The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1886-01-27
SEALSKIN SNCQUES.

Nv V'NlAit lNi iU' genuine Alaska
sealskin. manufactured into sacqucs,
dolmans, and wraps, increases faster
than the call for the cheaper and infer
ior qualities of skin and imitation skin.
This Is the time ot wear the furIicrs arc
busy supplying the ladic, who come to
buy new garment, or have old ones re-
paired
Sealskin was first utilized rs car.
mont In 1867 at London Forty wears
ago the skin was considered To have lit
tic value \ boys cap that now costs
SIS could then bc bought for - For
the Introduction OF the skin into Amori-
ca the credit is due 10 G. b Camp of
Cincinnati, O.. who. in 1865. had sever.
al capcs made by manufacturers in New
Nork. MrVtamp gut his f,leasin 1867
from Reyillon Of London, who was tho
first man 20 make mp the skin Re-
Villon has now an extensive establish
mont In Paris rs we'll The first gar
monts were made little capcs that COW
cred the shoulders. In 1874 jackets be-
gan 10 be made, but they wcrc without
any fit or style except IN the rich ap-
pcaranoe OF the goods. In 1876 sacques
We're made 80 iii, and in 1850 the first
long Ncwmarkets We're put on the mar
ket. Since 1882 cloaks aud sucques
have been made with as much care as
TO fitting rs any cloth garment, and tho
seal sacque is the standard and fashion,
able wrap of the day.
The process Of manufacture is inter-
esting. The raw skin goes to London,
whore IL is dyed and dressed. This la
bor consists of two dyoings, with a
plucking of stin' and gray hairs in be-
tween. Good dyeing is performed with
comb and brush, and requires great
patience Women are the best workers
ut this, rs their touch is more delicate
than the mans An entire day is me-
ccssary to properly dye skin. Tho
process Of dipping a skin into the dye
works harm 20 the hairs and materially
Injuries the skin As Yet the Americans
have not perfected the art of dyeing aud
dressing, and the London people have
most all OF that business, although
firm in Albany and another In Brook
lyn do very good work and are steadily
improving. Dealers say there is no
doubt that the time will soon come when
dycing and dressing will soon bo done
here as well as in England.
Manufacturers here can manipulate
other skins with better results than tho
Londoners Only about 700 out Of
every 1000 skins can be used for dress
ing. When the dressed skin arrives
here the manufactures stretches IL and
nails 1t to board, with the fur inward.
and search for impcriections is made.
| Those san only bo discovered on tho
skin side, and 1t takes keen and cx-
! pcrienced eye TO find most OF the blom-
ishes. They are generally shown in
minute, almost imperceptiblo discolor-
ings Of the skin, which. il not imme-
| diately cut out, will extend and rot tho
| fur above them until The hairs drop out
Seal fur must have healthy skin When
discovered these spots are cut ont and
skilfu hands are set TO work 10 sow up
the incsion. Few men can do this prop
erly Oflen IA cut siX inches long has TO
be made TO get rid of spot not much
larger than nail head. 10 bring tho
pieces together again, without patching
and without visible seam. requires tho
utmost dclieacy After this il done
paper pattern is placed on the skin and
| il Is cut accordingly. Then the skin IL
finished and lined, and the garment is
ready.
II is stated that there were never so
many inferior skins on the market as at
the present time. Thousands Of seals
are caught on the coasts Of China aud
Japan and the skins sent TO London for
dressing. These arc Of the same shape
and general order as the Alaska seals.
but thGy do not wear on the edges, and
thcy turn red and soon begin TO look
shabby.
II is estimated that some Of tho
sacques can be sold At profit as fol-
lows: Made Of lobos Island skins, 500;
japan (known to the trade as "cape')
aud China, so; Victoria Island, 500;
and Copper Island, sl25. They aro
bought by the New York manufacturers
at from s13 TO sl6 per skin, after being
| dyed and dressed. Ii requires from three
| 10 four skins to complete sacque, ac-
cording to the size The English dressed
Alaska skins cost from $40 10 $50, dyed
/ and dressed, and the cost Of manufac-
turing Il sacquc is between SO and $50.
Then there are the limitations Of seal
skin in plush and kindred materials,
but these are not so popular as for
meily.
It il considered in ibc trade that the
Hudson Bay otter-skin, when pluckcd
and dyed is fully as handsome and far
more durable than eYen the Alaska seal.
skin. These are all American dressed
and dyed. Sacqucs made from otter
cost from $50 to $500
Fur lined and trimmed sacques are
also growing in favor Mink and sable
are the popular fTs for lining, and
Kamschatka, Lake Superior, and llud-
son Bay beaver and natural otter un-
plucked, are preferred for trimming.
More expensive trimmings are found in
the silver-fox skin and the sea otter.
The skin Of a silver fox is worth $50,
and Of the sea otter from $50 TO $500.
The employees in fur factories can
command good wages. Cutters average
S1O0 a month, and the sewing girls $40
per week More sealskin goods are now
used in New York than any other city
in the world. and 10 illustrate the quali-
ty of work done by New York houses
goods are shown that have been mado
! for parties in Montreal and Toronto,
and a coat and saeque made for Sir
I Iohn pocL and Lady Peck of London