Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-15
TRADE IN RABBIT SKINS
More Sold Annually Than All
Other Fur Animals Combined.
Value of Their Fur ExASgeratetl-
Advertisements Of Fur Rabbits Of
fered for sale Contain Totally
False Claims.

merits of certain rabbits that have been
extensively advertised as fur producers.
Replies to such inquiries have stated that
the demand for rabbit fur Ia such as to
make It pay to save the pelts of domestic
rabbits killed for food, but that raising
rabbits for the fur alone world be un-
profitable with any known breed. Some
facts about the trade In rabbit skins will
be Of interest in this connection.
LOTS OF RABBIT SKINS
More skins Of rabbits arc collected and
sold annually than Of al other IL: I'm.
imals combined. Before the present war
Great Britain imported each year from
4, 100000 20 9o,G0,0oo skins, while tho nome
production added 30,om0oo more. The i'm
ported supply came from Australia and
the nearer European countries. France,
Belgium, Germany, the United 0sates, and
other countries also use largo Quantities
Of this fur. Tho tulk Of Il is sold In bales,
bringing from 10 cents to 50 cents . pound.
dependent on color and quality. The bet
ter class Of skins sells BY the dozen.
bringing from 80 cents to 81, that is less
than 10 cents each.
Baled rabbit furs Aro bought largely for
feltng purposes, the fur being made tnto
cloth or coarse hats, while the skins are
utilized Tor manufacturing glue. Fine
South American coypu) or Of nutria and
rabbit fur mixed. The fur Of the com
mon wild rabbit Of America does moi
felt we'll and Is In slight demand. Whole
skins Of these animals seldom sell fol
| more than one or two cents each.
The better kinds of rabbit skins arr
used for making fur garments. which
when made up, are commonly sold a
| "cony.' but often under other trade
names. White skins are made up in imi
tation Of arctic fox, or, sheared, In imi
tation of ermine. Gray rabbits are dye<
brown or black and become Baltic blacl
fox" or Baltic brown fox" seal.dyed
they become finland SEAL" "electri,
SEAL coast SEAL" or "near-seal." Rep
utable furriers avoid such names, or. l
they use them. frankly explain that tn
goods are cony or rabbit These gar
ments. while handsome and comfortable
have little durability and are therefor
cheap.
MARKET VALUE SMALL
Statements to the effect that certai
breeds of rabbits produce pelts Of hig
market value are unwarranted. tn
long-haired breeds such as the Anger
and the Siberian (both white animals
have poor pelts and the hairs are no
we'll set in the skins. The short -haire
} varieties are much alike as to strengt
} Of pelts, but vary considerably in colol
The English blAck-and- white has striltin
colors that might appeal to the fame
of individual wearers Of fur garment,
but they are not popular In tho fur trad,
Skins Of piebald rabbits of any shad
sell for less than those Of solid color,
There Is also q difference in quality {
fur between hutch rabbits and thos
kept in the open. tho latter having tn
better pelts.
Besides exaggerated statements as I
value Of fur. advertisements Of fur raj
bits contain totally false claims as II
D the origin of animals offered for sal
This practice is not a new one. for aho,
I 60 years ago. when the now well-ikhow
Himalayan rabbit was first bred in E:ni
land, the statement that 1t originated
tho Himalayan Mountains was believs
? by a fellow OF the Geological society
Q London, who described and figured Il
animal in the soclety's journal as a ne
{ species. Rabbits recently advertised
D fur animals are said to have been In
. ported directly from Siberia in one Il
o stance, and from Mongolia m anothe
9 The further statement that the anima
a exist in these countries In wild sta
Q Is advanced. AS matter Of fact W,
) known to naturalists no wild rabbits o
y cur In either country and the few 50
: cies Of hares found there are small gr;
9 animals that turn white in winter. r
= support Of the fsncffui testimony Of ,
n unknown naturalist who claims to ha
. resided in Siberia and to have observ
n tho animals in tho wild state does not he
o the case.
Il "BIAACK SIBERIAN HARE
l. So far as the 'Sblack Siberian hare"
a concerned. any experienced breeder
!. rabbits can readily identify the anims
70 at first sight. They are undoubtedly {
r common European rabbit Of the F1ezni
q giant breed. In this variety black is
l. constantly recurring color and sometirn
% appears among litters Of the purest br
strain These black individuals are ,
y ualiy regarded by fanclers az undesil
ID BILE and discarded. However. II the hla
y stock be chosen for reproduction. a bla
ID strain Of Flemish giants Is obtained
l. which blush gray individuals recur frt
J. time to time. as several breeders in I
n United States have proved. Such a STIR
Of Flemish giants is now offered as
r. new species imported directly from
I'd IBERIA, a country without rabbits unit
r carried there as domestic animals
1t is not to be inferred. however. Il
Is black Flemish giant rabbits have no
lie value On the contrary, owing to tn
i'd great size and color. the skins will pr
1t ably sell for more than those Of M
g. other breeds All known breeds Of dom
In tic rabbits belong to single species.
European rabbit. whether they arc kpo
I'd as Belgian hare. Flemish giant. Siberi
Himalayan. Dutch. Japanese. Kai-Gai.
any other name, and the attempt to pa
any Of them upon the public as a n
ed species imported from a portion OF
world not inhabitated by rabbits ia VII
he " unwarranted and to be severely c.
ne demned.
Ir.
nd DEWEY.
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