The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-09

preserved the mystery on those points common
70 hunters and anglers In general, and II was
only ~ the shop Of the local fur buyer, where
they disposed nf their p~eltries. that we were en-.
abled 10 see the results OF their SIX weeks hunt.
Ing, which consisted OF seven sable, six ermine,
the bear skin.
While we were IN the fur buyers shop ex-
amining some OF the beautiful skins not yet
packed in bales for shipment to 81, Petersburg,
he treated the hunters. after the manner of fur
buyers in general the world over, TO liberal
drinks OF spirits with n view Of facilitating
trade, There was the same bargaining and
haggling, over every skin that l have seen 10
IN British Columbia. The hunters had begun TO
warm up and 70 mellow a good deal under the
completed. and they laughed uproariously and
long over a story. that the furricr told
Them about old DimilrIch Diyinsky. the
sable skins. Dimitrlch was u hunter who, hay
Ing become incaIacitated by age and hardship
the far-Of wilderness, was living with his son
in-law within the edge Of the great forest. In
rambling about the woods near home the sum
ner before. his eyes had been gladdened by the
sight OF a pair of handsome creatures frolicking
among the trees. which ne recognized as sabies,
and with his old instinct OF wOOdcraft he traced
them Ia their home In a hole in a beech tree.
thus located he could easily have captured
the skins are OF little value, he DELAYED until
their fur should have thickened with the COM
knew that their FUR was becoming ali The time
more valuable, and so when he went out one
WI hut ihA 10 Sc" " tlIey stil were about the
tree he did not MODEST them. One day he saw a
hosed hunter OF the neighborhood, Ivan Irtou-
Ky eagerly watching the two sables as they
ran ilghtly, from tree To tree, and then he knew
that he did not act quickly IL would not be
long before that astute hunter would have their
sklhs without regard for the season OF the year.
Eut Dimitrich had not spent the best DAYS OF
his life IN ontwitting the crafty forest beasts TO
be baked Of his sable skins by Ivan Irtousky,
aud he took prompt measures not only 10 secure
Them, but to have them at the time when the
Z" Accompanied by his son-in-law the old man
hobbled out to the tree early next morning,
when the sable. being mostly nocturnal animal.
that the creatures were within. Trey carefully
stopped up the entrance 10 the hole. and then
cut down the tree In such a way that II lodged
against another tree without the shock of A vio-
lent !all. Then they sawed the trunk OF below
snd above the Hollow and with oxen hailed log
alu saoies IN triumph 10 their house, In their
transplanted habitatiOn the sables had lived and
thriven until with the biting frosts and SHOWS OF
winter their tuTs hal thtckened 10 the fine
quality desired, when he had Killed them and
Drought their skins Ia for sale. This master
had raised D,mitrich To a pinnacle in the esti,
nation Of his less inventive fellow Craftsmen,
who were correspondingly unsparing in their
Jokes upon the ouiwitted Ivan lrtOusky.
serious source OF danger TO the sable hunt
sE Is The liability 70 attack from wolves, for al
though the forest beasts are not so apt To attack
man as are the droyes that range the steppes.
they are formidable enough to add an element
experienced hunter has found ii a necessary
precaution Ia have al each end Of his line OF
NNl' " ~ nut hAAANAtiAAlN HAIDlk 10 AIlT0 MN
safe protection from the fierce beasts which, ina
times OF scarcity of their usual food, often howl
l pACks about II az night. About the fires in
the village inns and households many grewsome
stories arc told of the fate OF sable hunters beset
BY wolves or forced unwillingly into an UNEQUAL
combat with IA brown bear.
Coming back 10 America, the pursuit Of
the sable on this continent Is not made a special
business OF by the hunter as il Is in Siberia and
Russia. and firearms are more generally en-
PloYed IN securing the animal. The tFappeF in
British America, Indian and white, sets out 10
all kinds Of fur-bearing animals in the
whore he conducts his Operations. ard
the sable Is less a special object Of search than
the fox, the beaver, and the mink. The danger
OF attack from wild beasts Is less In America
Is Incurred by ths Russian hunter. and
wnlle the hardships Ot forest life are perhaps
equal on the two continents. the American
is better clothed and fed and equipped,
than the Russian"
There Is one point In the working Of sable
skin into the various forms for wearing that
may interest yoa," said the manager. That is
the cutting and extending " the skin. The fur
IS not OF equal value upon all parts Of the body,
the best being upon the back and sides. The
skin being stretched upon our eating table, the
Workman a man whose skill and judgment can be
relied on. cuts from IL with a shArp knife. q paral-
Telegram. taking in all the best FUR and leaving
but strips that comprise the belly. tail. and neck
aud head. To utilize this choice part OF the
kin 70 the best advantage II Is necessary 10
IengtEcn IL. TOaccomplish this. Il Is cut diaEon-