The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-01-31
BLACK SIBERIAN
HARES And OTHER
!, FUR RABBITS"

Washington, DFC., Jan. 29-The U
is. Department of Agriculture during
the past few months has received
many inquiries regarding the merits
of certain rabbits that have been ex-
tensively advertised as fur produc-
ers. Replies to sucH inquiries have
stated that the demand for rabbit
fur is such as to make it pay to save
the pelts Of domestic rabbits killed fol
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 collect
ed and sold annually, than of all other
fur animals combined. Before the
present war, Great Britain imported
each year from 100000 to 100000
900 skins. while the home produc-
ton added 100000 more. The i'm
ported supply came from Australia
and the nearer European countries.
France, Belgium, Germany, the Uni
ted States, and other countries also
use large quantities ~ this fur. The
bulk of it is sold in bales, bringing
from TO cents to so cents a pound,
dependent on color and quality. The
better class of skins sell by the doz-
en-, bringing from SO cents to 81, that
is, less than 10 cents each.
Baled rabbit furs are bought large
sly for fe1ting purposes, the fur be
ing made into cloth or coarse hats,
while the skins are utilized for man
ufacturing glue. Fine hats are made
Of nutria (the fur of the South Amer
lean copyu) or of nutria and rabbit
fur mixed. The fur OF the common
wild rabbits of America does not felt
well and is in slight demand. Whole
skins of these animals seldom sell
for more than 1 or 2 cents EACH
The better kinds of rabbit skins
are used for making fur garments,
which when made up, are commonly
sold as a.dony'', but often under other
trade names. White skins are made
up in imitation of arctic fox, or,
sheared in imitation of ermine. Gray
rabbits are. dyed brown or black and
become Baltic black fox or Baltic
brown fox; seal-dyed, they become
finland SEAL electric seal,'' "coast
SEAL or NEAR SEAL" Reputable fur
riers avoid such names, or, if they
use them, frankly explain that the
goods are cony or rabbit. These gar
ments, while handsome and comfort
able, have little durability and are
therefore cheap.
Statements to the effect that GER
tain breeds of rabbits produce pelts
Of high market value are unwarrant-
ed. The 1ong-haired breeds, such as
the Angora and the Siberian (both
white animals have poor pelts and the
hairs are not well set in the skins
The short-haired varieties are much
alike as to strength Of pelts, but vary
considerably in color. The English
black-and- white has striking colors
that might appeal to the fancy of
individual wearers of fur garments,
but they are not popular in the fur
trade. Skins of piebald rabbits of any
shade sell for less than those Of solid
colors. There is also a difference in
quality Of fur between hutch rabbits
and those kept in the open, the lat
ter having the better pelts.
Besides exaggerated statements as
to value of fur, advertisements of fur
habits contain totally false claims
as to the origin of animals offered for
sale. This practice is not new one,
|
now well-known Himalayan rabbit
was first bred in England, the state
ment that it originated in the Hima
Clayan Mountains was believed by a
fellow of the Geological society of
London, who described and figured
the animal in the society's journals
as a new species. Rabbits recently
advertised as fur animals are said to
have been imported directly from ST.
IBERIA in one instance, and from Mon
golia in another. The further state
ment that the animals exist in these
countries in wild state is advanc-
ed. AS a matter of fact we'll known
to naturalists no wild rabbits occur in
either country and the few species of
hares found there are small gray an
ima1s 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 animals 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 identify the an
imals at first sight They are I'M
doubtedly the common European rab-
bit of the Flemish giant breed. In
this variety black is a constantly re-
curing color and sometimes appears
among filters of the purest-bred
strain. These black individuals are
usually regarded by fanciers as un-
desirable and are discarded. How
ever, if the black stock be chosen for
reproduction, black strain Of Elem
ish giants is obtained in which blush
gray individuals recur from time to
time, as several breeders in the United
States have proved. Such a strain OF
Flemish giants is nowl offered as a
new species imported directly from
Siberia, a country without rabbits IN