The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-31

Our 81. Paul Correspondence.


Our 81. Paul Correspondenee.
81. Paul, MINI, Jan a., 1894
Enent Of he Fur Trdde-Amoum Annually Erpwted--
|. Relative Value Of ne Different rus-nuppino and
Trappers in Ae Northcesf-- Where he nm Go To-Nep
York Houses hs Heaviea Buy>rs-The HrdSon Bay
Agency, DC
The fur forms important feature In the wealth
and prosperity OF Minnesota. Although the business
Ia by means extensive as II was few years ago,
still II gives employment to thousands and Ia matter
we'll worthy OF investigation. In good seasons furs
valued at half million Of dollars have been shipped
from this point but this the exports will fall
short about 800 600 Tho TRADE seems TO be monopo
by three four large houses In this city, arm
nlone claiming have exported $50 900 worth; but
there small dealers scattered all tho State who
drive profitable business and invest their earnings In
land with the expectation OF being rich some OF these
days their snowy neighbors OF st Paul Trap
pcrs usually TO this city In great numbers at
this Of tho year Here they dispose Of their
furs the highest prices, and rcnt terms rca
sonabc perhaps than at any OF the smaller towns tho
interior They hardy, industrious class Of people,
frequently whole families supported during tho
winter by the untrng activity and wonderful skill OF
these Thor stock In trade consists Of
few steel traps and rife, together with natural apu
for the business without which few Of them BIO
successful.
Chief importance tho mink fur which IA 4
Of considerable To the trappcrs and traders
throughout the northern part or the State In former
years. when mink not considered fashionable fur
and all the rage skins could be bought for
twenty i've thirty each but they VIII bring
iron dollars apiece by the gross Last year
they could not be had for less than nine dollars but an
unusually mild fall the EaS. Iosscncd tho demand for
fur goods and fall the price Of skins followed %
natural consequence The Chippewa Indians are the
most successful trappcrs We have, aud monoposs the
pulsion OF the Sioux with whom they AT
The hunting grounds located In the widsst ana most
hood Of the h@adwsters q the Mississippi and along
shores Of that chain of lakes which distinguishes tho
nor'hsrn boundary q Mnne'o's ana form. a,a,s.
and tho possessions of the Hudson Bay Company. The
trapping season usually commences In October, and con
nues through the greater part of the winter Furs 90
IN December the most valuable, on account OF
the'r weight mink at that season Of tho pear sesss con-
sidered afull furrcd." the trnders A. III
perIenccd dealers can by examining Cha Islis tell "
nicely almost In what particular month ihe animals are
| killed. and TX price upon tho skin" accordingly.
In trapping tho mink great caution and ingenuity have
TO DO by the hunter In ordcr 10 be successful
Before the covers the ground dineun 10 ma
their hiding place and It requires all the willy ART q
the aborgine discover their whereabouts but A. the
winter advances and the "neecy mantle" shrouds the
earth trouble Attending thu operation and
the bungng farmers boy can track tho animal 70
It's hoe The hiding place Once a,se1vsrea s
Most rappers bait their traps with mnnows, which are
easily procured In any o. the neighbonng lakes
Next in Importance The mink comes the muskrnt
II found very plentdliy In all the lakes throughout
the entire State and large Quantities OF the furs arc
shipped from "a Paul for tho European markets. The
skin. worth about twenty I've cents each, and are
easily converted into good warm gloves, which hnd
ready market among the poorer classes OF our popua
ton Bear skins which are beoomng rather soafoo
now. brought In by the Chippewas generally, and
find a ready marke, at nftscn dollars zach Wolf and
raccoon skins which used principally 10 tho manu-
facture q robes, plentiful this year The wolf skin
"a worth about four dollars and The aocoon about on
l III. 10 81 UmNh ~
some parts u Europe, especially Germany large quan
titles Of these fur. used for trimming purposes The
fur % the American FOX u preferred ~ the kurppcan
and good profits can be made shipments from this
country. -
highly priced Pelts worth from seven dollars 20
| eight dollars each. Beaver u the only fpr poh by
| weight n ~ worth thrc. doliars per pound and II
bought up by the agents IL Eastern Va
considerable quantities. Buffalo skins are brought here
by The Red ,s ysr ,ds 30, Dot y .s, sIas
river % NJ TOaIs Good bufso>s can 10 purrbaned
retailers here have The conscience 70 chafge hnesn
dollars white buffalo skin " considofci great rary,
and . yery much sough, aisr ~ trader Agr hs,.a
Indians several years ago presented ~itb couple "
white buffalo skins ~ The ehef % ths nation Ihsy
the only skins q that detcrpton IN the saessgn
~ the tribe and tho compliment sa4 cteensd th' high
could be pad Tho recipient rrsaris ie tayor
very highly and woud part with ne presoni fof love
Ia deer skins hero h 10, nu,h doing on accom-, q
the scarcity ~ f~lts Tho Stow played sfent havoc
with The deer pefore her srpuison from the STATE
derng thss DESCRIPTION o. Eams quite scafos BIT no-
that thcse rclonucgs hunters aray "a b0icd uiAf
thee n0narchs q the forest oil bccone rnofe psnuial
! The akina are principally fought on accoabi ~ Nes
| York houses aud worth about hFe aYhars
| each prosn New YORK they are uAnsppfted 70
| yOhnstOwn and Glovensils. Y, 70 ~ MANI
featured into g0vos and a varety ~ usefnl sffife~
Probably three fourihs % 40 the far furniis~d ~
this Stat lnd their way 70 New work where iheJ 49,
sod 10 nabufafturrrs and hen Distributed All over ne
eonptrv The Mes York honses have their agents here
and aprear " nouopoigs 81 The trade Thefe Ars Two
or three establishments here wbsfe fars are ifess b1i
the rpost vAuahe fsrs transported "a Nss fors "
be dressed that the beet class - Tor gods can -
b0asht ehaater IN that city thar hsr cAn here There
il g0l opening here f0r nrNt clAss dressing ana
| manufacturing houae, aud " Fufpfisng hat slfne
sntnte Yauaee has ma jumped At tho chance ers uiH
| Tbe Hudson Bay Comp@ny have AZ agrb.Y ~ thi'
ei,y but not fof ths purchase ~ sAs ~ WV "
merely a Forwarding aseDcy for tss transportation -
sods 10 Eaft Garry and the nufnsryla Jsis hfplxhesi
ths tsrr,,ory n that sDoisni noDOfsy hoat v ~
sfi. rcesigs tbese trading sts cots ffrrn Eng afd
bat ~ Psai enjoys far share a he patfonssnl ess
saIiy 10 The Wiftar rsson, wbeu Ne sgpflles A ~
| to~U are ara run short Tor, CARR, ut.rh 70 We
| posi whsnos all the otbsr posts ob,ain Their sap
plies ouly ahyut nrsy miles IRON Tie Dorthefh b~sn
darn q ihS state thai yUg vii Dercsiss a Gat'
cnbvansni tbs msrsst and Nv f.eaiiy spptlis'
| A. any TINS ~ ths year Ths Haf.n by ,pnfAnj
snsy re reyutailon ~ teins he Oldest hpfinsss go
| reru % this o1rtinent Tbef charter wa gfmi@d ~