Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-05-10
The Fur Trade In minnesota.

Inc fur trade forms an important feature in
inc wealth and property of Minnesota. Al
though the business is by no means as extern
slYe as 1t was few years ago, still it gives
employment to thousands, and is q matter well
worthy Of investigation. In good seasons furs
valued at half a million of dollars have been
shipped from St. Paul; but this season the
exports will fall short about 100000 The
trade Is monopolized by few large establish
ments, but there are small dealers scattered
throughout the entire State, who do a profta.
BILE business. The trappers are hardy, in
dustrlous class of people, and frequently whole
families are supported during the winter by
the untiring activity and wonderful skill of
these backwOodsmen. Their stock in trade
consists of few steel traps and rife, together
with a natural aptitude for the business, with
out which few of them can be successful.
Probably three-fourths of all the furs furnished
by Minnesota find their way to New York.
where they are sold to manufacturers and then
distributed all over the country. A St. Paul
letter gives the following information in refer
ence to the trade:
Chief in Importance is the mink fur, which
is source Of considerable revenue to the trap
pers and traders throughout the northern part
of the State. In former years, when the mink
was not considered fashionable fur and
martins were all the rage, skins could be bought
Tor twenty-five and thirty cents each; but now
they will bring from SIX to seven dollars apiece
by the gross. Last year they could not be had
for less than nine dollars; but an unusually
mild fall at the East lessened the demand for
fur goods, and fall in the price of skins
followed as a natural consequence. The
Chippewa Indians are the most successful of
trappers we have, and monopolize the lions
rl,o - L. IL II
expulsion of the Sioux, with whom they were
ever at war. The hunting grounds are located
in the widest and most uninhabited parts of
the State, chiefly in the neighborhood of the
head waters of the Mississippi, and along the
shores of that chain of lakes which distinguishes
the northern boundary of Minnesota, and
forms natural line between the territory of
the United States and the possessions of the
Hudson Bay Company. The trapping season
usually commences in October aud continues
through the greater part Of the winter. Furs
obtained in December are the most valuable,
on account of their weight, mink at that season
Of the year being considered "full furred,' as
the traders express it. Experienced dealers
can, by examining the pelts, tell to nicely
almost in what particular month the animals
are killed, and fix a price upon the skins
accordingly.
genuity have to be exercised by the hunter in
order to be successful. Before the snow covers
the ground it is difficult to find their hiding
place, and it requires all the willy art of the
aborigine to discover their whereabouts; but
as the winter advances and the "feecy mantle
shrouds the earth, there is less trouble attend
ing the operation, and even the bungling
farmers boy can track the animal to its hole.
The hiding place once discovered, the unerring
trap is produced, and the fate of the poor mink
is sealed. Most trappers bait their traps with
iuiuuUwS, which are easily procured in any of
the neighboring lakes.
Next in Importance to the mink comes the
muskrat. 1t is found very plentfully in all
the lakes throughout the entire State, and
large quantities of the furs are shipped from
st. Paul for the European markets. The skins
are worth about twenty-five cents each, and
are easily converted into good warm gloves,
which find ready market among the poorer
classes of our population. Bear skins, which
are becoming rather scarce now, are now
brought in by the Chippewas generally, and
find a ready market at SIS each. Wolf and
racoon skins, which are used principally in the
manufacture of robes, are plentiful this year.
The wolf skin is worth about four dollars and
the racOon about one dollar. Fox skins are
gathered for expectation. In some parts of
A1u4OpS5 CopCNltLiIy AhLSC
of these furs are used for trimming purposes.
The fur of the American fox is preferred to
the European, and good profits can be made
on shipments from this country.
The best otter skins are sent to China, where
the fur is highly priced. Pelts are worth
from seven dollars to eight dollars each.
Beaver is the only fur sold by weight. 1t is
worth three dollars per pound, and is bought
up by the agents of Eastern manufacturers in
considerable quantities. Buffalo skins are
brought here by the Red river traders, but not
in large quantities, the great bulk of the skins
being sent down the Missouri river to st. Louis.
Good bufaloes can be purchased for seven or
eight dollars by the quantity, although retailers
here have the conscience to charge fifteen
dollars. A white buffalo skin is considered a
great rarity, and is very much sought after by
traders.
In deer skins there is not much doing, on
account of the scarcity of pelts. The Sioux
played great havoc with the deer before their
expulsion from the State, rendering that
description of game quite scarce; but now
that these relentless hunters are away it is
hoped that these monarchs of the forest will
become more plentiful The skins are princi-
pally bought on account Of New York houses,
and are worth about five dollars each. From
New York they are transported to Johnstown
and Gloversville N. Y, to be manufactured
into gloves and variety of useful articles.