the fortune to get more comfortably settled than others, which are bandied from one location to another, until most of the males obtain a few partners, the lucky ones in front securing and holding the greatest number, those behind being obliged to content themselves with half-a-dozen or thereabouts.
A few days only have elapsed, and matters settled down more quietly, when the females give birth each to a single one. The little fellows soon find their voice—a kind of bleat like a young lamb’s,—begin paddling about, and then suckle. They gorge themselves heartily with the rich creamy milk. But, strange to say, the mother seems remarkably indifferent to her offspring; and, if it stray beyond the limits of the family group, it may be abducted by the other Seals for all that she cares.