Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-20
The Kamtschatkn Fur Trade.

An exchange publishes letter from Pc
tropaulovski. KamtSchatka, which contains
the following: oi9d IL stIl
! ga gentleman who has resided here sew
eral years tells me he, estimates the amount
! of sables at about five thousand annually,
besides the government collection, which
will be this year about eight hundred,
making total of something less than six
thousand skins. AS before stated, the sable
is the. principal fur-bearing animal. Foxes
are not of sufficient number or value to
make the trade important, though none of
the merchants refuse fox skin when
offered for sale. Silver foxes and offers are
valuable, but not abundant. The black fox
is a rCra vulpes here, as in every other fur
bearing region, and merchant tells me he
would be glad. to give hundred and fifty
roubles for the skin of one, but there is
very little probability of his having the OPP
portunity. When one is seen he is dill
gently sought, and happy is the hunter
who secures him. Very few are caught
the black fox being very cunning, besides
which is the better reason-being exceed
ingly scarce. When alive and running, he
is ssid to glitter in dress of spangles. The
white fox, which is quite as rare and Valu-
able as his dark brother, is said to have his
ears and tail tipped with black, and has a
remarkably glossy hide. When a Kam-
tschadale is so fortunate as to capture
black fox he endeavOrs to keep the skin as
long as possible, under the superstition
that it brings him luck in hunting; but,
sooner or later, he must give it up to the
starost. It is forbidden to export the skin
of the black fox, as the animal is the espe-
cial property of the Government. When
one is taken the skin is purchased by the
Ispraynik, who pays the government price
and sends the fur to the cOUrt at st. Peters
burg.
The wolf is not considered valuable as
a fur bearing animal, and very little atten-
ton is devoted to his capture. He is de-
structive to cattle and dogs, and is desplsed
of every body. In all countries, i believe,
the wolf has no friends or apologists. Why
will not some fsaVant, learned in natural
history, come forward and offer a word in
his favor? Certainly there is no animal
that stands in greater need OF defense,
though l am not certain that he deserves
any, @ T.
9 The bear is abundant, but not aristo-
cratic, and the ursine hide is not considered
of much account. All the merchants buy
the bear skin when it is offered to them,
but at, very low prices, as they do not make
use of it for export. Most OF the bearsklns
purchased here are for local use, and go to
make beds, seats for sledges, heavy coats
for snow storms, bags to sleep in when
who may touch at this port. Several bear
skins have been sold on board the Wright
since she arrived here, the highest price
paid being So or Sc, and the purchaser being
soon after Informed that the native had
taken advantage ofthe strangers ignorance
and charged him too much. Expressing
desire to purchase bearskin, a merchant
said to me, Il have several at my house,
and you are welcome to one of them. Come
and make a selection Had I wished to
purchase a sable or silver fox skin do not
suppose that he or any oJher merchant
would have shown the faintest intention of
givingIit away. The bearskin above men
toned lies near me as ] write, and has COW
cred very respectable animal in its time.
LII were to meet bear wearing such
skin, 1 should prefer to go to the nearest
human habitatlon without moments de-
lay"