St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-17
NEXT WINTERS WEAR.
An Alarming Decrease i'm Buffalo
Skins-.Talk About FIlrs.

NEXT WHIT ER'S WEAR
An Alarming Decrease i'm Buffalo
Skins--Valk About FIlrs.
This is the season of the year when the
furriers are beginning to get out their stocks
for next seasons sale, and it may be q
pleasant exercise for the perspiring reader
to peruSe some information CLEANED from
one of the most extensive wholesale fun
dealers in the city:
The day of buffalo OvercOatS in which the
MinneS0tian who has to brave the incleml-
encies of winter so snugly arrays himself
are fast coming to an end. and that there is
an actual famine in buffalo peIts. That
animal once so numerous in the northwest,
and but q few years ago roaming the SaS-
katcheWan in almost numberleSS herds,
has dropped out Of existence almost as by
magic.
In 1882 in this region $50, 900 hides were
captured, while in 1SS4-5 not more than
100 are known by the furrierS to have been
taken. The only stock therefore on which
the furrierS depend to supply the market is
from robes left over from last year and
what they can pick up unSold from country
dealers. To further demonstrate the dearth
in these robes, the firm in question, by dint
Of Scraping all over the country, have got
together from 800 to 1000 robes only to
supply demands, and begin to contemplate
locking up two Indian tanned robes in a
whisky barrel to preserve for ten years, and
then open the same for the display of a
curiosity equal to the white elephant.
This firm assert that the buffalo robe for
garment and other uses
HAS SEEN ITS DAY,
and that henceforward that article will be
so costly as to be out of the reach of the
classes by which they are SO much priced
In fact ether goods are being collected and
made I'D to meet the demand for the buffalo
coat, which cannot this year be met from the
supply left over from other years.
The goods which are Immediately to take
the place of the buffalo garment and which
comes nearer the former price of the latter,
is that of the China dog, more commonly
known as the japanese wolf. These are
principally purchased in China, although
they are native also to India and other pOr-
tons of Asia, They are imported in the
shape Of robes, the skins being cut out
square and deity sewed together by the
Chinese, and as a result of cheap labor in
that country, they are as finely tanned as
the Indian was accustomed to tan the
buffalo robe. The American tanners can
dc this as well as the Chinese OF Indians,
but on occount of the cost of labor it is
ruinous for them to attempt to thus
perfect the skins. The ~ cents an hour
wages for handling the skins and manip-
lllating them, which secures their perfect
ness, cannot be successfully matched by
$3.50 day wages for the same work in
America.
THE WOLF ROBE.
On account of the low price they get for
the wolf robe the Chinese do not send many
of them to this country, and of the 5000
robes now in the country, the firm in ques-
ton have secured and have in stock 1, 500.
The fur of the japanese wolf is long and
silken, of darkish fox-hue, its tanned side
is as soft and pliable as wooden blanket,
while it is fully as durable as the buffalo
robe in garment. Coats can be made
from this skin to cost as high as $50, but
the general price will be from SIS to $25.
Garments of otter skin for general veal
will be next in order as a substitution fol
the buffalo, but r~Obably the old-standby,
the coon skin, W II meet with more favor.
Minnesota furnishes about 5000 of coon
skins to the market per annum, but this
does not commence to meet the demand fol
home consumption. The Lake SUI
periOrs coon, whose fur is darkest
and largest is the best. Minnesota stands
next in value While going southwark the
skins are lighter in color and consequently
less valuable. The price of the coon-sllii
overcoat will vary from $50 to $40 each
this season. Cheaper coats will be made
from the pelts of the wild cat, the wolf and
goat, the latter being the cheapest, Of great
durability and warmth, and which will be
made up at the price of from S12 to SIS.
There is no article of fur which has de-
clined so rapidly in value for years as that
of the mink, and skins which cost few
years ago s. to 81 each can now he bought
for 80 to so cents. A recent purchase OF
these skins in this city for $40, from five
to six years ago would have cost 50, 500, and
another for S710 would have cost 1000.
This decline is caused entirely by the mink
having been discarded by fulTiers for ladies'
wear. a first-class mink oyercoat is to be
purchased this year for $50 to S15O, and
at that price il will be cheaper than beaver
or otter. The Red river valley mink is
more valuable than that of other sections,
because it is larger and darker.
THE FINEST OYERCOATS
in the market will be made from beaver
and otter and the former fur will cost from
S125 to S175 and the latter from $50 to
$500. The demand for these two furs fol
the trimming of ladies' cloaks and dresses
has almost entirely fallen Off under the i'm
perious rulings of Dame Fashion, who now
demands the black marten for that purpose.
for which the fur of the black skunk deod-
orized is extensively substituted by the deal
ers TO supply demand which there are not
martens enough in the whole country, if
they were trapped, to supply, and as long as
ence it is alice samee.
The seal will still remain the fashionable
garment for ladies' cloaks and muffs, the
Alaska stock company who hold a contract
from the government to kill as many or as
few seals as they please thus being able to
regulate the market and thus preventing
their going out Of fashion by becoming too
cheap. and thus within the means of the
poorer classes. When the market
gets overstocked with seal skins, this COM
pany stops killing the animals by gathering
about flocks with canoes and driving them
inland, where, out of the reach of hearing
of other tlocks, they quietly knock the
males in the head and drive the females
back into the water for breeding purposes.
they being as prolific as rats. Then. when
the demand grows strong, they have no diff
ficulty in supplying it to an extent not to
lower the price.