The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-01-15
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A few Words About FUps.

| Some interesting facts relative TO the fur
trade of the ludsons Bay Company are re-
lated in the correspondence ofthc New lamp
shire Statesman. The inrs and pcltries of the
| company comprise the following varieties -
Fox, of several colors black and brown bear;
sable, otter, lynx beaver, raccoon, mink mus
quash, wolf, seal artin, squirrel, and erminc.
! The most important in the list is sable, of
which about one hundred and twenty-five
thousand are collected by the company an
nually. In England, the sable was always
held in great estimation a wreath of black
| sable, which was presented TO Henry l.. in
the carly part of the eleventh century, by the
Bishop of Lincoln, cost no less than llOO
which i'll those days was an immense sum.
The Russian or Siberian sable is most es-
tened, being setter and more silky than
the American. Russia produces about tw cnty-
hive thousand of them annually. The price
corresponds with the abundance and glossy
blackncss OF the upper coat-a high garment
not uniroqucntly 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 tenth of
the American sable SKINS amounting to one
hundred and twenty-five thousand annua lly.
forwarded by the Iludson's Bay Company,
are sent to France and Germany, where it is
greatly admired for ladies' wear
Ut martin skins the company gathered in
one year fourteen thousand, and the French
free traders in Canada exported thirty thou
sand thrcc hundred and twenty-five Of them
in the same year.
The most valuable among the varieties Of
the fox are the black or slvcr-a single SIX in
often commanding at Wholesale $500, ard
even S5OC. About one thousand of them are
collected annually by the company, and near
ly all go to Russia and China for Innings and
trimmings to dresses.
The fur Of the sea otter is used for similar
purposes, and for caps, collars, and robes
About fifteen or twenty thousand are collect
ca annually, and will 80 to China. where a
single skin fetches SIS, except few which
so 10 Russia, Turkey, and Greece.
Lynx and lynx cat are now out of fashion
in Europe, and are dyed and prepared for tx-
portation to this country. Wolf skins 20 to
Russia for sleigh robes. Beaver has become
a mere drug since the era of cotton hats
Beaver skins are used in the army for military
caps and pistol holsters. The brown beaver
which was in great demand in Europe ff,v
years ago a single skin often commanding
llity sulneas, now seldom brings five. The
pole cat skin is much admired for its beauty
but 1t is hardly ever used, in consequence of
It's bad odor. Squirrel is used in immense
quantities all over Europe and the lludaons
bay Company export vast quantities TO the
continent. Ii is extensively and successfully
dyed i'll imitation of Russian sable. It's
Iightaess makes it highly priced, the belly Of
the dalk blae variety being said TO weigh not
more than pound and a half, when made in
to a luil-sizcd cloak. The Lowell Journal
says:
The ermine has been for more than
thousand years associated with the lolticst
| dignity of the British throne and bench. In
the language of heraldry. this fur is STYLED
mlncrer The coronation robes of all the
royal family are erm''te, studded all over with
small black tufts Of wool of the black Astra-
| chan lamb, inserted, in every square inch of
the garment, With these black spots insert
cd, the ermine is styled powdered miuever.
Royalty can only wear the minevcr powdered
all over The peers and pceiesses wear cr-
mine powdered in rows, the number Of
which indicate the rank Of the wearer On
all State occasions the royal judges array
| themselves in robes Of scarlet and pure crminc,
| the peers in scarlet robes dcckcd with gold
lace, and tie appropriate rows of erninc OF
bars of minever; : the royal family in robes
Of m'never powdered all ovcr.''
The Sibe'ian elmine is said to excel the
American variety, in its intense and spotess
wilderness. The lIudson's Bay Company
tap about twenty thousand annually.