Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1912-12-27


ering over these is the masters
house, the seat of government for the
post
Everywhere outside great Eskimo
dogs loiter and there is a. litter Of
pups under queer sawmiu, with
sails resting on the earth as to a salt
mill of lower Austria.
Newcomers, however, are eager al
ways, first Of all, to see more of the
furs. To this end they visit a store
OF the company on the second floor
OF still another frame structure. Here
the trading for pelts is done. All
about the wall Of the trading post
there extend open shelves. On one
side a section of these Is given over
to washbowls Of a white porcelain,
with blue pattern. The shelf just be-
low holds more bowls and some socks:
that beneath Is for worsteds and
heavy underwear. Mems suits finish
the compartment Adjacent to 1t one
finds a section with suits of oilskin,
OF shirts striped in blue and white.
cans Of pineapples and tomatoes. Un-
dershirts. too, figure in the availables
for trading. Down from the ceiling
iron buckets suspend; in a corner
there are boxes. Cans Of peaches,
bundles Of brooms, these, too, are
here. open to barter.
Fine Pelts In Trade.
A genial young agent induced to
come here from Scotland under a
two year contract. takes delight in
showing visitors around. He reserves
for the last the great chest in which
are kept the furs, arrived since the
ship took away the spring quota. It
Is small outlay, but of inestimable
value. Here, for one. is a marten
skin the company paid $22 for. The
man who caught 1t took 1t out in bar
ter. Two or three silver foxes are
brought In year; some of these net
the poor trapper 5000. One year the
post secured seventeen. Then, again.
1t Is long matter Of selection for
barter-toilet soap and jiggers for
squid, Jugs and knives in leather
belts, all drawn on by the trapper.
Down the front of the store, where
the trade Is consummated, there ex-
tends heavy, old time counter, with
ancient hanging scales at one end.
Over these the agents servant pre-
sides. Out Of a pile of furs ready to
ship some beauties are brought for
inspection.
No Hudson bay sable are obtained
at this place, but marten are In the
yield now. All the skins are packed
inside a glove like affair lined with
skin. This becomes tight case, aft
J er proper folding, and the fur is as In
J a pocket Of gut. All furs, the man
: tells US, will fade If kept exposed t6
the light, and SO, In addition, these
packets when filled are kept in the
tight case in the dark.
} Meanwhile again he shows some
! weasel skins from hereabouts. The
animals are white In the winter, dari
, in summer The skins bring from 81
i, to 40 cents up here, according to size
, Only part of the skin can be used
, Even a silver fox skin when brought
| Ill 10 cut III picCSo, duu thCoC dic DC
! into strips from an inch to two inches
l broad. These. slivers then are set be
]. tween other strips Of cotton in such
l way that the garment is made mucf
wider, while the result. to the eye, II
A the same as II of fur throughout. The
a front Of the skin is used for trimming
r or insertion under the arms.
8 Only a few years ago marten wert
{ worth but IS or $6 up here; now the,
will bring up to $40 All furs. in fact
I are very high now. since they hav'
t become so fashionable. Last winter
8 in Labrador, the black fox brough
Q from $4oO to $500. Marten, too. hav'
been going up each year. Mink ant
ermine are traded here; 80, too. an
/: the white hare and beaver