The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-11
SAvANNAH'S FUR MARKET,
Some of the Furs Received Here and
Where They Go.

some of the Furs Received Here and
Where They Go.
Wild animals of various sorts are often
seen in Savannah, caught In traps and
brought to the city for sale, but it is SCI
dom that wild cats are among the num-
Der. One of these ferocious creatures
was brought in a day or two ago. how
ever, and as he was comparatively unin-
jured from the trap he was bought by a
well-known hide and fur dealer, put in a
strong chicken coop and is now on exhi-
billion. He is a handsomely marked ami
NAL, well grown for his age, and lets no
opportunity pass for displaying his saw
age temper, snarling and swapping at any
one approaching his cage. Except for his
size and the peculiar shortness of his tail
he looks much like the ordinary domestic
tabby.
1t is probably known to few outside of
the business that furs and hides are re-
ceived here in great numbers and in pro-
portion to the size OF the trade, are one
of the most valuable exports from the
port. Numbers of the skins are, of course,
sent to New York, but the largest ex-
ports are direct to London, the fur mar
ket of the world There they are cured
thoroughly and worked up into the gar
ments, muffs and trimmings that adorn
fashions favorites the world over, though
the original possessor may have been onlv
an humble Georgia coon.
The skins received here are from all
the animals indigenous to Georgia. includ-
ing some that are SO rare that they are
now considered almost extinct. Among
this class is the beaver, which Is so rare
that skins are received only at long in
tervals, and bring high prices. The COM
monest skin that is offered Is that of the
coon, of which great quantities are killed
on the coast islands, where, in fact, most
Of the fur-bearing animals are found.
They are caught usually in traps, and fur
nish the hunter an excellent supply Or
meat besides the skin, which has a stand
ard market value of about 40 cents, and
for which there is always a steady de-
mand. There are a number of, men in the
surrounding couatry who MIKE a living
by trapping, and make good money at it,
too, during a good winter season aVerag-
ing between $40 and SIS a week.
Next to coon skins in quantity come
those of foxes and wild cats, which are
much more valuable, and bring so cents to
% in the case of foxes, where the fur
is in very good condition. But by far the
most valuable animal to trap is the OF
ter, and the man that can catch one can
knock off work for the remainder of the
day, secure in the knowledge that he has
made from S to IS in good cold cash,
and can collect II without difficulty as
soon as he reaches the city. The value
of the hides is determined by its size and
the condition of the fur. Furs taken in
the winter are much more valuable than
at any other time, as the animal has then
put on its winter coat, and the fur be-
sides being new, is very thick, and in the
best possible condition.
The otter, as is well known, is an ex-
tremely shy animal, and great patience
and care are necessary in order TO trap it.
This is accomplished by tho ough knowl-
edge of the habits of the animal one of
which is a propensity for play that 1t
gratities by making long smooth slides
down the banks Of streams into the water;
and here when its hunger is satisfied can
be found, usually Two, toboggan ng down
the sport apparently as much as would a
number of school boys.
Knowing this habit, the trapper care
fully apr caches the place during the day
and secfetes his traps at the foot of the
slide and under the water, being careful
not to leave a trace of his visit, as the
animal is unusually suspicious and keen
scented. If he has good luck he may dis
cover an otter in his trap when he visits
II TIE next morning, but this is by no
means certain, for not every animal caught
by the trap is secured by the hunter as
both offers and coons have no hesitancy
in knawlng off the foot held by the trap
If they ale unable otherwise 10 secure their
re,ease.