The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-01-31
SKINS OF BEASTS.
ANIMALS WHICH FURNISH THE
MARKET WITH FURS.
London the Great Fur Market Of the
World-Cats and Dogs Supply
Vast Numbers of Skins
for Garments.
VVTHITE has always been con-
~ sidered mark of distinc-
v Y ton among beasts, said q

SldereQ marx VI ulstuC-
v Y ton among beasts, said q
zoologist to a writer for
the Star. You will find mention OF
that fact in the Bible, fifth chapter Of
Judges. The Indians of this country
used to regard white buffalo hide as
of exceptional value, and for one such
they would give several horses. Now
adays the aborigines Of Alaska set such
store by white marten skin that they
will pay five fox skins for it. The rev.
erence with which white elephants are
regarded in Siam is well known. In
Africa King Cetewayo, who was sub
dued by the British, kept a herd of
royal white cattle. They were said to
be very beautiful. The zebu, or sacred
OK of India, is white. Blue, by the
way, is most rare in mammals, the
oniy species in which that color is
found being the blue-faced mandrill.
The so-called "blue fox" is rather q
deep drab.
The greatest fur market of the
world is London, where auctions are
held periodically. These sales. at
which pelts of thousand kinds are
disposed of in vast quantities, are at
tended by merchants from everywhere.
They are conducted in silence save for
the voice of the auctioneer, bids being
made by nodding the head.
The prices for skins of all sorts de-
pend much on fashion, and hence are
apt 10 Auctuste considerably from
year to year. A fine lion skin, with a
black name is worth $500; but the
hide from menagerie specimen of the
royal beast, being never so handsome,
will hardly bring more than $l25.
Tiger skins cost much less than lion
skins, but the hide of white tiger,
which is an albino and extremely rare,
will fetch a small fortune. Tiger
claws are mounted for pins by jewell
ers. They are worth 81 or even more
apiece in the rough. There is awooly
tiger of Mongolia which has fur of
great richness. The length and thick
ness of the hair is due to the fact that
the animal lives in cold region. Do
mestic cats contribute largely to the
supplies of the fur markets OF the
world.
Wolves furnish many skins to the
fur market. In Russia about ITO, 900
of them are killed annually, reward
of ten roubles head being offered for
them. During 1889 $4,000 of them
were slain in the province of Wologda
alone; the number or persons killed
by wolves in the same province that
year being 203. The Eskimo of the
Arctic practice an ingenious method of
slaughtering wolves, planting stake
in the ice with blade of flint fastened
to the upper end. About the flint
blade they wrap a piece of blubber,
which freezes hard. Presently along
comes some wolves and lick at the
blubber until the edges of the flint
cut their tongues. Tasting their own
blood, they become frantic and attack
each other, the fight continuing until
the whole pack lies dead. Next day
the artful hunter comes along and
skins them. That is one reason why
wolfskin rugs are 80 cheap to-day.
Chinese dogs, belonging to apeculiar
breed native to that country, supply
much material for robes, a good one
requiring eight skins. They are ex-
ported by way OF Shanghai to London
and New York. In color they are
Back, white, fawn and mottled. About
IS, 900 of the hides are sold in England
annually. In Manchooria and Eastern
Mongolia ore thourands of dog farms,
which rear all the way from score to
hundreds of these canine beasts for
market every year. The skins take a
brilliant black dye, and make ex-
cellent sleigh robes. They are used
to considerable extent for making
mems coats in Canada. The skins Of
Siberian dogs are likewise utilized as
fur. But the Siberian animal which
yields for it's size the most costly Of
all furs is the sable. 1t is only about
nine inches long, including the tail,
and in order to trap single specimen
the hunter must often endure many
hard day of exposure and toll. From
IL, 600 to 25, 900 sables are caught an
nually, many of the pelts being en-
ployed in China for the robes OF
mandarins.
Another small and valuable fur
bearing beast is the marten of Canada
and Alaska. For centuries the trapper
has sought to capture it in the forests,
it's precious skin going far to repay
him for his long winters tramp and
toll. The pelt, made up into muffs,
capes and boas, is commonly but
enormously known under the name OF
"sable." The tails are made up
separately into garments, which fetch
very hig n prices. They are also used
in the manufacture of the finest
"sable" paint brushes. No part of
the creature is lost. Even the skins
of the paws and throat are sold by the
pound to traders, who make them into
coat Innings and tobacco pouches.
The Hudson Bay Company exports to
England about 10000 of the pelts an
nualIy. Yet another little animal,
mostly taken in Siberia, furnishes the
ermine fur, which is worn by the
Queen of England, and is also utilized
for the state robes of British peers.
Nevertheless, it is no longer so fashion
able as it used to be, and hence is
much less costly than formerly.
| BADGER skins are largely used now
adays for shaving brushes. For. that