AbstractThe compositions of the blubber fats of a male and female elephant seal were examined. Evidence is presented to show that acids of chain length greater than C22were absent; there was an appreciable difference in the composition of the fatty acids from the two specimens. The possibility of a dependence of the fatty acid composition on the physiological state of the animal is discussed.The use of methyl esters in preference to fatty acids in the preliminary separation by low‐temperature crystallization has the advantage of obviating the cumbersome steps of saponification, regeneration of the fatty acids and final methylation, since the esters can be prepared directly by methanolysis. The risk of accidental oxidation of the highly unsaturated portion of the fat is also minimize