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New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4271, 22 July 1875, Page 3

The llace for Seaiskiss,—Some thirty years ago sealskin was common enough in the old country, iiuxes were covered with it, gloves and driving-rugs wcro made of it, costermongers and cabmen ciii their cape from it. Then came a time when some cunning furrier discovered how to dye it a rich dark brown, and to givo it that exquisite soft and downy texture which is its chief charm. At once ladies adopted the luxury. It was soon found that for clcaks, jackets, muffs, dainty little hats, collars, cutis, bags, portemounaies, for a thousand other articles of feminine use, it was the most delightful, the most beautiful, the most indispensable of all possible materials. The demand for it increased with a rapidity almost marvellous, and the fashion, instead of wearing itself out, lias, if anything, steadily increased. Indeed, the best Alaska seaUkins, like the furs of the sable, the silver fox aud the Russian sea otter, command an altogether fancy price, and a handsome jacket of close texture and uniform colour, with no white hairs to break the continuation of its tint, will fetch as many guineas as livc-aud-twenty years ago it would have fetched half-crowns. The result is, that the luckless seals have had waged against them now for several years what practically ainonnta to a war of extermination.