Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-09
GETTING THE WORLDS FUR TRADE
HY FREDERIC j. IIASkIN

7 ings over here with any great degree
! OF cquanin!ty. Her own auction IL
going on, and she does not sec whv
on" auction is not enough Her trade
journals hint 1T German influence hc
nina the American salcs. but New York
ana - Louis continue apparently un-
disturbed
ON tn" other hand. tho present trend
OF affairs chimes in well with the
WISHES OF German fur dealers and
'he% are among the heaviest BUYERS
In the world Under normal conditions.
Germany buys eight times as much a,
tho annual London salcs as New York
and 81. Louis together sold ,his year.
Neither American city passed tho
100000 mark very far In its auction.
ana German purchases alone used TO
run around si7.ooo.oGO in London |,
must Dc r"mcinbcrcd however .ha,
conditions arc sun far from normal in
All the markets. and that +, IL quite
impossible TO ship furs to Germany
even II That empire were in a position
!" manufacture them
while II is natural consequence OF
IN" state OF affairs in the FUR trad.
ana world politics that tho American
auctions should incur mild hostility I'm
Eng land and elicit approval In CO..
many. such factors hav. nothing IN
q" with the establishment, or cou,in
Hanc" of the present snlcs though they
may nay" some effect after peace is
declared Whether or no, America Is
to be fur center depends priu,ril,.
ON how fnr hcr natural location f,vnrs
such condition, and how enthusiastic
caliH the matter is pushed. In both
I "' th'S" factors there seems TO he ONLY
encouraging evidence. 4 third thing
that Viii help toward Tie end Is what.
ever financial prestige We may gain
Financial Ccni-r Way Shift.
The strength OF I.ondou's position IS
dG" 10 h"r pre- eminent position in III.
world or finance her long conucc,io,
wi'h tn" fur trade and her colonial
empire" THAT her colonies are euual!y
ready 10 trade through America would
seem 70 hc indicated b. Australia's
action III" center Of financial gray
'tN may SHIFT. The factor OF !nndon's
traditional position can only he over
! come ~ time. and by satisfactory scr
vice 10 all the world on tho part o:
America or late years there has been
some dissatisfaction with the way Lon.
don handles tho business.
EnSiand's commanding position in tn.
iur business goes back many hundred
OF years Til" FUR resources or Can
ada were one OF the chief reasons why
that country was Il bone Of contention
'"twe"n England and France The
story OF the lludson's Bay Company.
ana how its wonderful organization
penetrated the wilderness and opcncd
up mn empire forms "A chapter OF his
tory mat has never been cXccllcd In
romance. England shows her appre
cation OF tho part furs played in her
I history in the use She makes Of ihcm
on stat" occasions. The minivcr which
makes III" coronation robe OF the SOW
croi=n Is . specially trimmed crminc.
ll. ,lnG "a
other high officials are trimmed with
the same material.
Different FurS Compared.
Ermine is not one OF the very .X-
pens!vc turs. as might be thought from
/ THIS custom. Certain grades OF Rus
SIAN sable arc the most valuable furs
OF ~! Their price is simply a matter
o' what the buyer is willing to pay
For a single skin of this sort s3.nuo
has hccn paid. and coat is made Of
dozens OF SKINS, which must be care
fully collected through n long period
"i time in order to get a sufficient
, Number that match
Sea otter 10 the most durable Of furs
and one Of the most beautiful In
consequence Of these qualities YOU
/ cannot often pick up a bargain In sea
offers. As much as $1,000 has been
paid for Il single raw skin. This Eur
is used 10 trim the robes Of state worn
w '-iIlH'St Natural DIaCk
FOX is another fur that the family mnu
views with mild disfavor. 1t is a freak
variety Of the silver fox and il runs
in the ntighborhood OF $500 for u
single raw skin.
some interesting determination
have been made by fur manufacturers
as to the durability or the various
sorts OF fur. Among the sO-caIled prcc-
ioiiS iurs. sea otter wears best Of all.
! followed by zeal and sable. Beaver
: ana SKUNK ar" cheaper furs that wear
! wei! For lining" and motor coats.
otter Lends again. followed by beaver.
seal ana rnccoor The Russian pony
I coats that arc becoming popular re
h"c' IN" growing scarcity Of certain
/ KIND" % FUR. Thig fur was never used
/ nn'ii l"i"'H IT comcs from the shag@y
/ c"i's OF tho caHtcrn stcppcs.
/ AZ an ordinary London auction NIFTY
or sixty different varieties OF fur arc
offered. In the course of n year sales
! WI run al the way from 100 tigers
y" fooo"o fox The large number OF
ioS coupled with their comparatively
| hiSh price makes them one OF the big
! features. although In point OF number
IN" l,00",OO0 skunk skins and the o.
o"o.oo0 squirrel that arc sold annually
I Tar exceed them.
some idea Of the immense magnitude
OF III" London fur business can he
| r'canod from figures such as these. If
| America gets her Legitimate share CEN
| tered at home, !, cannot fail TO benefit
the whole country.