The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-01-10
ABOUT FURS.

4hCiC dAC tWO ulSlluCbS anu ODDO5lIc
values of fur. Nearly all animals from
the cold countries possess two kinds OF
hair; one, called fur, lies. close to the
skin. is soft, Silly and barbed length
wise. This is the seal skin as seen in
muhs, etc. The other is called over
hair, and is longer. straighter and more
rigid. The real use of the fur is to keep
the creature warm, and by scraping
upon the under side OF the skin the roots
of the over-hair are severed, combed
out, leaving the rich fur that is so ad-
mired in muis, etc. This is also ex-
tremely valuable as pelting, while the
over-hair is used for a variety of pur-
poses. The demand for furs depends
entirely upon the dictates OF tickle fash
ion. and furs thai were in great demand
twenty years ago are absolutely uncalled
for now "a fortunate circumstance, as
a continual demand upon a single
species for great number of years
would undoubtedly result in its extinc-
ton. The prin ipal call now is for the
fuEseal and seal-otter. OF the latter
about 5000 are taken yearly. They are
only found in the North Pacific islands
The over-hair is extremely rich and fine,
reaching but little over The fur, which is
thick, close and silky, of q rich brown
color, many of the hairs being tipped
with silver, n growth that is much imi-
tated by inserting white skunk hairs in
cheap furs. The best skins are valued
from one hundred to five hundred dol
lars, and are especially affected by the
wealthy Chinese.
One of the most valued furs of ancient
times was the ermine or stoat-then
only the nobility were allowed to wear
them. Vestiges of the custom are seen
frequently upon the mimic stage, where
the ermine is cotton. The mand for
them is extremely variable. though 40O,-
600 are killed yearly, and obtained. the
best, from BarabinSk and Ischim, Sibe-
ria, and others from Northern Europe
and America. In the summer they are
useless, their color being a-dingy vel
lowish brown, changing in the winter
to pure white, except at the tip of the
tail, which is jet black The change is
undoubtedly a protective measure, rem
dering the animal invisible as it creeps
along with its peculiar snake-like mo-
ton under the snow The change is
not effected by the loss of the summer
coat, as many would suppose, but by
the actual change of color in the fur.
The skins are now rated at about $3.50
apiece, and the coat of Louis TX. was
NOith dl luc IlI16 SZ,OOU.
One of the most fashionable furs is that
of the silver-fox. 1t is a rlch, deep.
glossy black, with a blush tinpe: so
beautiful are they that $500 has
been given for n single skin, and
La Houtan states that in his
time the skin of one o; these foxes.
brought its weight in gold. Skins fire.
quently bring $3.50. OF the 1000 caught
yearly, about 1000. are used in En-
gland; and they are. occasionally seen
upon the streets of New York. The
choicest skins come from La orador and
ort Moon. Some are caught in Russia,
but the hal is woolly, and not SO much
esteemed. The fox is quite valuable,
il will be seen. in other respects than
bait ng q pack of hounds-the cross.
blue, red, gray and kit foxes all being
o more or less Importance, having a
decided economic value The best
cross iox-sSins bring $40 piece. and
10000 are trapped and shot yearly.
B re fox-skins rom Archangel, on the
White Sea and Greenland. are worth
so. over 1000 being caught yearly.
Other varieties bring from fifty cents to
five dollars, and of the red fox over
three hundred thousand skins are YEAR
~ taken. the figures in the different
cases telling the story of the value of
the iur-tra and Civ ing some idea of
the amount of WORK, labor and exposure
it invo yes.
here are very few animals whose
fur rs not used in some way-that of
muskrat (and over 5000, 900 and some
times 5.OO0. 600 are taken every year)
is used IN The manufacture of hats. The
y ew York muskrats are worth Sc entv-
five cents, while Delaware and
Maryland produce an animal worth
tw.ce as much. The innocent musk
rat is often utilized by dealers as
seal, and when dyed so passed upon
the public. MANY lady who boasts
Of her gloss black marten set, or
exlus te of his marten-trimmed coat.
little suspects that he rich fur has
perhaps once mounted the hen-roost of
a cDuntry-couS n, worn by the malodor- I
Gus unk- This fur, which is extreme !
ly beautiful, is well on the market. and
1t unnecessary 10 state, not so d to ad-
vantage under its proper tie, but |
passes muster under the above |
pNeudonym. They are used for collars,
mu IS, ETC., and somewhat of an idea |
can be obtained OF the popHlarit. of the !
black marten fl ON the fact that over
SoO.OOO a year arr used, and st II it SIS !
hOe SaiO W CIdWl uuuer strange barn.
Oh produces the most black martens.
as well as Pres dents; the former and /
the an mails ra sed on Orange County
hens bringing 81. so apiece.
Cheap g AIDES of furs are made from
the Siberian squirrel, muskrats, rabbits.
wildcats, badger, coon, and even the
common domestic cat, of which 1,O00,-
600 and o, er are killed yearly; vet the
attentive observer about New York is
o ten reminded and forced to observe
that the supply exceeds the demand.
Other animals used in trimming, ETC.,
are lions, tigers and bears. Of the for
mer 500 are consumed by the trade ev-
cry year; while 20,0 bears, 500 tigers,
100. 600 buffalo, 100, 900 chinchilIas, and
{, ,OOO, 600 uirrels have been and are
used yearly in various branches of
trade. Beave to the number of 20, 900
areyearly sacrificed and used in various
ways, and in fifty years it is safe to say
that the animals will have become ex-
tinct. Fl ty years ago they were COM
mon in Maine. Now they are, If not
gone, so rare that it does not
nav tn hunt them In oil nvar bolf q |