Seal

[Traditionalist]

Seal Fur, which for dubbing purposes must be the very soft fur from very young seals, which is shed by them, before they attain their "normal" coats, and used to be collected, has been used for a long time for various flies. Mainly as dubbing. It is now sometimes difficult to obtain. The fur from adult seals is useless for this! The fur dyes very well indeed, giving bright sparkling colours, and retaining the translucency of the natural fur, which is a light cream colour in its natural state. There are various synthetic substitutes available, but the real thing is better! If you can not obtain it, then use Mohair.
   
This is one of my "blending boxes". I almost never use single colours, and I often blend this fur with hare and other furs.


Contrary to popular opinion, the fur used for dubbing does not come from "Fur seals"!  It comes from Harp seals, and the shed fur is collected, no seals are killed in order to obtain it. Huge amounts can be found blowing around when the seals shed their white coats after ten to twelve days.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harp_Seal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fur_seal

Fur from old coats and similar, or fur from the wrong seals, which is often offered,  is largely useless for fly-dressing purposes. It is often very stiff and wiry and difficult to blend or manipulate. The real thing is very soft and easy to use.

TL
MC