The Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1910-1917, 1915-06-14
LONDON SALES
SHOW DECLINE
IN FUR PRICES
REPORT OF CONSUL GENERAL
GIVES DETAILS OF MAR.
kET SITUATIONS.

Under date of April l3, Robert
p. Skinner, the American consul
general at London wrote report
on the fur market in the British
capital, which gives a good idea Of
what may be expected in local prices
from now until the war ends Fol
lowing are extracts from this re-
port:
The effect OF the European war
has been felt in few channels OF
trade more keenly than In the mar
ket for turs. Before the war Lon
don and Leipzig. with Paris. Petro
grad est. Petersburg), and st. Louis.
were the world markets for the dis
tribution OF furS. the largest part
Of the trade being carried on in
London and Leipzig Since the out
break of hostilities the London mar,
ket has been the only one to con
duct business on large scale, and
even here the demand has diminish.
ed.
The reason for this is the in
ability or disinclination through eau
ton of the middle and richer classes
to buy, the absence of Leipzig and
other continental dealers, and the
fact that skins can not now be
sent to Leipzig for dyeing. The
richer classes are buying lower grade
furs than formerly, SO that the loss
in medum-priced skins is not so
higher grades Il
The largest part Of the fur sup
ply comes from the United States.
with Canada close second, per.
haps excelling the United States in
value per skin. Next in value is
the Russian supply. II Siberia be in
Guided, closely followed by Australia
Other countries furnish smaller
amounts, Probably Russia and ST.
supplies as any country, but Of these
quite large part is kept in Rus
STA for dealers in Petrograd and
other Russian cities. Sea otter is
the most valuable fur at present;
Russian sable is next in value, with
silver fox nearly approaching it; al
though when the size of the skins
is considered the sable is infinitely
greater in value.
MARCH AUCTIONS.
AT the March sale the difference
in value between stale ii. e., held
over from previous seasons or for
some months) and fresh skins was
most noticeable. The following re-
suits were obtained:
Australian opossum declined so
per cent compared with the prices
obtained in June. 1914; there was
practically no demand for the small
quantity offered and only a few lots
could be disposed of even at this
heavy reduction in price. No inter
est was taken in ring-tail opossum
and no skins were sold, Wombat
sold at a decline of 20 per cent COM
pared with prices OF last June
"Wallaby and kangaroo remained
practically unsold. though holders
were prepared to accept reduc-
ton on the low prices that ruled at
<Gn cn1n jvN I,,~o DDI foxy
declined 20 per cent from the June
prices; there WAS more demand for
this article than for any other Aus
tralian fur, and a portion OF the Of
fering found buyers. Marten declin-
ed 40 per cent compared with March,
1914, and was neglected by buyers.
Stone marten declined IS per cent,
fitch 80 per cent, and civet cat,
Japanese fox, leopard. wild cat.
house cat, and badger so per cent.
Russian sable declined 40 per
cent and ermine so per cent, the
American ermine selling relatively
lower than the Russian. Beaver
and chinchilla declined IS per cent,
but sold readily at these low prices.
Otter was lower by IS per cent and
sold slowly even at this reduction,
as the demand was poor. Lynx de-
clined 40 per cent, the large skins
showing a heavier reduction than
the small. Fisher fell off 50 per
cent and very small offering met
with poor demand. Kolinsky seem
ed to be entirely out Of favor and
all sorts declined 40 per cent.
DEPRECIATION OF FOX.
Fox skins all showed a deprecia-
ton in prices. Silver fox, at a
reduction OF IS per cent. sold bet
ter than WAS expected, but there Is
no prospect of an improvement in
the future. Cross fox sold readily
at decline OF 80 per cent. Blue
fox. though only small amount
was offered, remained largely I'M
sold. White fox sold readily at a
loss OF IS per cent. Gray fox de-
clined so per cent and was most
difficult to sell in spite Of the heavy
fall. Kilt fox was In fair request
at a decline Of so per cent. Red fox
Of the common sorts realized old