The Detroit times., 1914-12-01
RAYMOND w. PULLMAN.
Zines Washington Bureau. No. 704
Metropolitan Bank Building.


WASHINGTON Dec. 1.-As a re-
pal fur market of
Fur Market the world may be
OF World. transferred from
London To one of
! the flir.selling centers OF this country
probably To st. Louis or New York
The possibility OF this change has
been given the serious consideration
OF officials of the United States de-
partment OF commerce. since the first
government auction sale OF sealskins
and foxsklns taken from the Pribilof
| Islands of Alaska was held in ST.
/ Louis last year Last years sale was
an experiment, but this year the sell
| ing OF skins In this country is consid-
cred necessary because OF the unset
tleG market abroad. and details of the
auction TO be held In December will
be planned by Assistant Secretary
| Edwin +. Sweet OF the department OF
commerce, who was In st. Louis yes
terday looking into the matter.
! In former years sealskins taken
from the Pribilof Island were shipped
to London for sale, and there cured
and reshipped TO dealers in this coun-
try. ht the present time the conven-
tion between the governments of the
! United States, Great Britain. japan
and Russia establishes closed sea-
son OF five years for sealing on the
Pribilof Islands, beginning Dec, Is,
1911. The skins which have been sold
since the convention went into effect
have been taken only from animals
the killing OF which was necessary TO
supply food. oil, fats, clothing and
canoe covering for the natives of the
Pribilof Islands. The 1000 10 5000
animals killed each year Is small
compared with the number killed in
the ole days. when in some years
more than 10C 900 sealskins were
Ishipped 60 London from the Pribilof
| Islands alone.
The first sale of the sealskins In st.
Louis last year was success, and
was attended by representatives oil
fur dealers of most OF the leading
nations. The gross proceeds OF the
sale OF sealsfins amounted TO $54.679,
or an average price OF $2S.TS per skin
Although the previous years sale In
London had given a return OF little
more than S37 apiece for the skins
the low price received in this coun'
try last year was not unexpected, be
cause low prices generally prevailed
at that time IN the fur industry. Be
cause OF the closed season in Alaska
however there rs an annual increase
expected In the price OF sealskins foI
the next two or three years, and 1t Is
believed that this years prices 10 be
received at the auction TO be held IN
ST Louis during the month or Decem
Der will reach the high water mark.
The selling by the government oi
the sealskins and foxskins at auction
in st. Louis is. looked 70 as the begin
ming o. an American fur industry
which will not be dependent upon Eu
, ropean traders. In previous years
furs have been shipped abroad and
cured in the various European coun
, tries because claims were made that
the European controlled exclusive
secrets on treatment of the skins. Ex
tperts are now convinced, however
that American methods are as sue
tcessfuf-if not more successful IN
some cases-as those praeticed ii
Europe The sale OF skins in this
country and their treatment here will
. II is thought, bring about lower prices
for the consumer, owing TO the savinl
OF the cost OF transportation back anC
forth across the water and the eX
pense and dangers Of injuring the
, skins in packing and repacking.
AT the coming auction OF sealskin'
and foxskins 70 be held in st. Loui:
there rs expected TO be great in
crease OF revenue to the government
over last years sales because Of thu
increased number of skins and the