Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-07-15
RAISING RABBITS
.FORFUR GROWING.
To BIC INDUSTRY.

advertised as fur producers. Replies
to such inquiries have stated that the
demand for rabbit fur is such as to
make it pay to save the pelts of do
nestle rabbits killed for food, but
that raising rabbits for the fur alone
would be Improbable with any known
breed. Some facts about the trade in
rabbit skins will be of interest in this
connection.
More skins of rabbits are collected
and sold annually than of all other fur
animals combined. Before the present
war, Great Britain imported each year
from 70,000,000 to 90,000,000 skins,
while the home production added So,
100000 more. The imported supply
from Australia and the nearer Euro
pean countries. France, Belgium, Ger
many, the United States, and other
countries also use large quantities OF
this fur. The bulk of it is sold in bales,
bringing from 10 cents to so cents a
pound, dependent on color and quail
ity. The better class of skins sell by
the dozen bringing from so cents to 81,
that is, less than 10 cents each.
Baled rabbit furs are bought for
telling purposes, the fur being made in
TO cloth or coarse hats, while the skins
are utilized for manufacturing glue,
Fine hats are made of nutria (the fur
Of the South American coypu) or of
nutris and rabbit fur mixed The fur
OF the common wild rabbit of America
does not felt well and is in slight de-
mand. Whole skins of these animals
seldom sell for more than or 2 cents
each.
The better kinds of rabbit skins are
used for making fur garments. which,
when made up, are commonly sold as
"cony," but often under other trade
names. White skins are made up in i'm
itation of actic fox, or, sheared, in inn
itation of ermine. Gray rabbits are
dyed brown or black and become Bal
tic black fox" or Baltic brown fox"
seal-dyed, they become inland seal"
electric seal" coast seal" or near
seal Reputable furriers avoid such
names. or, if they use them, frankly
explain that the goods are cony or rab-
bit. These garments, while handsome
and comfortable. have little durability
and are therefore cheap.
Statements to the effect that certain
breeds Of rabbits produce pelts Of high
market value are unwarrantable The
long haired breeds, such as the Angora
ard the Siberian (both white animals)
have poor pelts and the hairs are not
we'll set in the skins The shOrt-haired
varieties are much alike as to strength
of pelts, but very considerably in color,
The English black-and-w has strik-
ing colors that might appeal to the
fancy Of individual wearers of fur gar
ments, but they are not popular in the
fur trade. Skins of piebald rabbits of
al shade sell for less than those of
solid colors. There is also a differ
ence in quality of fur between hutch
rabbits and those kept in the open. the
latter having the better pelts.
Besides exaggerated statements as to
value of fur, advertisements of fur rab-
hts contain totally false claims as to
origin of animals offered for sale. This
practice is not a new one, for about so
years ago, when the now well-known
Himalayan rabbit was first bred in
England, the statement that it origin
ated in the Himalayan Mountains was
believed by fellow of the Geological
Society of London, who described and
figured the animal in the society's
journal as g new species. Rabbits re-
Gently advertised as fur animals are
said TO have been imported directly
from Siberia in one instance, and from
Mongolia in another. The further state
ment that the animals exist in these
countries in a wild state is advanced.
As matter of fact we'll known to nat
uralists no wild rabbits occur in either
country and the few species of hares
fund there are small gray animals that
turn white in, winter. The support Of
the fanciful testimony of an unknown
naturalist who claims to have resided
IN Siberia and to have observed the an
imals in the wild state does not help
the case.
So far as the black Siberian hare"
is concerned, any experienced breeder
Of rabbits can readily identity animals
at first SIGHT They arc rnd0ubtedly