Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01
FUR DEMAND GAINS
IN MODERN STYLES
PeIts Are Now Used More EX-
tensiveIy in Trimming
Garments.
BY ]. G.. ROYLE.
ispatch to The Star,

MONTREAL, August 3l.-Style trends
in women's clothes are such today that
representatives of the Canadian fur
trade expressed the confident belief
that fur prices would show an ad-
vance this Fall. Earlier in the season a
price decline was predicted by whole
salers, but this was before it became
evident that furs would be required
in such volume to trim coats, suits,
gowns and hats. 1t is also believed that
the trend in cured furs will result in
a firm price for peltS to the fur farm
ers and trapperS of the Dominion.
Prices have not advanced materially
as yet. One large dealer here predicted
to the writer that an advance would
not be long delayed; others equally in
touch with the trade believe there will
be no change until cold weather.
Canadian Catch.
The Canadian catch was practically
normal in the Winter of 1928-29 and
it is furS from this catch which are
now coming into Montreal from the
far distant trading posts along Hudson
Bay and in the Mackenzie Valley. The
one locality where the catch was small
was along the north shore of the st.
Lawrence River. Throughout Ontario
and from thence northwestward reports
and shipments alike indicate normal ac-
tivity. Ermine. is plentiful, although
red foxes are a little short of normal
requirements and may show strong
price levels in consequence. A steady
demand is being evidenced for beaver,
wolf, lynx, badger and other furS used
for trimming purposes.
A factor which will have a decided
effect on the cost of fur garments
in the late Winter in the United States
will be the volume of the furs caught
in December This will give a good
indication of the 1929-30 catch, al
though the furs themselves will not
come on the market in the present
season. The manager of large whole
sale house in Montreal told the writer
today:
II am almost persuaded that the
fashion in automobiles has great deal
to do with the fashion in clothes. We
find that instead Of SO many fur coats
being sold, the main demand is now
for cloth coats with fur trimming. Per-
hapS We would be justified in attributing
this to the widespread use of closed
automobiles in the Wintertime. Many
women do not find it necessary or at
tractive to wear their fur coats in a car
and in consequence get cloth coat
for that purpose, but the latter mus
DE 1ur trimmed, OF course.
The Canadian fur dealers are not
asleep when it comes to the style factor
They are anticipating the requirements
of the new fashions, with the result that
the whole trend of the business is
now changing and becoming more syS-
temitized.
Retail Sales.
Retail sales throughout Canada TO
American tourists so far this year have
exceeded in volume the sales of furs
to Americans during the whole of 1928.
This city boasts number of retail fur
establishments which have continental
affiliations and are regarded as among
the leaders in the worlds trade. Active
heads of these institutions declared to-
day they have no complaint to make
that business has been good and pros
poets were encouraging.
The Canadian dealers are keeping in
close touch with the production of
various types of furs in the United
States. 1t is no news to them that the
muSkrat catch of Louisiana in the last
season exceeded the 5000, 000-pelt mark
and that the value of the Louisiana fur
catch was $8.526,740. The Canadian
furriers are sorting and offering their
furS in accordance with the trends
shown by the United States production
even though the American catch in
cludes animals not raised or trapped in
the Dominion.