Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-05-26
MAINE TRAPPERs SUFFER-.


1
whieh has demoraIised the fur market.
Prices have not only declined-they havs
siumped-and some skins which hereto
fore we're sold ut good ptices, we're NOT
| ealable At all.
Before the war, London and Leipzig,
with Paris, Petroxrad tSt. Petersourgl.
and 81. Louis, were the world markets for
the distribution OF furs, the largest part OF
the trade being carried on In London and
Leipzig. Since the outbreak OF hostilities
the London market has been the only one
to conduct business on large scale, and
even here the demand has diminished.
The reason for this 10 the ina hiiity or
disinciination through caution OF the
middle and richer classes to buy, the abb
sence OF Leipzig and other Continental
dealers and the fact that skins cannot now
be sent to Leipzig for dye.ng. The richer
glasses are buying lower grade fnrs than
formerly, so that the loss in medium
priced skins Is not 20 great a. in the
higher grades.
A. Q consequence of these condition.
trsppcrs in Canada and the United States
can no longer find market for their skins.
Probably the greatest sufferers are the
Canadian Indians who tor years have made
their living by trapping. They hare been
notified through the department OF Indian
Affairs Of the Canadian government that
the Hudson's Bay Co., Reviiion Freres and
the independent trading companies will
no longer advance them their usual sup
,nt,es NJ fs,s,d ammunition cinf hing ate
against their prospective catches. That
this will cause much suffering among them
csn well be imagined, a. they lead pre-
carious hand to mouth existence and have
no other way OF sustaining themselves.
The largest part OF the fur supply comes
from the United States, with Canada
close second, perhaps excelfinR the United
States In value per akin. Next in value 10
the Russian supply. II Siberis be in
cludsd, closely followed by Australia.
Other countries furnish smaller amounts.
Probably Russia and Siberia furnish al
most as valuable supplies - any country,
but OF these quite large part Is kept in
Russia for dealers in Petrogrsd and other
Russian cities Sea otter is the most
valuable fur at present; Russian sable Is
next In value, with silver fox nearly APP
preaching il. although when the size Of
the skins Is considered the sable 10 in
hniieiy greater In value.
London dealers believe that II the war
should last through another winter, even
the present low prices win decline. Col
lecting dealers in Canada and the United
States must have heavy unsold stocks, and
these, a. well ~ any future offerings they
may take from trappers. will have to be
placed in cold storage until the market
improves. This naturally will keep prices
depressed.
At the March sale the difference in
value between stale q. e., held over from
previous seasons or for some months) and
Australian opossum declined 80 per
cent. compared with the prices obtained
in June, 1914; there was practically no de-
mand for the small quantity offered and
only few lots could be disposed OF even
at this heavy reduction in price. wsllaby
and kangaroo remained practically UNI
sold, though holders we're prepared to ac-
cept . reduction on the low prices that
ruled nj the sale in june. 1914. Red sox
declined 20 per cent. from the June prices:
there was more demand for tb,s article
than for any other Austr>iian fur. and =
portion of The Offering found buyerr.
Msrteu declined 10 uer cent. compared
with March 1efA- and -. ne0iectsd nv
buvers.
p~~ - s..a.-s a - -. -.
ermine 80 mr. cent. the American erm,ne
selling relatiyeiv lower than the Rn..isn
Re.ver and ch,nchilt. d~c,,n.d N p.r
cant. but sold readily e. these low nrice.
Otter was lower by Is mar cent. ana sold
slowly even NJ this reduction. :. the de-
mand visa Door. Lynx declined 10 per
cent. the large skius showing = heavier
reduction than the small Fisher fell on
90 pe- cent. ana a verv ANAL Offering met