The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1912-12-13

wood for the winter. Between them
the walk leads back to the pier. where
other storehouses reveal themselves;
two story frames each and all. Tow
ering over these Is the masters
house. the seat Of government for the
post
Everywhere outside great Eskimo
dogs loiter and there Is litter OF
pups under a queer sawmill, 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 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 section of these IL given oves
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. I'm
dershirts. too, figure in the availablea
for trading. Down from the ceiling
iron buckets suspend; In a corner
there are boxes. Cans of peaches,
bundles of brooms. these. too. arr
here, open to barter.
Fine Peits tn Trade.
A genial young agent, induced to
come here from Scotland under .
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. II
is a small outlay. but of inestimable
value. Here. for one, IL a marten
skin the company paid $22 for. The
man who caught 1t took 1t out in bar
ter. Two or three silver foxes ara
brought In a year: some OF these net
the poor trapper $500. One year the
post secured seventeen. Then. again
1t is a long matter of selection for
barter-toilet soap and jiggers foE
sQuid. jugs and knives in leather
belts. all drawn on by the trapper
Down the front of the store. where
the trade is contaminated. there ex.
tends a heavy, old time counter. with
ancient hanging scales at one end.
Over these the agents servant pro
sides Out of 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 a tight case, aft,
er proper folding. and the fur is as In
tells US. will fade II kept exposed to
the light, and go. 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, DARK
in summer The skins bring from rs
to 40 cents up here. according to size
| Only q part Of the skin can be used
Even a silver fox skin when brought
in Is cut in pieces. and these are set
into strips from an inch to two inches
broad These slivers then ere set be
tween other strips OF cotton in such
a way that the garment is made much
wider. while the result, to the eye. IL
the same as II of fur throughout. The
front OF the skin Is used for trimming
or insertion under the arms.
Only a few years ago marten were
worth but S. OF $6 up here; now they
will bring up to $40 All furs. in fact
are very hiEh now. since they have
I become so fashionable. Last winter
in Labrador. the black fox brought
from $500 to $500. Marten. too, have
been going up each year Mink and
ermine are traded here; 80, too. are
the white hare and beaver. Mink will
come to IS or IS. Lots of small skins
are utilized In filling out trade. The
mink. however, is not of the accuR
toned reddish tinge unless 1t has fad
ed. II exposed to light. like all the
skins. II turns color and becomes .
pale brush red. Tailor marten alone
ana not 80 apt. as this animal. In the
native state. does not come to bright
Hight 10 often and nature Il more
sluggish with its pigments