The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-29
THE PASSING OF THE IRAPPER.
Fur-BrarinE Animals Becoming Scarce and
PROFITS Are small.
From the Philadelphia Times.

Prom the Philadelphia Times.
Among the changes that an advancing civhi-
zatton and a senseless denudat'on OF forest land
are creating throughout the length and breadth
OF n great continent, none are more conspicuous
than those pertaining to the fauna OF this coun-
try. The solitudcs of the great primeval forests.
that formerly abounded in wild game. beautiful
birds and fowls of the air. and valuable fur
bearing animals. are now nearly as deserted as
the great Western plains where the buffalo long
since left nothing but traces OF his existence be-
hind. Trappers ind II more dlfhcult 10 OBTAIN
their furs each season. anu along with the
sportsmen they retreat further into the cold
regions north OF us. penetrating into the wllds
OF British America, where life in winter Is
scarcely endurable.
The fur trappcr has had his day In the United
Statcs and ma a ,rohuct of mast conditions bcIs
S,"'eS' " 10 ifouu''"t pas No.
disappearing as surely as the game whlch ne
has hunted. In the great northern belt of
S,.tos hora.-ir, NM, tho Canadian line hei "a
"a" .'' "p'" - go"
found in dwtndling numbers. ratnlv striving
to make a living in his precarious calling, and
homoon;,, Tho ,im.s w,.p !, ~, nm easv mat
oeuioan'ns Tue Times "ueu i "hs u easy nia.-
ter to fnd enough animals in his traps each
day to keen him supplied with money. II
uN ,ho nart - : naor - aathor ,hs
% ~" Wv.
.rn 'nA. me ea"o " ne q - - 40,
f,,, ,b.y p mora IN dem,nd ,b.n aver md
fashion DEGREES that they snail be worn every
winter on garments for men and for women.
Mos. ~ them command n higher nr,ce than
iva va ~" " 49, '""'
ever In The history OF civilization. but the trap
per does not profit so much by this change as
might DC sup'oseo' u iuF,oe"r'hs animals
are disappearing faster than the prices Tor the
i1rs advance, Other unsettled regions Of the
s1ooe u GU 49, n''p suppt, ~
doing ev.rv,hipp in its power to utilize the
oommo, stins y, tne donsstic,tcd .ri,rols
Thn w. Of the ont los shesn lamb and o,hsr
animals of our barnyard and household has
already become valuable commercially, and
through the dyer's art and the curriers' skill the
wear.rs of cheap turs are totally deceived.
r. mot an CAS- ma.ter n asccr,air tho roIa,;v.
II Is not an easy mater ascertain me re'ati'e
value of The important furs. but those taken from
the forests and woods or TINS country are much
higher than in former days. The silver fox,
that abounded so plentifulIy in our northern
from Sio6 to 5000 are paid Tor drst-ciass spect.
mems. h edarker the fur of the silver fox the
ther north the trappcrs go the better luck they
have. Those over the Canadian border trap
more and better silver foxes than can he found
anywhere in the United States. although north.
ern Maine and the Michiean peninsula have
the great demand for this fur, the animals have
been trapped and hunted so persistently that
they are very scarce; ~ ana IA the few remaining
the common red fox,
Bear skins generally come next 4" the furs Of
$40 to sI5 apiece for the raw fur, Dealers
grade the skins according 70 their idea OF the
value, and the trapper is not always sure that
he will receive the highest quotations even after
he has shipped his booty to market. The cross
fox fur comes third on the list, and is generally
worth from Sl5 to $50. according TO- size. gem
eral beauty. and richness OF color. The fur OF
the otter is nearly as valuable, and n
good specimen will SIS either
at the country store or IN the city markets.
The beaver II not worth more than Sl5.
the wolverine $40. the lynx ana black raccoon
So. and the common wolf ana marten So. These
are the principal tuT-bearing animals caught by
tho trappers in this country, but a long, list OF
cheaper ones arc brouEht 70 marker, such as me
mink. skunk; badger, WILDCAT, req ana gray FOX.
muskrat. and rabbit. The prices paid for these
vary from n few cents apiece TO several dollars.
The rabbit SIX ms are so cheap That the traprers
would not tako the trouble 70 EXPRESS them to
the cites II IT. were not for the iuct that they
can be packed In with the others ~ no.xtra cost.
Inc sklha OF the uesr. mI'se, EN-. axa hhleIope
must moi DO cohlouhueu WIN MI tnoSeo y tne etrict-
ly fur-bearinS animals. ihe former are sold as
skins ana hides, nlh hot ~ iurs. bringing 80
much q pound. Deer hIues usually pilhs from
20 TO 30 cents per pound. AS most state laws
forbid trappers klIilhH these animals except our
Ing a very thort sehson' theIe ID hot 90 nuch
profit in hunting lheh as inc prices onereo
would seem TO warrant.
The trapper Is essohllnliy WHAT ms name I'M
plies, ana not a hunter orsportnman. Inc shot
gun Is not ms lmpieiment' r 10 WIS tears ana m
lures the bkllls anu IuIs, lhelrhp anu sklhnlng