Sealskin sporran

[KenB]

I'm not sure if this question has been posted before....
I'm a Canadian living in Toronto. I'm off to a wedding in California in July and I'm wondering if I may have a problem crossing into the USA with my dress sporran. Both my dress sporrans are sealskin. One made prior to 1975, the other a creation from Scotland c. 1990.
Has anyone had any experience with this issue? What might you recommend?

[azwildcat96]

Driving or flying? Not that it matters I guess. You could have problems if the agents know what they are looking at. Many may suggest that you be prepared, if asked, to claim that it is not seal but rather bovine.

[CMcG]

<snip> Many may suggest that you be prepared, if asked, to claim that it is not seal but rather bovine.

I would not be one of the ones who would make that suggestion. Honesty is the best policy at the border!

As for a legal answer to your question, I can't help you. If in doubt, I'd play it safe and not bring it.

[AKScott]

As an american who has driven over the border a couple times, I expect a more stern inspection from Canadian than US customs.

I would speculate your chances of crossing both borders both ways without it coming up at all is greater than 50%.

As a US citizen, the right thing for me to do would be to declare the thing (as a pre 1975 exempt item) as I was leaving the country, carry that documentation with me at all times while out of the country, and present the same form when I came back into the States. I expect the Canadain regulations would be similar, but I don't know.

I would likewise expect a US customs officer to just sign the form and hand it over, and I would expect a Canadian customs officer to ask me how I could prove the thing was made before 1975. No offense. I think there are only 22 rude people in all of Canada, but they all work on the US border as immigration agents.

[Spartan Tartan]

Unless you have clear proof of when it was made, I would NOT bring a seal skin anything into the States. The cost to replace such a rare item I suspect far surpasses the cost of a new dress sporran made from something less controversial.

Upon more thought...I wouldn't bring a seal skin sporran even if I did have the necessary paperwork. Not worth the risk.

[lukeyrobertson]

My understanding is that taking a sealskin sporran into the US is not permitted. You run the risk of confiscation. Simple as that.

[Lallans]

I'm not sure how US Customs officially regard a wildlife product that is in private hands, in private utilitarian use, and will not be left in the USA. I do know from my native friends that they are hypervigilant about ceremonial eagle feathers, but it seems that is mostly because those have a high commercial value that affects an endangered species- seals are not that. I suppose it would be best to just leave the thing at home in Canada, but frankly that would not have previously occurred to me with mine. Dang it, do I now have to pay big bucks for a cheap sporran? (Actually there are no cheap sporrans, just inferior ones at slightly reduced prices.)

I'll probably be going down to the US this Easter and unless they're otherwise giving me a hard time at Customs, I'll ask about it. Of course one border agent's opinion is not binding on another, but perhaps there is a real policy. Where I cross, they're crazy on the topic of Granny Smith apples from AUS and NZ, and not in an approving way- other places they never ask.

[Chirs]

I would likewise expect a US customs officer to just sign the form and hand it over, and I would expect a Canadian customs officer to ask me how I could prove the thing was made before 1975. No offense. I think there are only 22 rude people in all of Canada, but they all work on the US border as immigration agents.

I would love to disagree with you on that but the agents I've met when crossing the boarder have taken all that fight right out of me. Although certainly not all, there are enough that it is just assumed that one behaves like a whipped dog when approaching the booth. The day I was happy with the agent (I was on vacation!!) she very nearly shot me, and the SO looked at me as if I was shoplifting; the SO already knew that you don't talk nicely to the agent!

[ForresterModern]

I'm not sure how US Customs officially regard a wildlife product that is in private hands, in private utilitarian use, and will not be left in the USA. I do know from my native friends that they are hypervigilant about ceremonial eagle feathers, but it seems that is mostly because those have a high commercial value that affects an endangered species- seals are not that. I suppose it would be best to just leave the thing at home in Canada, but frankly that would not have previously occurred to me with mine. Dang it, do I now have to pay big bucks for a cheap sporran? (Actually there are no cheap sporrans, just inferior ones at slightly reduced prices.)

I'll probably be going down to the US this Easter and unless they're otherwise giving me a hard time at Customs, I'll ask about it. Of course one border agent's opinion is not binding on another, but perhaps there is a real policy. Where I cross, they're crazy on the topic of Granny Smith apples from AUS and NZ, and not in an approving way- other places they never ask.

Cousin Cannuck, and OP Ken

My recommendation, purely for simplicity and safety's sake, would be to leave the seal skins at home if you are coming to the US for a visit. I would be more than happy to ship as loaners one or more of my dress or semi-dress sporrans to you for your use here in the states (must be to a US address), as long as you promise to return it by shipping it from within the US before you leave the country. I have a couple of dress and semi-dress sporrans in "interesting and familiar" fur that would I am sure be suitable for your needs, and can send photos to an email address if you would like to see and hear more about them.

Customs folks are just humans like us who are doing their jobs (really, Wompet is a decent guy, I have met and drank with him), that job being to enforce the laws as they are set and as they understand them, although this can sometimes allow for a bit too much leeway one way or the other.

jeff

[Lallans]

As an american who has driven over the border a couple times, I expect a more stern inspection from Canadian than US customs.

I would speculate your chances of crossing both borders both ways without it coming up at all is greater than 50%.

I would likewise expect a US customs officer to just sign the form and hand it over, and I would expect a Canadian customs officer to ask me how I could prove the thing was made before 1975. No offense. I think there are only 22 rude people in all of Canada, but they all work on the US border as immigration agents.

AK,

You are on the wrong track regarding Canadian polices about sealskin products. Such things are freely traded here and are in fact a major source of income for various impoverished Candian communities. If Canada Customs ever hassles you or anyone on that issue, please let me know and I will see that a couple million native people and Newfoundlanders are unleashed on them.

Based on some considerable experience, customs people in all countries are almost universally unpleasant at times, but if I put myself in their position, being resented and lied to on a regular basis, and between the US and Canada always at the risk of violent offenders travelling in either direction, I am able to be understanding. And BTW, if you watch TV and movies, Canadian agents are regularly mocked by Americans for being too friendly.

Cousin Cannuck, and OP Ken

My recommendation, purely for simplicity and safety's sake, would be to leave the seal skins at home if you are coming to the US for a visit. I would be more than happy to ship as loaners one or more of my dress or semi-dress sporrans to you for your use here in the states (must be to a US address), as long as you promise to return it by shipping it from within the US before you leave the country. I have a couple of dress and semi-dress sporrans in "interesting and familiar" fur that would I am sure be suitable for your needs, and can send photos to an email address if you would like to see and hear more about them.

Customs folks are just humans like us who are doing their jobs (really, Wompet is a decent guy, I have met and drank with him), that job being to enforce the laws as they are set and as they understand them, although this can sometimes allow for a bit too much leeway one way or the other.

jeff

Coz Forrester,

You are typically, and far too, generous but I will certainly keep it in mind. However, what kiltwearer really minds 'having' to buy a new sporran? And regarding customs workers, what you said as well.