Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-02
THE sEALskIN sAcQUE.
1t Will Still BE the Fashionable Garment
The Increase in Price Not Great.

1t Will Still he the Fashionable Garment
The Increase in Price Not Great.
Nearly every one is more or less interested
In seal skins, either as q past or prospective
buyer Of a seal skin coat for wife. mother or
sister and the question Of what effect the re-
cent movement in the Pering con-
troversy will have on the market is a
question Of importance. A STAR reporter on
talking with several Of the leading furriers to-
day ran across several interesting facts and be-
liefs. The general opinion, however, seemed
to be that whatever happens or may happen in
the diplomatic world, ladies who can afford
to do So will continue to wear the glossy
seaiskin. and that, as before, as many
ladies will afford to or try to make hus-
bands think they can afford to as posi-
bic. Dealers were likewise Of opinion
that while prices would be higher, although
the supply would be equal to the demand.
MR.. sTINEMETzs VIEWS.
"a close season according to the present ar
rangement," said Mr.. B. H. Stinemetz. twill
have little effect on the supply or price Of
seal skin garments for next winter. as the skins
for that supply have already been caught and
sold and the garments are being made up.
The catch, which will meet next seasons
wants was not a very large one, but
little higher. The price of raw skins
went up about 100 per cent but
this per cent must be counted on only a small
portion Of the final cost, and the increase ::on
made up garments will be not nearly SO much.
In fact, taking into consideration the
goods lady will pay a very little more for her
garment than formerly. This arises from the
fact that the skins are being made up into
shorter garments, using less material. In
my. opinion there is no prospect that
seal will cease to be the fashionable akin. The
increase In cost will cause some people to buy
the less costly furs, but will have little effect
on those who could afford previously to wear
sealskin."
WHAT MR.. DAVIS THINKS.
''Thre are enough seal skins and to spare al
ready on hand to easily supply the demand for
the next twelve months" said Mr.. James Davis,
''the prices have been higher and probably
will be higher, and some people who might
wear seal will probably content themselves
with less expensive furs."
MIR. JAMES p. wILLEr's OPINION.
$50 long as seals can be obtained, said Mr..
James P. Willett, 1.-The garments made from
their fur will be the fashion. The
seal is a water animal and its fur
and skin are better calculated for the purpose
than that of any other animal. The close
season will have some effect, of course. on the
market, but its effect has practically
been foreseen. The 10000 seals taken last
season and which will be used next winter will
go as far as $4,000 few years ago, when the
long ulsters and dolmans were in fashion. Such
garments, except Ill rare cases, have gone out
and the shorter garments come in vogue.
Besides the last catch there are q
good many skins left over from pre-
vious years. Last year the price
on made-up garments showed an increase of
about % per cent. Next winter the price viii
probably go up somewhat higher