musquash, raccoon and wolverine are more valuable than the
paler skins.
Collective Supplies and Sales.—There are ten large American and Canadian companies with extensive systems for gathering the annual hauls of skins from the far-scattered trappers. These are the Hudson’s Bay Co., Russian Fur Co., Alaska Commercial Co., North American Commercial Co., Russian Sealskin Co., Harmony Fur Co., Royal Greenland Fur Co., American Fur Co., Missouri Co. and Pacific Co. Most of the raw skins are forwarded to about half-a-dozen brokers in London, who roughly sort them in convenient lots, issuing catalogues to the traders of the world, and after due time for examination of the goods by intending purchasers, the lots are sold by public auction. The principal sales of general furs are held in London in January and March, smaller offerings being made in June and October; while the bulk of fur sealskins is sold separately in December. The Hudson’s Bay Co.’s sales take place before the others, and, as no reserves are placed on any lot, the results are taken as exactly indicating current values. While many buyers from America and Russia are personally in attendance at the sales, many more are represented by London and Leipzig agents who buy for them upon commission. In addition to the fur skins coming from North America vast numbers from Russia, Siberia, China, Japan, Australia and South America are offered during the same periods at public auction. Fairs are also held in Siberia, Russia and Germany for the distribution of fur skins as follows:—
| January: | Frankfort-on-the-Oder | Small collection of provincial produce, such as otter, fox, fitch and marten. |
| February: | Irbit, Siberia | General Russian furs. |
| Easter: | Leipzig, Germany | General furs. |
| August: | Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia | Persian lamb and general furs. |
| August: | Kiakhta, Siberia | Chinese furs and ermine. |
| December: | Ishim, Siberia | Chiefly squirrels. |
Of course there are many transactions, generally in the cheaper and coarser kinds of furs, used only in central Europe, Russia and Asia which in no way interest the London market, and there are many direct consignments of skins from collectors in America and Russia to London, New York and Leipzig merchants. But the bulk of the fine furs of the world is sold at the large public trade auction sales in London. The chief exceptions are the Persian and Astrachan lambs, which are bought at the Russian fairs, and are dressed and dyed in Leipzig, and the ermine and Russian squirrels, which are dressed and manufactured into linings either in Russia or Germany before offered for sale to the wholesale merchants or manufacturers.
The annual collection of fur skins varies considerably in quantity according to the demand and to the good or bad climatic conditions of the season; and it is impossible to give a complete record, as many skins are used in the country of their origin or exported direct to merchants. But a fairly exact statement of the numbers sold in the great public trade auction sales in London during the year 1905–1906 is herewith set out.
| Year ending 31st of March 1906. | Total Number of Skins. |
| Badger | 28,634 |
| Badger, Japanese | 6,026 |
| Bear | 18,576 |
| Beaver | 80,514 |
| Cat, Civet | 157,915 |
| Cat, House | 126,703 |
| Cat, Wild | 32,253 |
| Chinchilla (La Plata), known also as Bastard | 43,578 |
| Chinchilla Peruvian finest | 5,603 |
| Deer, Chinese | 124,355 |
| Ermine | 40,641 |
| Fisher | 5,949 |
| Fitch | 77,578 |
| Fox, Blue | 1,893 |
| Fox, Cross | 10,276 |
| Fox, Grey | 59,561 |
| Fox, Japanese | 81,429 |
| Fox, Kit | 4,023 |
| Fox, Red | 158,961 |
| Fox, Silver | 2,510 |
| Fox, White | 27,463 |
| Goats, Chinese | 261,190 |
| Hares | 41,256 |
| Kangaroo | 7,115 |
| Kid, Chinese linings and skins equal to | 5,080,047 |
| Kolinsky | 114,251 |
| Lamb, Mongolian linings and skins equal to | 214,072 |
| Lamb, Slink linings and skins equal to | 167,372 |
| Lamb, Tibet linings and skins equal to | 794,130 |
| Leopard | 3,574 |
| Lynx | 88,822 |
| Marmot, linings and skins equal to | 1,600,600 |
| Marten, Baum | 4,573 |
| Marten, Japanese | 16,461 |
| Marten, Stone | 12,939 |
| Mink, Canadian and American | 299,254 |
| Mink, Japanese | 360,373 |
| Mouflon | 23,594 |
| Musk-rat or Musquash, Brown | 5,126,339 |
| Musk-rat or Musquash, Black | 41,788 |
| Nutria | 82,474 |
| Opossum, American | 902,065 |
| Opossum, Australian | 4,161,685 |
| Otter, River | 21,235 |
| Otter, Sea | 522 |
| Raccoon | 310,712 |
| Sable, Canadian and American | 97,282 |
| Sable, Japanese | 556 |
| Sable, Russian | 26,399 |
| Seals, Fur | 77,000 |
| Seals, Hair | 31,943 |
| Skunk | 1,068,408 |
| Squirrel | 194,596 |
| Squirrel Linings each averaging 126 skins | 1,982,736 |
| Tiger | 392 |
| Wallaby | 60,956 |
| Wolf | 56,642 |
| Wolverine | 1,726 |
| Wombat | 193,625 |
A brief account of the different qualities of the pelts, with some general remarks as to their customary uses, follows. The prices quoted are subject to constant fluctuation and represent purely trade prices for bulk, and it should be explained that the very great variations are due to different sizes, qualities and colours, and moreover are only first cost, before skins are dressed and prepared. These preparations are in some cases expensive, and there is generally a considerable percentage of waste. The prices cannot be taken as a guide to the wholesale price of a single and finished skin, but simply as relative value.
The fullest and darkest skins of each kind are the most valuable, and, in cases of bluish grey or white, the fuller, clearer and brighter are the more expensive. A few albinos are found in every species, but whatever their value to a museum, they are of little commercial importance. Some odd lots of skins arrive designated simply as “sundries,” so no classification is possible, and this will account for the absence of a few names of skins of which the imports are insignificant in quantity, or are received direct by the wholesale merchants.
Names, Qualities and Uses of Pelts.[1]
Astrachan.—See Lambs, below.
Badger.—Size 2 × 1 ft. American sorts have coarse thick underwool of a pale fawn or stone colour with a growth of longer black and white hairs, 3 or 4 in. long; a very durable but clumsy fur. The best skins are exported to France, Spain and Italy, and used for carriage rugs and military purposes. Asiatic, including Japanese, skins are more woolly. Russian and Prussian kinds are coarser and darker, and used mostly for brush trade. Value 6d. to 19s.
Bear, Australian.—See Wombat, below.
Bear, Black.—Size 6 × 3 ft. Fine dark brown underwool with bright black and flowing top hair 4 in. long. Cubs are nearly as long in the hair although only about half the size and not only softer and better, but have the advantage of being very much lighter in pelt. Widely distributed in North America, the best come from Canada, are costly and are used for military caps, boas, muffs, trimmings, carriage rugs and coachmen’s capes, and the fur wears exceedingly well. Value 17s. 6d. to 86s. Those from East India and warm climates are harsh, poor and only fit for floor rugs.
Bear, Brown.—Size 6 × 3 ft. Similar in quality to the black, but far more limited in number; the colours range from light yellow to a rich dark brown. The best come from Hudson Bay territory and are valuable. Used for muffs, trimmings, boas, and carriage
- ↑ The measurements given are from nose to root of tail of average large sizes after the dressing process, which has a shrinking tendency. The depths of fur quoted are the greatest, but there are plenty of good useful skins possessing a lesser depth.
