Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1866-10-17
M 7 8 Q Z L L A N Y
The Fur Trade i'm Minnesota.

ST. PAUL, MINI, Sept. %, '66.-The
tur trade forms an important feature in
the wealth and prosperity of Minneso,
ia. Although the business is bv no
means as extensive as it was a few
years ago, still it gives employment to
thousands, and is a matter well worthy
OF investigation. In good seasons furs
valued at half a million Of dollars have
been shipped from this point; but this
season the exports will fall short about
100000 The trade seems to be mo-
nOpOlized by three or four large houses
in this city, one firm alone claiming to
have exported S150,000 worth; but
there are small dealers scattered all
over the State who drive profitable
business, and invest their earnings in
land, with the expectation of being as
rich some Of these days as their more
snowy neighbors of St Paul Trap
pers usually resort to this city in great
numbers at this season Of the YEAR
Here they can dispose Of their turs at
the highest prices, and reft on terms
more reasonable perhaps than at any
Otthe small towns in the interior, They
are hardy, Industrious class OF peo-
pie, and frequently whole families are
supported during the winter by the
untiring activity and wonderful skill
of these backwoodsmen Their stock
in trade consist of Il few steel traps and
rifle, together with natural apti-
tude for the business, without which
few Of them can be successful.
Chief in Importance is a mink fur
which is a source Of considerable reve-
nue. to the trappers and traders thro'-
out the northern part of the State In
former years, when mink was not con
sidered fashionable fur and martens
were all the rage, skins could be bought
for twenty five or 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 unusual
ly mild tall at the East lessened the de-
mand for fur goods, and fall in the
price of skins followed as a natural
consequence. The Chippewa Indians
are the most successful trapper5 We
have, and monopoize the lions share
Of the fur business, especially since the
expulsion OF the Sioux, with whom
they were ever at war The hunting
grounds are located in the widest and
most uninhabitable parts Of the State,
chiefly in the neighborhood Of the
headwaters Of the Mississippi, and
along the shores of that chain OF lakes
which distinguishes the northern bOun-
Diary of Minnesota, and forms natu-
raj line between the territory Of The
United States and the possessions of
Hudson Bay Company. The trapping
season usually commences in October,
and continues through the greater part
of the winter Furs obtained in De-
cember are the most valuable, on ac-
count Of weight, mink at that season
of the year being considered full furr-
ed, as the traders express it. Expe-
rienced dealers can by examining the
pelts, tell to Il nicely almost in what
particular month the animals are kill
ed, and fix a price upon the skins ac-
cordingly.
In trapping the mink great caution
and ingenuity 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 requires all the willy art of the ab-
origine to discover their whereabouts ;
but as the winter advances and the
feecy mantle" shrouds the earth
there is less trouble attending the op-
GRAFTON, and even the bungling farmer S
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 trap,
pers bait their traps with minnows,
which are easily procured in any OF
the neighboring lakes.