The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-02-01
4 TALK ABOuT FURs.
Seattle Ladies' Fondness for Seal
skin Sacks.
wby This - so--wsshfssssu Terri.
tory zrsppers--The Ki.d Of
Animals Captured.

the same size In the United States. .
As the speaker was a weiI-knoxn
railroad man, who had Travelled extea-
siveiy, ii was evident that he knew
what he was taking about. and sse
reporter began TO take mental nsfes,
and the number Of seaIskin sacks that
fitted past his visioa in the
next two hours. gracefully draped on
comedy forms, convinced him that Il E
railroad man was right. II was also
observed that the garment seemed to
become everybody who wore one, 80
matter what the complexion or style
of beauty was. Each proud owner Of
ons of these beautiful garments
seemed 70 wear IL with the grace Of 4
duchess.
In order 10 learn sornethinx OF seal
skins in particular and OF the fur
bearing animals in Washington Terri
tory In general, q leading Seattle fur
rier was interviewed.
SIS II fact, sir, that the ladies' Of
Seattle are more addicted 10 the seal
skin-sack habit than their sisters II,
other and less favored cities -
at Is my opinion. y replied the fur
fieg,' that the sealSkin il more nfsiyer-
sally worn In this city than In anv
other Ia this great broad Union. That
is, in proportion to the population. .
To what caisse do you attribute
the great favor which Il shown this
rather expensive garment ~
In the first place, IL II suited to the
requirements of this climate during
about one-fhird Of the year: second
because il II the most becoming gar
ment lady can wear; and thirdly,
because they can be purchased. let rae
tell you in strict confidence, cheaper
here than elzeHhere Wealth Is more
evenly distributed here, and more la
dies can afford 70 buy these garments
than in other places.
Why arc they sold cheaper than In
other cities
FOR the very simple reason that we
can purchase the raw seals kins
cheaper in Seattle than anywhere else
in the United States. The skinS are
sent 70 London, where they are tanned
and dyed. That Is the only place in
the world where this work can be
properly done The finished fars are
returned % us from London. The
skins. by the time they arrive hack
cost ns about $50 apiece.
Elbow mans does it take 70 make an
ordinary lad Is 3ac;s p
-Four will make an averaged sized
long sack. Then there are the but
tons. lining, trimming. ana cost OF
manufacturing This makes the long
sacks cost the customer from $40 to
$3.50. Short sacks can be purchased
for from 500 TO $50. These prices, 20
the best OF my knowledge and belief
cannot be matched clsew here.
TELL me something about the fur
trade generally in this country"
I'VE obtain the bulk of the furs
which We handle from white trappeFs
and Indians. They carry on the bus
iness of trapping wild animals prin.
cipaiiy ia January. February. March
and April, for the reason that in these
months the fur ii thicker and eonse-
quently better than ut any other time
IL the warmer months the fur Is thin
and has no great value.
Where do lnoet of the fu9s come
from"
THE trading schooners bring seal
skins from Alaska. They procure
them either by killing the seals or By
barter from the Indians. We gener.
ally pay about So apiece for the raw
sealsklns. Ii is not necessary for rsss
to tell you what they are used for
For the pei; OF the black bear We pay
from 81 TO SIS each. They abound in
the mountains OF this territory and are
used for sleigh robes ard for parlor
and bedTnara rugs. Only few ses
otter peits are brought here by traders
ssra 4fsd fs. "a,
the Behring sea, and Ter good SEES
otter hide We pay SIZE. II makes the
most exquisite fur and }s used prin.
cipalIy for the trimming on seaiskir
cIoaks and for the collars and cuffs 81
gentiemen's heavy ossreoats
4 few peits OF the black Tex vi
Alaska reach dealers IL, slis city, and
they are always ready 10 pay sIto In
gold coin for them. fney are used 20
adorn velvet and seaiskiu cloaks anfi
sacks IN the shape Of trimming, and
are also made into the Aaudsomes. ol
collars and nlntfs. Articles made out
OF this kind of fur are very expen-
siye.
''In the Cascade nloantaias. ia this
territory, few silver gray foxes ara
found. We pay $50 Tor their peIts.
They are devoted 10 the same pur.
poses as the peits OF the black fox.
Beavers are rather pisntigt;. along the
lakes and rivers in tits territory, and
qasse a fiumber OF their prl;s reach
this city Their hides ars sold az s.
per pound. and an ordinary one viii
bring 81. Beaver peIts ara used prin.
eipaliy for eentasnen's cellars and
cuffs.
Ordinary otter are also found In
plentiful supply in this territory, and
The pelts bring about 81 each They
are used for the same purpose as hea-
yer pelts are. Hunters bring in a
large number of lynx hides. Lynx
are plentiful in Eastern Washington.
We par S. apiece for the hides ane:
use them for trimmings, cellars. cuffs
ard In making buggy and sleigh rugs,
Many fishers are found in this
territory. and we pay s. apiece for the
pelts, and then send them To London,
where they are used - trim sealsklil
garments. We pay 81 apleee for the
hides OF .ed faxes. These cute ami
mails abound in Eastern Washington.
The peits make handsome collars aud
NUTS In the vicinity of GRAY 5
Harbor and in Eastern Washington
wolves ghound. and number .,
their hides reach Seattle, for which
the hunters receive s. each. They arc
manufactured into heavy sleigh robes
and rugs. which are both handsome
and warm.
In Eastern Oregon aad abogt
Grayss HarhoF prairie wolves are
numerous. and in the effort 10 lessen
their number, their hides very often
come under the tanners hands. The
hunters receive 81 apiece for the pelts.
We are using few Of the hides this
wear for collars and fauTis.
III there is ore animal that Is more
numerous than another ia Washing
ton Territory, il Is the r&eoon. He IS
omnSFresent and we receive bales at
their hides for which We pay 80 eenis
apiece. Their pe;is are not fashion
aple here because OF their common
messy. In Eurole they are much
sought after for lining Tor heavy over
eoaEs and other garments where
warmth i desired Wildcats are a.
common N our weeds a. the domestic
variety are in back Yards during the
lonely yiglss OF the night The naaters
of these fierce feiines receive from -
10 s. cents apiece for them aad they
Nerve u useful purpose Ia door s1ats
anu buggy Fasses MaskEats are paen-
titui in THIS territory asd brlag 5 cents
- =