The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-03-10
WHOLE NUMBER. $50
FurS.


Some interesting facts relstIve 10 the kap
trsde Of the Hudson Bay Compsny S.fs reIn.s
ted In the correspondence OF the New Hsmp.
shire SatssmGH. The furs ard psltFiSs d
ths company comprise the failowinR vuriy
eti4s Fox, of several colorA; black and
brown bear sable, otter, lynx, beaver, sac.i
coon, mink, musquash, W. slf fur, seal naurtin,
squirrel and ermine. The most ipo6ortanta
10 the list is sable. Of which about las ,oo0i
are collected BY the company annuaty.--l
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 tho
Bishop Of Lincoln. costing no less thsn
fl0o, which in thoss days was an Immense
SUN. - ,tN.4 ff.t.
The Russian or Siberian sable 10 most ss-
teemed, being softer and more, silky than
the American. Russia produces about as.
COO of them annually. The price cores
ponds to ths abundance and glossy blackness
of the upper coat--a high garment not unfre.
quently costing $a5O. The civic robes o
the Lord Mayor and Corporation of London!
which according to the municipal law and
long usage, must be worn on State ecasionss
which are very numerous, are trimmed with
sable. Nearly nine-tenths of the American
sable skins. amounting to l25, 1000 annually
Forwarded by the Hudson Bay Company,
are sent to France and Germany, where they
are greatly admired for ladies' weOr.
Martin skins the corn pany gathered In one
year $4,000, and the French free traders in
CAnad1 exported a9,3a5 of them in the same
yeat.
The most valuable among the varieties Of
the fox are the black or silver-a single skin
often commanding at wholesale $500, aud
even $4oo. About 1000 of them are coll
lected annually by the Company, and nearly
al! 60 to Russia and China for Innings and
3 trimmings to dresses.
II The fur OF the sea otter is used for SINH
lar purpose, and for caps, collars and robes.
d About $4,000 or 90 900 are collected annual
o ly, and will go,to China, where single skin
10 brings $75, except a few which 60 to Rus
: aia, Turkey and Greece. r.. Ill.,.
Lynx and lynx cat are now out OF fashion
+ in Europe, and are dyed and prepared for e4-
II rortation to this country. Wolf skins 60 to
10 Russia for sleigh robes. Beaver has become
'' a mere drug since the era of cotton hats
81 Beaver skins are used in the army for militia
TX ry caps and pistol holsters. The brown
~ beaver, which was in great Gemandiu Europe
ne fifty years ego, a single skin often comand.
e- ing fifty guneas, now seldom brings five
m The polecat skin is much admired for its
Gu beauty, but is hardly ever, used, in conse'
quence of its bad odor. Squirrel is used il
eo immense quantities all over Europe, and the
Hudson Bay Company export vast quaint
lis ties tc the continent. 1t is extensively an,
d successfully dyed in imitation of Russian
nu sable. Its lightness makes 1t highly priced
nu the belly Of the dark blue variety being sait
n0 to weigh no more than pound and hal
IL when made into full sized cloak. snsl
ue The Ermiue has been for more than
thuuSduu yedIS dSSUCldteu Win LQ0 IOttle9
eo dignity of the British throne and BENCH.
'e. This fur is often styled, in the language o
u heraldry, mircur.. The coronation robes o
!" the royal family are Ermine, studded ali owe
I. MS with small black tufts of the black Astra
''' chan lamb. inserted in every square inch o
o' the garment. With these black spots insert
'"' ed the ermine Is styled "powdsred minever.
Royalty can only wear the minever powdsre
aa orer. The peers and peeresses wea
" ,' ermine powdered" in rows. the number Q
'"o which indicate the rank OF the wedrer. o
VI all State OCCASIONS the royal Judges ARA
P0' themselves in robes ofscsriet and pure el
,'e mine, the peers in scarlet robes decke
~, ~, with gold lace ard the appropriate rows
" ermine or scars Of mnever," the royal fam
ly robes Of minever powdered all over.
The Siberian ermine is said to exceed tt
American variety in it's intense and spotle
ler- whiteness. The Hudson Bay Company trs
ker, about 90 900 annually.