Quote Originally Posted by auld argonian View Post
Just as an aside, I remember a lot of references to sealskin coats being popular back in the early part of the twentieth century...I'm trying to find some references that will give me a more specific timeline but they're just not popping out. Just thought that it would help date the point at which the fur became popular.

Best

AA
Can't give a time line but can say it is for insulation purposes. Inuit wouldn't be caught dead outside without wearing seal skin. The time you give, of course, predates synthetic insulating materials but even the modern materials don't hold a candle to seal skin clothing. This has nothing to do with the use of seal skin for sporrans. Perhaps it's because you can get quite a lot of sporrans from one seal pelt, you'd need about 3 - 4 decent sized haggis to make just one sporran.. McMurdo brough comparitively looking sporrans to a kilt night once bovine and seal skin. The bovine had quite course fur whereas the seal was so soft.