Feds Raid California Kilt Store

[Wompet]

As was discussed in a recent thread, not all seals are in danger of extinction, thus the importation of not all sealskins are prohibitied. Of course, it is conceivable that problems could arise if the agent on duty wasn't able to distinguish on the spot which was which.

The thread mentioned is here: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/seal_sporrans-t42520/index.html
Gilmore hit the nail on the head. Field identification of hair-on-skin, especially on a finished product, is pretty much limited to family or maybe to genus - seal, rabbit, muskrat, badger, fox, cow, beaver, et cetera. (I did this at a SOKS kilt night. Ask Grant about my squirrel. ) If the agents from NOAA found sealskin sporrans, all they could do in the store is say "These are seal." Then they would take them back for laboratory identification of genus and possibly species. Alternatively, Celtic Craft Centre could provide documentation that the sporrans were either a) made of permitted species, or b) legally imported.
So, at this point, NOAA (and probably US FWS) have any sporrans they seized. Either they are shown to be illegal merchandise, in which case the store faces legal repercussions, or they are shown to be permitted, and the store gets its merchandise back.