New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-04
HOW EXPENSIVE FUR OF SEA OTTER IS SECURED.
ITS HOME IN GIANT SEAWEED-WHERE HUNTERS
STATION THEMSELVES.

vessels and bdarkas and open Yat1utat canoes may
be employed IN Transporting otter hunting
parties and from the hunting grounds. The gov
eminent prohibits the OF nets FOR the capturs
OF this expensive fur bearing animal and also
interdicts the killing taking OF sea otter pups.
and gives Instructions each year 70 officers OF ths
United States who may be stationed IN the localities
where otter are taken 70 take all proper meas
ures 20 enforce the penalties OF the law. Foreign
vessels OF every description are forbidden 70 ha1-
sea otter within the Territorial waters cf tbs
United States
when taken the otter Is skinned whole. as fs
were. By cutting the haanches and stripping
the skin down the body and over the head. The
skin is then turned. the fur IN and a board showed
through it. II is then dghtened BY driving wedge
shaped piece down on one side between the board
and the skin. and another co1trariDtss thu
other. All the grease IS then carefully removed.
and the skin IS dried and laid away ready for tns
market An average skin Is about five feet long oy
twelve inches wide. double. or. when cut. twenty
four inches wide. and IN the hunters hands IL
valued from SIS 10 sl50s but these prices leave
a handsome margin 70 the s1r men who handle
them. In Russia an overcoat made from these
same otter skins brings from s10o0 S2Ooc. Wills
in China even more Is sometimes paid. The game
is getting 20 re so scarce that four skins season
Is considered as doing well b. any hunter. n act.
some pass the season without taking any. Ths
hunters have rule among themselves. which u
strictly observed. that only derrick Is allowed
within range OF about Ealf nile.
Fur trade papers complain that the more sxpsz-
sive fur oearins animals growing scarcer every
year. and advocate legislative measures 20 prevent
their entire DETERMINATION In a recent report 70
the State Department on the Siberian EUR Industry.
Consul General Holloway, at St Petersburg. said
that leading experts claim that unless Russia ths
United States England. CanaGa and Japan agree "a
put a stop to peag!c sealing. seals viii dlsappeas
from the market The leading market Sor Siberian
furs Is Ir5it one thousand niles east OF Nloscoz
and hundred and fifty miles east OF the CrsI
Mountains and Mini NovgOrod. where annual
fairs are held The fair lroit held February
each year. and that Mini NOvsorod n July ard
August The former Is much the Iarser. the sup
ply o. better pelts consisting q bear gluCton. ynzs
elk. reindeer stag. musk OK otter. FOX. sable,
rsrten mink errnine polscat. squirrel ASi1e WOLF
and blue silver and red fox and or two kinds
Cs wildcat Indigenous 70 kamcnatNa- The ST.
be-ian black haze has become very scarce as well
a blue fox which brings about $50 Eel.
Speaking o. TIE condition OF the market. NJ. E1oi.
Ioway said that the supply equal % thar
OF former years "Ths NUMBER OF buyers from al
the leading capitals % Europe and America In
creased and prices were higher. which is arrri5-
uted In part 20 the facL that the world has
adopted the American fashion OF wearing f1-s out.
side Instead OF Innings. which requires better
skins Although Russian company enjoys ths
monopoly OF catching Alaska seals. they sold IN
London and none ara to De found IN the Rus
sian market
'-Previouz 70 September 1902. Russian SQUIRE,
but the demand the Mini Novso-od fair during
that year and this was great that the price tn
creased and the u1dressed skins sell at from 10 "a
80 cents each Il requires from 100 70 30 70 make
Jacket. 50 % 80 for cap. % ~ FOR aoa and
to 10 for mutt. Pale squirrel tails are sold az
8 Sc good CG112 pounds and dark squirrel tails
are sold at Sc 10 pOod- White foxes are sold al 81
each Undressed sable skins sell from S5 70 500
each. and II requires from 90 % 10 to make a
jacket, 30 to s. for cap. 70 e Tor boa. and a
10 for a muH.
Sable and ermins remain the tavorits f1rs with
those who can afford to purchase the best Local
merchants at IrSUtsk purchase considerable guam
thy OF tIrs from hunters and trappe-s. as do al
merchants throughout Siberia which II not shfppe3
Erect 20 Moscow and St Petersburg md their way
10 the annual fair at Ir5i- where the leading f1r
houses OF the world are represented o. buyers
Commercial Agent Greele-. at VladivosLok re-
Gently Informed the state Department. that The fls
trade In this province IS il critical condition
Prices have fallen very much aaC Arst-cIass surs
are hard 70 get Buyers complain that through ths
action o. sc1s English traders a few years azo
in paying extravagant prices 70 the natives sor fu-s
-furs Ultimately sold oy the buyers at A Icss-ths
regular prices were greatly tu1a-ed-