The Kusko times., 1929-01-12
IS transferred to the

Throughout it's existence the "Hon- orable Company" has regulated it's output of raw furs methodically. To prevent the Indians depicting the fur1bearers they have, until recently, supplied them with but primitive fire arms, the old style muzzle-loading rife, and traps of the seventeenth century vintage. The average Indian on his trapline could just about earn a living. THes average earnings of a native trapline. worker. seldom until the last few years. exceeded $2,500.
 It's authority was intermittently disputed by daring individuals and some organized fur-takers, but never, until 1s68-79, successfully. Gra1iu- ally the Indians have secured modern rifles and the latest devices for get ting the last fur-bearers along their trap lines. This accounts for the steady decline of the animals whose peltts the trapper seeks. The pro- duct of raw fur from that source is steadily growing smaller. That is one reason for the increased price of furs and fur garments today. It will grow in that direction Volume ought to increase, according to students of the industry, but not from the trap lines of the Indians. Modern methods Of production promise to beat nature. "F'ur farming" is now utilizing many millions in the Canadian Northwest. 1t is being reduced to az scientific business. There is scarcely an animal whose fur is worth taking today in the wilds of the Northwest that is not being Harmed" to advantage. They are multiplying on these farms, many of them covering thousands of acres. The predatory animals were kept away by hunters. Eagles and hawks aref being exterminated all over the Northwest.
 The United States market this fall will receive very large percentage of farm fur" along with the trapline products. The fur from the farms commands good price, though less than that for the pelts taken in ,la wilds. The experts maintain that the natural fur has 2 tensile strength that the animal in captivity does not produce. They assert it will wear longer and retain it's natural color and appearance better. However when the factory gets through with the average piece of fur, it seldom resembles the skin taken from the animal it is supposed to represent. Tn I truth, to begin witt, the color is inn proved. And, if experts have handled ! it, old fur dealers say it will outwear the primitive articla, retaining tic l luster. ProporticnaSely, however, these qualities depend largely on the skill of the workm.n, suality of the dye and other chemical treatment. Modern methods promise to increase prices rather than otherwise.
 The success Of those fur farms in Northwest Canada has developed something new in the way of 'mail order fakes" and hig:, pressure stock salesmanship. Scores of sue n con- panies have been organized merely for the purpose of disposing of artis- tically Autographed certificates. The postal department has been forced to deny number of such obvious frauds the mailing privileges and, in { some cases, to prosecute the ener- getic managers.
 In most of the successful fur farm 1 ing ventures the stock has been Kept within a small radius, owned almost wholly by those engaged in the busi- ness. A few have been organized with stock offerings to the public that have been honestly conducted and re- turned dividends, but the hazard of picking the "safe" one for investment