Note 125 — Chapter X · AMPHIBIAN MILLIONS. (continued 2)
Reading edition
I did not permit myself to fall into error by estimating this matter of weight, because I early found that the apparent huge bulk of a sea-lion bull or fur-seal male, when placed upon the scales, shrank far below my notions: I took a great deal of pains, on several occasions, during the killing-season, to have a platform scale carted out into the field, and as the seals were knocked down, and before they were bled, I had them carefully weighed, constructing the following table from my observations:
Age. Length. Girth. Gross weight of body. Weight of skin. Remarks.
Inches. Inches. Pounds. Pounds.
One week 12 to 14 10 to 10½ 6 to 7½ 1¼ A male and female, being the only ones of the class handled, June 20, 1873.
Six months 24 25 39 3 A mean of ten examples, males and females, alike in size, November 28, 1872.
One year 38 25 39 4½ A mean of six examples, males and females, alike in size, July 14, 1873.
Two years 45 30 58 5½ A mean of thirty examples, all males, July 24, 1873.
Three years 52 36 87 7 A mean of thirty-two examples, all males, July 24, 1873.
Four years 58 42 135 12 A mean of ten examples, all males, July 24, 1873.
Five years 65 52 200 16 A mean of five examples, all males, July 24, 1873.
Six years 72 64 280 25 A mean of three examples, all males, July 24, 1873.
Eight to twenty 75 to 80 70 to 75 400 to 500 45 to 50 An estimate only, calculating on the weight (when fat, and early in the season), of old bulls.