The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-11-27
A Few words about Furs.

trade OF the Hudson Bay Company, are re-
lated in the correspondence of the New
Hampshire Statesman. The furs and pei
tries of the company comprise the following
varieties Fox, of several colorS black
and brown bear sable, otter, lynx, beaver,
raccoon, mink, muquasb, wolf for seal, mar
tin, squirrel, and ermine. The most impor-
tant in the list is sable, of which about 1885,
600 are collected by the company annually.
In England the sable was always held in
great estimation a wreath of black sable
which, was presented to Henry l.. in the
early part of the eleventh century, by the
Bishop of Lincoln, costino less than
Gl00, which, in those days was an immense
sum.
The Russian or Sherman sable is most
esteemed, being softer and more silky than
| the American. Russia produces about 25, 900
! ofThem annually. The price corresponds
with the abundance and glossy blackness of
the upper coat--a high garment not unfre-
| quently costing $3.50. The civic robes of
the Lord Mayor and Corporation of London,
which, according to the Municipal law and
long usage, must be worn on State occasions,
which are very numerous are trimmed with
sable Nearly nine-tenths of the American
sable skins, amounting to l25, 900 annually,
forwarded by the Hudson Bay Company, are
sent to France and Germany, whore it is
greatly admired for ladies' wear.
Of martin skins the Company gathered in
one year $4,000 and the French free traders
| in Canada, exported 80, 1926 of them in the
same year. .----.-
The most valuable mong the varieties of
| the fox are the black or silver-a single
skin often commanding at wholesale $500,
and even $500. About 1000 of them are
collected annually by the Company, and
nearly all to 60 to Russia and China for
Innings and trimmings to dresses.
The fur of the sea otter is used for a SINH
lar purpose and for caps, collars and robes,
About s, 900 or 10000 are collected annu-
ally, and will 60 to China, where single
skin fetches $75, except few which go to
Russia, Turkey and Greece.
Lynx and lynx cat are now out of fashion
in Europe, and are dyed and prepared fol-
expectation to this country. Wolf skins &c
to Russia for sleigh robes. Beaver has be-
come mere drug since the era of cotton
hats. Beaver skins are used in the army fol
military caps and pistol holsters. The
brown beaver which was in great demand il
Europe fifty years ago, a single skin otter
commanding fifty guineas now seldom
brings five. The pole-cat skin is much ad
mired for its beauty, but is hardly ever used
in consequence of its bad odor. Squirrel il
used in immense quantities all over Europe
and the Hudson Bay Company export vas
quantities to the continent. 1t is extensi7el,
and successfully dyed in imitation of Rus
sian sable It's lightness make it highl,
priced, the belly of the dark blue variet,
being said TO weigh no more than poun'
and half, when made into full sized cloak
The Lowell Journal says:
"The Ermine has been for more than
: thousand years associated with the lofties
3, dignity of the British throne and BENCH
, In the language of heraldry this fur is styl
ed ndiaeUer. The coronation robes of all tn
royal family are Efmi7e, studded all owe
D with small black tufts of wool of the elac
| Asrachan lamb, inserted in every squaI
5 inch of the, garment. With these blae
spots inserted the ermine is styled powder
ed mineyer' Royalty can only wear til
). minever powdered all over. The peers an
peeresses wear ermine powdered in row
It the number of which indicate the rank
A the wearer On all state occasions tn
royal judges array themselves in robes
{ scarlet and pure ermine, the peers in scarlt
l. robes decked with gold lace, and the apprC
n. pirate rows of erinine or 'bars of minever
n the royal family in robes of 'minever pow
dered all over
-" The Sherman ermine is said to excel ii
n American variety, in its intense and spotle
is whiteness. The Hudson Bay Company trs
about 20, 900 annually