Fur buyers' guide; complete instructions about buying, handling and grading raw furs, including size, color, quality, as well as when, where and how to sell

Introduction

PRACTICALLY all books treating upon the subject of raw furs heretofore have been from the view or standpoint of the large dealer, exporter and manufacturer. The author of FUR BUYERS' GUIDE not only trapped when a boy, but at the age of 14 began buying furs in a small way, and a few years later traveled horseback and in a two wheeled cart over Gallia, Meigs, Vinton, Athens, Lawrence and Jackson Counties in Southern Ohio and M? ^n in West Virginia. Later I was employed by an Ohio aL \ New York firm on a salary to represent them in Southern Ohio, West Virginia, Northern Kentucky and Southwestern Pennsylvania. Traveling now was mainly by rail. I kept at this job steadily for years — buying furs in the winter and hides, pelts, tallow and roots during the balance of the year.

After several years I became tired of traveling and gave up my position March i, 1897, going to Gallipolis, Ohio, where I started in the fur business on my own account the following November. But as the active raw fur season there only lasted a few months each year, I

6 Introduction.

became interested in the publishing business and in June, 1898, founded a county newspaper, which led to my establishing the HUNTER-TRADER-TRAPPER in October, 1900. In the meantime I was buying thousands and thousands of dollars worth of furs each season, but from 1900 on, my time was largely devoted to the publishing business.

In November, 1904, I disposed of my county paper and moved to Columbus, Ohio, with my monthly magazine. For the next ten years I was in close touch with fur dealers, exporters and manufacturers, visiting the leading American raw fur centers from one to three times each year.

The various facts as outlined are mentioned only to show how wide an experience I have had. I feel that those interested in raw furs, whether trapper, country buyer, village or town collector will find much of practical value in this book.

Several persons of experience and knowledge of the fur industry have furnished facts, which have been used in various parts. Mr. J. A. Newton, a trapper and buyer of long experience; also Martin Hunter for forty years with the Hudson Bay Co., being among the number while Mr. C. M. Goodspeed supplied much of the information on Ginseng and Golden Seal. Numerous photographs have also been especially taken by trappers and collectors for this book.

Introduction. 7

While there are several varieties or species of some of the fur bearing animals, as a rule, no particular distinction or reference is here made. My object in giving range, description, size and color is for the benefit and guidance of the handler of the pelt or fur — not to classify the animal. Besides technical facts, grade and sort in connection with the buying, handling and selling of furs, much more is published, so that anyone at all interested in furs or the fur trade, will find something of interest in this book.

Contents

Chapter page

I. "Wild" and "Tame" Furs 17

II. Size, Color, Quality 34

CHAPTER I. "'wild'" and ''tame" furs

•™ NEW CONDITION. — Only a few years ago the f^ raw fur buyer could travel from morning until •/ ■ night and encounter only one class of furs, the wild article. Then qualities were quite uniform in prime skins. Color, length, fineness, density and gloss were so common in the wild fur coat that contrary features were not expected. A prime skin might be quite lacking in fur and escape notice because not many of such pelts were to be found in any original collection.

Now there is a new condition with which to deal ; it is the advent of the fur farm in all its phases, from an enclosure of several acres down to confines no larger than an ordinary chicken run.

In the early days beaver was the staple fur, although bear, otter, fisher, marten, wolf, lynx, fox, mink, raccoon and muskrat were all exported to Europe in considerable quantities as early as 1750 but not until 1843 was house cat and chinchilla (a South American animal) used or exported. American opossum and fur seal were added in 1849, but not until 1858 was skunk fur used. These furs became valuable, even at that early date, because the supply of others began to diminish — now there are no other animals that produce fur to add. Even rabbit, brown weasel and ferret pelts have a small fur value.

2 (17)

1 8 Fur Buyer' tide J

y

American squirrel and grou^i hogs are not fur bearing animals — they grow hair only.

There are practically no new or unexplored regions to trap in America or elsewhere. For years wild fur bearers have been hard pressed by trappers and fur hunters so that their numbers are becoming less. There may be and no doubt are exceptions with certain animals in a few states, where laws are in effect prohibiting early and late trapping. Again the demoralized condition of the raw fur trade during 1914-15, owing to the European war was largely the cause for a somewhat increase of certain raw fur bearing animals in many parts of America. In general, however, it can be truthfully said that most wild fur bearing animals are becoming more scarce each year. On the other hand the demand for furs increases with an increased population. The automobile has wonderfully helped the fur trade in the use of fur robes, coats, gloves, etc., for be it remembered that tens of thousands of automobiles are used in winter as well as in summer.

From where is the future supply of raw furs to come? No doubt there will be plenty but instead of practically all being from pelts of wild animals a greater per cent each year will be taken from tame fur animals, for most of the wild fur animals can and will be domesticated just as has been done with other animals — ^horses, cattle, sheep — when demand made it profitable to do so.

The future supply and demand will therefore not alone be governed by the catch of "wild" furs but to a considerable extent by *'tame" furs — those from fur farms.

*'Wild" a \me" Furs. 19

Until recently many of the large city fur dealers and exporters were of the opinion that the supply of wild fur bearing animals was practically inexhaustible^ — that when needed trappers would go out into the wilds, catch, skin, and send the pelts to market. On the other side of the question well informed persons foresaw that the supply of wild fur bearers would shortly not be sufficient to supply the demand. They saw that the draining of swamps, marshes and small lakes was destroying the homes and breeding places of muskrat and to a great extent mink and coon. Lumbering and clearing up of land was destroying as well as driving out coon, bear, wild cat and opossum from vast areas in the South and Central portions of the United States, while in the Northern states of the United States as well as parts of Canada the cutting of timber and clearing of the land was depriving the marten, fisher, bear and lynx of their homes. Otter and beaver do not usually linger long where people are too numerous and these as well are reduced. To partly offset all this there are a few fur bearers — red fox, skunk, mink and muskrat — that do fairly well in settled parts.

With fur raising from confined animals there is apt to be as many qualities as there are different sized pens and different foods fed and a diversity in care taking. As an example : twenty-five fur animals raised on an acre will be in better fur than if reared in a pen 20 x 40 feet, providing that both receive the same care and food. If kept on a ten acre tract, the chances are that the fur coat would be superior to that acquired if living on one acre.

The sort of food cuts a big figure in fur (juriiii;,. The wild skunk in summer Hves largely on grubs and insects which produce the finest oil in the world and it stimulates a coat of fur comprising good length, thickness and lustre. The confined animal does not get his natural food supply. Would it be surprising if the fur coat suffered as a consequence and not equal that of the' wild brother?

Again, the animal raised in captivity may prove to have the largest pelt and the best furred. Much depends upon whether the fur raiser knows the habits and nature of fur animals. Why shouldn't animals fur properly if fed regularly upon the food that they like, with living quarters similar to those which they enjoy in the wild condition? They will and do. For proof we need only refer to the sale of a black fox, ranch raised, highest price ever realized for a fox skin. So far the ranch raised black, silver and cross fox skins hav^ sold at an average of about one-third above the wild.

The average prices for all silver fox skins both wild and ranch raised, sold in London during twO' years, was as follows: 1910, $414.37, 1911, $290.01. During the year 1910 there were 2."] ranch raised Prince Edward Island silver fox skins sold which averaged $1,361.05, in 191 1, from the same island, 10 skins were sold which averaged $1,085.27.

On account of the demand for breeding animals at high prices, but few ranch raised silver fox skins were marketed prior to 1915. A somewhat remarkable sale was one sold in March, 1912, when a pelt from a fox that died on October 12, 191 1, and owned by James

Rayner brought $2,050.00, yet the skin would not have been at its best until some weeks later.

It is only a question of proper care of the animal, whether it be fox, mink, marten, skunk, coon, opossum, muskrat or any other fur bearing animal for it to grow a coat of fur as when wild. One fur raiser said that he had opossum that averaged fully one-half heavier than the wild ones in that locality. Thus it is seen from the high priced fox fur to the low opossum, it is in the management whether the pelt is worth more or less than if taken from an animal never in captivity.

The various collections of ''wild" furs, except those caught by professional trappers, show more or less irregtilarity in skinning and handling, coming as they do from so many different persons. Among collections will he found not only blued skins, but torn, shot, dog chewed, rubbed, springy and otherwise damaged. This should all be overcome in "tame" furs for the fur raiser will only kill and market when the pelt and fur are prime. The skins will all be handled by the same person and should be uniform — all alike — which adds to appearance and selling value.

The time will probably come when there will be two quotations on furs, "wild furs" and "tame furs," just as there are on ginseng now. Owing to the fact that ginseng growers have not been able to grow to exactly resemble the wild in looks and taste, the wild sells at an advance over cultivated so that quotations on "wild ginseng" are considerably higher than "cultivated ginseng." Cultivated golden seal, however, has been selling as high as the wild.

Fur Buyers' Guide.

In 19 14 when furs were not Uj active demand the silver black pelt shown brought upwards of one thousand dollars. This pelt was not perfect by any means, was killed early in November and had about one-third of tail missing. The fox was twelve years old and had been owned by a party on Prince Edward Island for years. It was a splendid breeder yet it furred properly and heavily each year until the fall before it was killed it began to show the effects of its age which as already stated was twelve years.

The term Silver Black is used by some fox raisers to designate the better grades of silver fox skins from those of ordinary quality.

That foxes, if properly handled, fur better in ranches than in the wild state seems to be pretty well established. While many are still skeptical yet there is no doubt that the ranch raised pelts of not only fox, but most if not all animals, will eventually surpass the wild. In this connection three more ranch raised fox pelts from Prince Edward Island are shown. The raiser said that none of the three were prime, being killed in November and were small or medium size, not large. No. i was a three-yearold male, not being up to the standard of what that breeder wished, yet the pelt sold for $910.00. No. 2 was that of a ten-year-old female, with part of tail missing,

RANCH RAISED SIL VER BLACK.

Wild" and "Tame" Furs.

yet the pelt sold for $1,000.00. No. 3 was an eleven - year - old male, in fair condition, although showing more silver than either of the others.

This pelt brought $890.00. Remember, that this was in 19 14 when all silver and black fox were sellino- off from former prices. In the London auction sales for the year 19 14 those who had wild silver and black fox pelts on the market will tell you that the ranch raised sold best. When it is taken into consideration that two of these foxes were old and had spent many years within enclosures, or ranch raised, it can be seen that *'tame" furs are even now superior to "wild" in some instances at least.

If the fur raiser is able to produce healthy animals there is no reason why he can not produce fur pelts of better quality than those grown on the backs of animals that often have difficulty in finding enough food to keep them alive. So far those interested in "tame furs," with

THREE RANCH RAISED SILVER BLACK.

the exception of the far northern raisers, have not been able to improve upon the ''wild" and in most cases the product has been inferior.

Whether "wild or tame" furs are made into articles of wear, the larger the pelt and the denser the fur the more valuable they will be. A buyer need only be on his guard, for if he is a judge of fur, he can tell pretty accurately the value of the various classes that he will get an opportunity to handle.

Breeding and raising of fur bearing animals as an industry has come to stay and is bound to increase but like any other business it must be mastered.

Adverse Quality. — The writer, some years ago, purchased the skins of skunk, mink, coon and foxes raised in confinement. As all came from the hands of those who knew but little of the habits and nature of fur animals, the fur was generally lacking. Improved methods of raising in recent years, including feeding and dens has brought about marked improvement. In the matter of skunk furs I feel safe in saying that less than 50 per cent of the number purchased possessed a full coat of fur. All were thin in fur and some were practically all hair with no growth of under fur. The poorest of such inferior furred skins are easily discovered but those that are partly furred are likely to be overlooked. In order to determine qualities, inspection of furs should be made only by daylight and in well lighted rooms.

Some years ago I knew of a buyer who purchased in a barn about 400 skunk skins. It was cold weather, compelling him to keep the doors closed and but little light entered at the few windows. The day was also rather dark which made assorting still more difficult. He was only able to assort for colors and could hardly distinguish the blue pelted skins. When daylight of the right sort came to show up the purchase, he sorted out 75 skins of the "tame" variety which he could determine by their great lack of under fur, although they were prime in pelt. Most of them were detected by the buyer to whom he sold a large collection, being graded down in every instance which meant quite a loss on these skins.

Local dealers as well as traveling buyers now need to examine all lots of goods for quality as well as size, color and primeness. A buyer never knows when some of the poorly furred stuff has been sandwiched in among goods of first quality. Sometimes tame furs that are poorly furred are sent from a considerable distance to some friend who is engaged in buying wild furs to be mixed with the dealer's collection and their identity is lost until sold out as a whole with the rest to some traveling agent at first quality grade and prices.

The raw fur trade is full of tricks and pitfalls for the unwary and many times the most alert are swindled or juggled into a bad deal. Some skunk pelts from the fur grower's pen are affected with mange, the fur being out in spots and the skin scabby and covered with scales. These skunks had narrow quarters, the runs were filthy and the food was mostly tainted or rotten meat such as that from fly blown cattle heads and offal. Skunk, if kept on floors and improperly fed, do not fur properly ; the hide is apt to be thick and the fur thin. Most of the mistakes of the skunk raisers of the early days have been

Fur Buyers' Guide.

remedied and pelts of an A I quality are now being p r o^ duced.

Buyers who have handled tame mink pelts say they average dark in color because of being housed and the runs sheltered so that the sun has no chance to fade them.

The pelts were also prime but when it came to quality the same was often lacking. The coat is short and the fur not so dense or silky, as a result of living in warm quarters and not being sufficiently exposed to cold weather and the elements in general.

Tame coon and tame foxes where kept in close quarters are equally afifected. The coon especially so, if he does not have access to running water where he may wade and paddle to his satisfaction. Pet coon or foxes kept on a chain seldom fur well. It will be thin, rubbed and soiled and the neck bare to the hide from friction of the collar.

CENTRAL NEW YORK TRAPPER'S CATCH.

If tame furs are off in quality and are purchased as straight skins and on an equal footing with wild furs, they may sell to a country buyer or local dealer without comment, but if shipped to some fur house, look out for trouble. There all skins will be graded according to respective merits and the poorly furred skins meet their just deserts.

Some years ago when fur values went up leaps and bounds, not only more sporting goods dealers began selling steel traps but the raw fur houses began to handle hunters' and trappers' supplies, including steel traps. The sales about 1910 was several hundred dozen greater than ever before or ever will be again. This had its effect upon the catch for the seasons of 1910-11, 1911-12, 191 2- 1 3, as quantities offered at the London sales prove. The catch for the seasons of 1912-13 and 1913-14 was not nearly so large as the three previous years, even though quantities offered at the sales were greater. This is accounted for from the fact that the catch was greater than the demand and much of the 1914 offering had been carried over from previous years.

COMBINED MARCH OFFERINGS.

The combined offerings of Lampson, Nesbitt and Huth for March, 1915, and comparisons for the five previous March sales were as follows :

Fur Buyers' Guide.

HUDSON BAY COMPANY MARCH OFFERINGS.

This company offer their collection of muskrat and beaver at the January sales only and for the years as above were :

\ The Hudsoii Bay Company have been selling nearly

all their collection in January and March so that quantities offered by this company in either the June or October sales have not been of importance.

COMBINED JANUARY OFFERINGS.

The combined offerings of Lampson, Nesbitt and Huth for January, 19 14, (nO' January, 191 5, sales), and

comparison for the two previous January sales were as follows :

1914 1913 1912

Silver fox 78 67 95

3,646

3,292

5,385

42,100

19,800

23,400

10,180

7,565

6,350

76,000

38,300

41,900

5,500

4,185

3,900

9,050

8,700

5,870

10,184

5,800

7,277

Bear

House cat

Wild cat

Ermine

The offerings at both June and October sales of American raw furs is usually must less than either January or March, yet they are of interest, showing what articles are in demand.

Quantities at any of the sales do not furnish a reliable basis of the catch. A certain fur may be in demand in America and largely used here, so that quantity exported is small, yet the catch large. Again demand may be poor in America but better elsewhere, in which instance exports would be apt to be large yet catch was only an average one.

Owing to the European war which began August, 1914, no sales of raw furs were held in London in October, 1914, or January, 191 5. In March, 191 5, small quantities only were sold. The March sales are usually the largest and most important of the year — see table showing figures for March, 191 5, 1914, 1913, 1912, 191 1 and 1910.

The London sales will not be of as much importance for years, if ever, as they formerly were to the American dealer in furs. The war has brought great changes in the buying power of Europe and the fur trade as well as other lines has been hard hit. For years just prior to the war Europe was using about two-thirds of the American catch of raw furs and paying good prices for them. However, before the war broke out prices on certain furs had become lower. It seemed that the catch of 191 o, 191 1, 1912 and 1913 was greater than the demand especially at the prices which were then in effect. At the time the war began there was not only large quantities of furs in cold storage in Europe still owned by American exporters but millions of skins held by dealers in New York, Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Twin Cities, Montreal, etc. There is no question but that the losses on 1912 and 1913 purchases were heavy — millions of dollars. Instead of conditions improving they did otherwise. Add to this the cost to carry in cold storage. Further, the fact should not be overlooked that skins held a year or two will not sell as well as the fresh caught.

It is hard for most trappers and a good many of the small collectors to realize that losses on 1912 and 1913 purchases by the large dealers and exporters amounted to millions of dollars. Such however is a fact. In some instances they did not get half what they paid.

There will always be a market for furs as they are a necessity in the more northern regions where no cloth will repel the piercing winds although by far the greater quantities are worn by the women to keep in fashion. Therefore, being largely an article of luxury, there is no telling when values will undergo change. Furs, however, are much like silk — a staple article — but what color is to be worn is the question. It may be black, dark, brown, grey, or white so that naturally that color will be in demand and sell best.

Fur Buyers' Guide.

Pi

< w

Q

O u

Pi

;3

Close and persistent trapping, especially during the years 1910, 191 1 and 1912 has reduced the supply of ''wild" fur bearers so that no such quantities as sold in 1914, 1913, and 1912 are left to trap. The great European war demoralized fur values at the beginning of the season of 1914 so that trapping was not nearly sO' extensive as in former years.

Fur values have always fluctuated more or less but chances are that as the ''wild" supply becomes less that values will increase. At any rate, with increased use of furs, the price is apt to be kept up well, at least until the fur bearers have become so numerous that fur farmers produce millions of pelts each year. So far the sales have been principally fox from the ranches of East- "ern Canadian Provinces and Alaska; skunk, opossum, mink and coon in small quantities from various parts of the country; musferat have been protected in certain places by land owners, who either rent the rat trapping privileges or catch the animals themselves, so that hundreds of thousands of skins are already being marketed each year mainly from along the coast of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

The combined offerings at London, by Lamson, Nesbitt, Huth and Hudson Bay Co., previous to the great European war, was usually about two-thirds of the total North American catch, the other third being manufactured here. While accurate figures of the value of the yearly catch in North America are not available, it is probably around $25,000,000, and the world catch ^$100,- 000,000.

Chapter II. Size, Color, Quality

SIZE. — The chapters dealing with the various fur-bearing animals go much more into detail as to the ske^ color, quality, grade and especially grade and grading.

As a rule the raccoons of the North are larger than those of the South. They are also darker in color, and because of the difference in cHmate, have much heavier coats. The hide or pelt on the northern coon is also much thicker, heavier and stronger which tends to make northern caught skins more valuable.

The mink of the northeast (Northern Maine, New Brunswick, Eastern Quebec and Labrador) are smaller and darker than any others, although those found in the Lake Superior region and immediately north are usually quite dark. These mink are also small. The largest are found in the prairie districts of Canada, the Dakotas and other of the North Central States, but they are of comparatively poor quality, being coarse in texture and quite pale. Those from the south are also of large size and of poor quality.

Largest lynx are found north of the Great Lakes and eastward. In portions of British Columbia and the prairie districts of Canada they are also very large. This is probably because of the abundance of food (rabbits)

Size, Color, Quality.

usually found in those parts. There is also some difference in color, the palest ones apparently being found in Alaska and the Far North.

NORTHERN FURS - OTTER, FOX, LYNX.

Otters reach their largest size in Florida but the northern wolves are larger than those of the south. It

Fur Buyers' Guide.

is the same in regard to _bears, the largest being found in the north.

The largest red foxes come from the interior of Alaska, and naturally they are of fine quality. However, all of the northern foxes are well furred except along the Pacific coast.

AVERAGE SIZES CENTRAL WESTERN MINK SKINS.

The seven skins shown here were caught by a trapper November, 19 14, in Harrison county, Iowa, and represent a good average for mink caught in Nebraska, North Missouri, Western Ihinois and Iowa (except the two north rows of counties in Iowa where the average is still larger). These skins were graded as follows: Nos. I, 2, 3 and 4 small; No. 5 medium; Nos. 6 and 7 large. The dimensions of each skin was as follows :

(i) Length of body 16, tail 7, total 23; width at tail 3>i, shoulders 3 inches.

(2) Length of body 16, tail 7, total 23.; width at tail 3K, shoulders 3 inches.

(3) Length of body 17, tail 73^, total 24^^ ; width at tail 3^, shoulders y/4 inches.

(4) Length of body 17, tail 7^^, total 24^^ ; width at tail 3^, shoulders 3^4 inches.

(5) Length of body 19, tail 8, total 27; width at tail 4>4, shoulders 3^^ inches.

(6) Length of body 20, tail 8, total 28; width at tail 4.y2, shoulders 3^ inches.

(7) Length of body 21, tail 8, total 29; width at tail 4^, shoulders sH inches.

The four small are almost as large as the No. i or large from Lake Superior and the Northeast Coast but they are not as silky or so fine furred, also lighter colored.

Carcass and Pelt Measurement. — Buyers of furs will be interested in carcass measurements of fur animals compared with the pelt when stretched. Some fur animal pelts will stretch larger in proportion than others. The skin of the sea otter is very loose and will stretch about twice the size as when on the animal. Most furs, such as fox, otter, mink, etc., will stretch from one-fourth to one-third longer, depending much upon width and shape stretched. The following are exact measurements of two large Rhode Island mink :

ist Carcass, end of nose to root of tail 17^, tail 8, tip to tip 25^ inches.

Pelt on Board, end of nose to root of tail 23)^, tail 9, tip to tip S^y2, width at hips 4^2, shoulders 4 inches.

2nd Carcass, end of nose to root of tail 18, tail 8^, tip to tip 26^ iiiches.

Pelt on Board, end of nose to root of tail 23^, tail 9%, tip to tip 33>4, width at hips 4^, shoulders 4 inches.