Daily Kennebec journal., 1881-10-28

The Lewiston journal haa IN article on
tne iur business IN this State, from which
We learn that the value Of the fur busine. Q
zone IN the State Of Maine annually, ex-
eeeds $4,000 The largest individual
dealer u man in Brewer who handl. Q
v35 600 worth per year. The number Of
iur-ouyers in the State is not large. Their
chief sources of supply are in the regions at
the head waters of the Androscogxin, Ken
neoec and Penobscot rivers, and the streams
emptying into them. Sportsmen and oc-
caslonal hunters furnish few pelt., but the
| bulk Of the furs is furnished BY the profess
sional trappers. There are manr hundreds
| OF men in Maine who earn their living and
support their families BY hunting. trapping,
and fishing, and who do nothing else, except
perhaps act as guides for pleasure seekers in
the summer months, for the whole year
In numbers the muskrat exceeds any other
Kind of game trapped for its fur in Maine
they are caught in common rat traps and
nfty OF these small traps are sometimes set
ny one trapper. Immense quantities OF them
are caught. Most of them are exported to
Germany and Italy. where tie skins
are dyed and furnish a popular fur for
Innings and ladies' apparel. They are
among the cheapest Of furs. A very
large number of skunk furs are also
shipped. 1t is used for trimmings in th.
country and is often passed off for Alaska
sable The large part of the skunk catch
probably goes to France or Germany.
The otter is one of the most valuable and
rare fur-bearing animals trapped in Maine
Not more than 1000 offers are annually caught
in the whole State. The skins make a beauti-
full and warm fur, which is highly valued by
the Russians, Creeks and Chinese. The fur
is dark, glossy brown. and two kinds. one
being soft, short and thick. and the other
longer and coarser. and intermixed with the
former. The value of dressed skin runs
from $40 to SlS. Many of the otter skins
caught in this State are sent almost around
| the word in the course of trade. before reach.
ing the place where they are finally worn.
large number of FISHERS" are trapped
in Maine, and good many sables annually
find their way to the local markets. The
value Of our sable or beech martin Is much
less than that of the Russian sable, which is
the most costly of all furs. 1t is a small
animal. about three times large as the
common weasel. Only about $4,000 are an
nually taken. These small skins sell at s25
to $500 each. The chief demand Is in Russia,
where the use of the sable is monopolized by
the royal family. The fur of the fisher (an
animal resembling the fox is rich and soft
and dark brown in color. II is verv little
used in this country. but goes chiefly to Po-
land, Germany and Russia.
The annual sales Of real fox furs are very
large. Most of them are exported. The Rus
SLAMS use the red backs. and the Greeks use
the bellies, which are white. The fur of the
bear, of which many are killed everv year, 10
used both for robes and for military purposes.
Thousands of beavers are killed on the
streams flowing into our rivers every year.
Their fur was formerly used largely in the
manufacture of hats. and was the leading ar
tcle in the fur trade but its use for this pur
pose has been greatly diminished by the en-
ployment of silk and other less expensive
materials. 1t makes handsome trimming and
fine collars and gloves for gentlemen. The
lynx is an animal which frequently finds its
way into the traps. The fur is soft, warm
and light, naturally grayish with dark spots,
but commonly dyed beautiful black, and
used largely for ladies' mourning attire.
Minks are frequently found not far fir om
home, and a great many come down from the
Dead River The mink was formerly
favorite fur in this country for muffs. col
lars, etc, and commanded high price, but
is going out of fashion. Rabbit and coney
skins are used extensively by hatters and for
trimmings The coon skin is by no means a
vulgar fur, and is not patronized solely by
woodmen. Nearly all the raccoon furs are
sent to Russia, where they are worn as coat
Innings by the Russian mobiles.