San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-24
BY ISRAEL KLEIN


decided to buy Hudson seal coat and
you must choose between two fur
dealers for your purchase, even though
one is cheaper, would you know how
to make the better choice!
A large majority of women would
not. because they depend on the
dealer to enlighten them on the furs
they want to buy. Yet here is a
situation that would be puzzling-
two dealers selling Hudson seal, one
underpricing the other.
1t may be a matter of cut-throat
competition. but if the purchaser
knew anything about Hudson seal
she could soon learn the real cause.
She might find that while one Offers
northern Hudson seal. the other,
though cheaper. offers the southern
variety. And if she knew the differ
ence. she would not hesitate buying
the former at higher price.
Hudson seal lis the name COM
monty given to muskrat. the best
skins Of which come from Canada
and the northern states. Besides.
watch for Late Winter" and Early
Spring" Hudson seals, for they're the
best.
Similarly. other furs which are
popular this year might be studied
by the woman who plans buvinr n
skin wrap or neckpiece this fall. Tie
information might help her in her
choice.
Favorite Furs.
The most favored furs. accordin" 20
prominent fur dealer. are: |. Car
acul; >. Squirrel; 3. Seal: I. Cony I;
). Raccoon: G Mole; Z. Weasel. in
Guiding mink, ermine, sable and mar
ten; s. Fox
CARACUL Is a lamb skin. The.
best grade is the Astrachan, a species
found in the province of Astrachan
and other parts of Southern Russia
and Asia. The poor grade is the Chi
nese or Mongolian lamb. a soft wool,
moderately long-haired lamb Of those
parts Of Asia.
SQUIRREL skins from Russia AID
Siberia are best, those from the. sec
tons east of the Ural mountains be-
ing valued above all others for their
clear gray color. In two of these
districts. it has rich blush shade.
The reddish cast is characteristic of
many of the European squirrels.
China also supplies a good grade of
squirrel and some fine dark skins
come from Japan.
Sealskins Rare.
SEALS are divided in two chief
classes: the Sealskin and the Hudson
Seal. The former is the real seal,
while the latter is actually muskrat.
The most popular sealskin is the Alas
kan. the catch of which has been Sc
verely restricted in recent years to
save the mammal from determination.
Only about $4,000 sealskins are If
Tered for sale by the government an
nually.
CONY is only another name for
European rabbit. The finer white
| and silver-gray skins are worked mp
in their natural state, but many mil
lions are either dyed in the hair or
converted into "Near Seals" MO
lines" and" Electric Comics" by hav-
| ing the ton hair removed before be-
ing dyed the desired color. Most
squirrel skins come from France
and Belgium, the French being Of The
finer quality. Skins of the Australian
rabbit are called Kit Comics in theil
natural state. and Mole. Nutria. Beav.
or and Seal Comics or Scalincs whar
they have been dyed to initiate the
natural furs.
| RACCOON Of the large. heavy
furred variety coming from Wiscon
sin. Minnesota. Dakota and Northern
Iowa, are most valuable. "SoutherI
CoOns" are much flatter in fur an,
pooer in color than the Central" ant
Northern" varieties.
| MOLE is found in North America
but this variety is of poor quality
The best moleskins come from Scoi
land and Holland. although the Dutcl
Moles are not as full and silky as tn
Scotch Moles.
Weasel and Fox.
WEASEL FURS are the Erminp
Mink. Sable and Marten. especially
Finest varieties of Ermine come from
Siberia. Canada and Alaska. TIL
white skins come from Tshim in West
crn Siberia. but the Babinskv skin
are the largest and most valuable.
True Mink comes from Mort
Maine. Labrador. Nova Scotia an
the eastern minks, then the NORTH
western.
Sable is variety Of marten. q
which the Russian sable is the mos
valuable. Next come the heavily 81
vered. large brown skins from Kan
chatka and after these the silve
small brown skins from the Amur di'
trict.
The Marten. Of which Kolinsky
la variety. is most common as III
Stone Marten from Europe and III
Brown Marten, or Illusions Bay S;