New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-09
FURS STILL PLENTIFUL.
United States Consul at Da5csOn
Reports on Canadian Far Trade.

Washington. Sept. S.-Inasmuch as Northern
Canada is frequently designated the last great
fur preserve Of the world" a noteworthy esti-
mate Of the fur situation" is of peculiar inter-
est. United States Consul Gabriel Bic Ravndal.
OF Dawson City. has sent to the Bureau of Man
ufactures such report. in which he says:
For more than two centuries the fur trade has
been vigorously prosecuted in Northern Canada
and YET the supply, save I'm the case OF two or
three varieties If animals, shows no formidable
signs of exhaustion. The buffalo. whose hide
was once an important article of commerce. mas
disappeared before the advance Of civilization
The beaver can apparently be saved from sim
liar fate only by extraordinary measures of pro-
lection; So TOO. the fur seal of the islands and
waters of the Pacific. Sea otter and silver fox
have been rare for many years The figures
given do not represent the total output of the
country. as the Hudsons Bay Company no
longer holds monopoly OF the fur trade Large
quantities Of furs reach the market through
other channels, the proportions or the various
kinds not differing much from what appears in
the statistics Of the HudsOn's Bay Company.
According TO the Statistical Yearbook Of Can
ada" the exports of furs To Great BriTain and
the United States amounted. respectively 10
Sl.256.30G and S27l.4S3 in 1895 $l.2iJ 400 and
1924 29O in 1901. 81 l4I 1873 and S653.2S In 1902,
Sl,444.6i9 and SS+o77O in 1893, Sl4234s6 and
S62N:44 in 1904
The expectation of Alaskan furs for the twelve
months ended June 30. 1893 amounted TO S423,-
600: for the following year. S44949I and for
l@4-'0l. S494. 164 Great quantities of furs are
taken in Alaska. embracing those of the polar
bear black bear brown bear. black wolf. white.
red, blue and silver-gray foxes, badger beaver,
sables and seals II is known that Alaska has
yielded great wealth TO this industry, but the
extent cannot he stated with any certainty. as
Il has been the policy Of the fur trader to con-
ceal his operations. and the conditions or the
trade are such that he Is able TO do
The annual collection Of furs is a matter Of
ceaseless change. Fashion. fastdious and tickle.
neglects the of certain kinds Of furs for
season: the market price of the pet no longer
repays the outfit Of the trapper; the hunt is in
Permitted. and in two TO three years the animal
rfwarr 70 #ha
steady growth in the demand for furs as wear
ing apparel in nearly all countries including
those in which they are worn as a protection
against the elements well as in countries
and chimes where their use is dictated by fashion,
and in consequence of the general prosperity OF
the people on this side Of the Atlantic as we'll as
in Europe. and also as result of the establish
ment Of peace between Japan and Russia Ohe
latter country being ordinarily a heavy con-
sumner Of fursl fur merchants appear fairly sat
isfied with the outlook. fearing no serious set
hack. provided fictitious boom conditions and
initiation do not interfere
Competition from such influential sources as
the Hudson's Bay Company operating from
Winnipeg; Revillon Freres. operating from Ed
monitor, and other extensive fur buyers main
tanning posts all over the north from Labrador
TO Mackenzie River and beyond. has cut down
the local trade in furs and introduced arbitrary
rates and precarious dealings. rendering trade
on small scale hazardous. In Yukon Terri
tory the marten mas recently migrated, owing,
Il is said 10 the appearance upon the scene OF
unusual numbers Of lynx This conultlon i
probably only passing and temporary. Fur buy
ers seem to agree that the fur bearing animals
Of the North. with the exceptions noted, are NOT
playing out Vast extenUs of territory stu
remain approximately virgin and unexpected,
and the Indians are proving surprisingly careful
I'm preserving the game.
The Indians bring the skins 70 the various
posts and exchange them for merchandise II Is
all a matter OF barter. The standard of value
I'm some parts is a beaver skin. in others the
skin of the red fox. In the interior Of Alaska
the prices paid for furs and supplies are regu-
lated by the price Of the red fox or Of the mar
ten called one skin.