New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-22
SEAL OR MUSKRATf
WHAT FURS ARE AND WHAT THEY SEEM.

and 1t with no Intention OF studying up on the
Behring Sea controversy that the writer visited large
establishment in this city for cleaning and dyeing
furs, and heard the proprietor explain clearly the
various processes required transform dry. stiff
skin OF any animal. from the expensive seal to the
common musluat, into fine. soft fur. Probably very
FEW who wear the article have any idea how much aDor
Is necessary to make 1t presentabe much less wearabe
To illustrate the change in the value of furs, the
proprietor picked up otter skin from a pile
containing about 100, and said 60 This one IS worth
about Sl5. being exceptionally fne the average is -
thus the whole number IS worth about 81 200. They
belong to a IN Florida who IS Obliged TO insure
at that point. Doubtless this Spectator paid
about 81 10 the negroes for each otter"
The theory all have heard, that the way the
long hairs taken out of this fur is 10 pass a
sharp knife under the pclt thus loosening the big
ones, which fall out is delusion and snare, One
Of the men showed the process Of removing hairs
from scaskn, otter and beaver. The pelt IS laid
on a round holder, rope is put over in which
binds the skin and Is pulled taut by the foot then
curved knife with two handles Is drawn across
It, and behold, the stragglers away. BY the
way, Persian dog exists only in the imaglna ion.
It. is really Astrakhan Persian lamb is very like
the Astrakhan cloth sold In the shops for So yard
but beware Of the large curled wool. That is the
cheapest quality. Choose that which is soft, silky
and the curl tight, small and fat Asrakhan is a
crossed 10 third degree. II IS to be worn this
winter In place Of the lamb. the latter Is so well
cOunterfeod in the woolen cloth before spoken of.
Natural fnrs can be said yet to reign for the dark
sealskIn leads, and black and brown follow. Lynx,
catamount and wildcat are In favor, but cQlored
black. One skin Of soft gray stripe was shown
and provoked the exclamation. How fine! II looks
very like our tame gray cat VERY likely, for II
+, one,' quietly remarked the proprietor. lie then
picked up large black skin and explained that It
was a pet cat sent by old lady 10 be stuffed as
a bracket ornament she thinking that black cat
gave fresh impulse Of life to any one possessing It,
Pearl monkey is beautiful fur, and is very like
a guinea hen, being Of that peculiar notified appear
ance with faint shade Of blue on 1t. Down the
middle runs perfect V in terra Gotta, which is cut
out when made up.
The hugo watts for dyeng were on the ioor beneath
and a man. white originally but at present the color
of charcoal was the presiding deity. The visitors
had noticed the dragged faded, rcpuIsveookng skins
from which the dye dripping as they went up
stairs and were surprised to see there also the same
| process. only the mixture was coored with yellow
| froth This was the D." mordan' or in everyday par
| lance. killing No fur be changed in color
without this treatment which lasts for ten days or
mara mill the hair IS deadin other words, has become
a mere fibre which will absorb any shade The skins
which are sent in bales TO be dressed are sun ana
| hard, like what may be seen nailed TO FARMER ;
b.r, mr. ebcd I'm evidence of some little animal trapped
or killed during leisure hours. Half OF one moor Was
devoted TO bins I'm which were various xmas OF saw
dust The mahogany was delicate rose color; rose
! wood was darker; the tulip tree pretty pIhh' anu
there were ash and other woods capable OF being ground
! IN very fine soft dust. The sandal wood was kept
| in barrels. and its perfume apparent though
! stranre n saw not dlsagreeable odor was 10 DC
found in any department. leaving out OF COURSE INC
| inevitable close dye-sme This saWdust Is use"
IN dry and clean the different skins, and IL must no' W
coarse else It would the fine hairs Everybody hes
! noticed a smooth, soft, brownshOIacK lur III mum
| that IooI,s like seal II they ask when told the
| rather INV uricc is il real or imitation 'lcS
are told il /, American seal. 1t IS nothing Ill 'no
world but the common little mushat. 1rue' 'no
| cool odor T.: there but that is because seal Oh -
| uscd I'm the sonening treatment Another re"ii ~
| able fact /, that skunk oil Is much uSeu ioi ''
nroccss and IL leaves not the ialhle'' iopii'Io
! bcbind a, the uuinltlated might believe Inc Id
f, tho Lin of this Objectionable animal is put INTO
= sort NJ oven tightly closed, with pan lor coH.'e
| th or,o.o 2 fire is lighted beneath 1t, the lWheS
| - .t,,,ch euc about sixty feet long, reaching hlEh
! -. tto buildiuc and leaving the smell i'll INC
clouds 4 fur really to be much adhllIeu j. ui" VI
| this same little muskrat. The shliIs arm, -
| tac,orv IN bales containing many huhuIeuS WIN"
orc sim and rough and inside On'' !nese ar
| - t,o o huge bin which revoves about lofy
| minute. Two udllAioI' ''"'
| ,rnauv and quite soft and warm with me II r'''o"
| 80 no talen ont rubbed with seal oil or Du''cr'
| i ,,,r,ed m the hopper. OFTEN the Deal"5 '"'S
! h.r, thc other side out. TWICE Is t"' W. ''"''o'
| no ,trouch Then they go TO mah VIM i'
| ast.idc Of a block. which Is hfniy nAou ,
| unrirbt knife over this the slIhs arc pa -,
pE,, 80, all supcrfous hide. leaving them much
| thinner Now they are ready 10 NC .',t ,
80, 90 dourb IS made Of the sawduSt ana pun mo
SUI - o,Iirder rle greasy skins are thrown
| ohorcoaI fire IS lighted, ana uc
| ~ ,,,.e. The sawdust absorbs the grease anu
,,ots,rre lint OF course remains IN the mar. ~ 80
e. ant = wheel similar to this out WIN i"'''ou |
| q, c,,nIovcd the revolutions are m'ch "'o'o '"PN
| Tho eav,iust file, out through the ial'o'' "a,
clean soft fur. for such it has OccoN''' -, r,s
'rint,ir cleaned this process Is repeater, lne
,,,sl,rat * now ready for the eVehoi' IH, mo- aa
| - ht, round log in mont Of him. over NIlIoH "'
.,r- ,,o nelt fastening It with rope drawn 'au
| -, 49,, foot ON hts right thumb IS thlek ruDOei
a san, elk inches long. and tie band draws pa' ,
| and forth a sharp steel COMP .ten down to the
E u.tH ,s Herr, II Is dipped constaS um a.d
IS deep, rich black Eicb # Is thrown out al
lhrouFn T,,l niarLine moves at the Iae Oh 90 s
revolutions per nin4 mule The black fur must have
ne Ilal tou1 ~ ado ca much admired In sea- SHhS
man stand, at a table Wnh dt P yellow bowl filed
Min me color: be Laws the peN Iulai ,iuites Not
table ana ,s touch the leather, for It Woud ro
| the - SKIN. lnYese.iaS The true seal Odor. a
v Td"T to the yeins room ihro o marot wha
SECTORS hands and il }, RAY lI bv erbt vide WORT
at wholesale after thee tedious r pT2r cost originally
! finished Just 80 cents apiece ,a laSy profit o.
~ cntS 1t dis is done Only to keep he a DO n[
running during the summer at no loss '''''
! profit 80 49,. most curious and also mos
amusing part of the work YET raj ,,eppaIlv by Nh,
a t,r r. who earned their bread HtetS'p tiDr
yEca Of their brow. Whom downstairs ,od n %a,
heard heavy shuhng sound ana Ven cirht larg,
barrels stood IN bold relief They " Over each t@I
@ .wr hrick colorcd cloth and NON Inc mi", ~
", ms rrse man trunk clothed In s9rl ~ .1'
=" -. me The neither eXtTrmtes "eIe nnsA, ~
saic T., tanning skins Of various kinds Inc uPPr
Sar Of the body twisted AID swayed win YIN, ot,
Pa,ions II was suggested, soto voce ma, tl1 ~
men might be called the now sans culote9, ou ~
| NIL