The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1876-10-26


Duff, the price is too high for general
indulgence. Even the minute coverings
of the paws are esteemed of sufficient
value To be joined together for Innings.
The portion of fur lying under the jaw,
which is lighter in tint than the other
parts, is united to similar pieces and is
known under the name of sable gills.
About $4,000 skinsare annually collected
in the Russian territory. There IS an
extensive private demand for the sable in
Russia which compels the majority of
fur fanciers to supply their wants with
more abundant varieties of marten skins,
which are included under the same
generic name. OF these the Hudson bay
sable ranks highest, as it IS an excellent
fur, the superior qualities being scarcely
inferior in intrinsic beauty to the Russian.
The color, however, is always some
degrees lighter, and consequently the art
of the dyer is required to adapt them to
the standard efbeauty. To the same family
belong the baum or pine marten, always
found in the depth of some extensive
forest, remote from the habitations of
men, and the stone marten, so called
from its selecting rocky places for its
favOrite haunts. Both are d9nizens of
Europe. The skin of the former species
is brown, the throat alone being yellow
that of the latter presents several shades
of blush gray, being generally assimi-
lated to the color of the rocks amongst
which it is found the throat, however,
is pure white. The fur of either is soft
and good, and may be dyed with advan-
tage.
The French excel especially in the
preparation of the stone marten, which
is often known by the name of French
sable in consequence. 1t is much colder
in tint than its rival, the pine marten,
which, in the manufactured state, close
Iy apprOximates the finest sable. Among
the inferior representatives of this fami-
ly may be included the fisher, a North
American animal, larger than the sable,
with long, full fur; the mink and the
kOlinaky, or Tartar sable, which is Occa-
sionally made up in the natural state.
The ermine is peculiar to northern
Europe and Siberia. This little animal
is always hunted in the water, when its
coat is of a snowy hue. At other periods
of the year it is dull brown, and closely
resembles the common weasel of this
country. The miniver is simply the
W. tie ermine studded with small black
tufts taken from the paw of the Austria
can lamb. Scarcely less attractive than
the ermine, and about equal to it in
value, is the grebe, fur or rather down
taken from the breast of a duck which
inhabits the Swiss lakes. During the
past few years, and especially last season,
the grebe has advanced in favor This
glossy skin ranges in color from creamy
white to silver gray, and is highly priced
OF account OF its durability. The chin
chiIls is Indigenous to South America,
the best specimens coming from BuenOs
Ayres. This fur, which has been pOpu-
lar throughout Europe for many years,
is now much admired, and largely in de-
mand in this country.
Ofthe fox tribe, the black and silver
fox skins from the arctic regions are
very precious and wonderfully expen-
sive. As a superior lining fur, these two
styles are inestimable. The cross, red,
white and blue foxes are less rare, and
consequently they are not so expensive.
There has been considerable discussion
regarding he.degree of relationship ex-
listing between these different cOlored
foxes. These have generally been re-
garded as distinct species, though many
old trappers have asserted that the same
litter will afford furs of three distinct
colors, the animal also being positively
different in character.
The men who trap and otherwise pro-
cure the several varieties of expensive
ful bearing animals lead lives replete with
the severest hardshiPs and tine widest
kind of adventures; while those who en-
joy the pleasure Of wearing the beauti-
fully prepared Iurs are usually sur,
ro,,pJeI nv tho mott np;Oysbla cor,torts