Part 28
The early fur trade of Western Europe, was conducted through the merchants on the south coast of the Baltic, who received goods from the ports of Livonia. In the sixteenth century, a direct trade was opened between the English and Russians; and a company of the former, protected by the Czar, established trading posts on the White Sea, and a warehouse at Moscow, whence they sent trading parties to Persia and the countries on the Caspian Sea. The Czar sent rich presents of beautiful furs, to Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth; but the latter prohibited the wearing of any but native furs, and the trade soon declined and was abandoned. In the 17th century, Siberia was conquered by the Russians, and its tribute was paid in furs. Large quant.i.ties were also furnished to China, but the choicest kinds--the precious ermine, the brilliant, fiery foxes, and the best sables, were taken to Moscow, for the use of the princes and n.o.bles of Russia, Turkey, and Persia.
In our own country, the early settlers of the Northern provinces, soon learned the value of the furs of the numerous animals which peopled the extensive rivers, lakes, and forests of these vast territories. They collected the skins in abundance, and found an increasing demand for them, with every new arrival of immigrants from the mother country. Trinkets, liquors, and other articles sought for by the native tribes, were shipped to Quebec, and from thence up the St. Lawrence to Montreal, which soon became the great trading post of the country. The various tribes of Indians were stimulated by trifling compensation, to pursue their only congenial and peaceful occupation; and the French settlers, readily a.s.similating to the Indian habits, became themselves expert hunters, trappers, and explorers.
The business prospered, and the English soon became interested and secured a share of the valuable trade. Many [Page 280]
wealthy and influential parties, connected with the government of Great Britain,--Prince Rupert and Lord Ashley, among the number--became deeply interested in this source of revenue; and after a successful enterprise, they obtained from Charles II., a charter of incorporation, giving to them full possession of the territory within the entrance of Hudson's Straits, not already granted to other subjects, or possessed by those of any other Christian prince or State. In this charter was included the monopoly, of all trade in these regions, and thus we see the origin of the Great Hudson's Bay Company, which is to-day, one of the largest organizations of its kind on the globe. The territory they claimed, extended from Hudson's Bay, west to the Pacific, and north to the Arctic Ocean, excepting that occupied by the French and Russians. They soon formed settlements upon the various rivers which empty into Hudson's Bay, and carried on their operations with immense vigor and success. They met with much opposition and open hostility from the French, and were subjected to vast expenses and losses, but in spite of all, they continued to prosper. Their forts or factories were extended further into the interior of British America, and their power was supreme throughout the country, and in a great measure over the Indians, whom they employed to collect their skins.
In the course of time, the French Canadians organized themselves into a united band, under the name of the North West Company, and established their headquarters at Montreal. Their operations were carried on with great energy and profit, and many factories were built in the western portion of the Province. The company thus soon became a formidable compet.i.tor with the Hudson's Bay Company and for a period of two years, an actual state of war existed between them. This condition of affairs finally terminated in a consolidation of the two organizations, under the name of the Hudson's Bay Company, the privileges of which extended over all the territory formerly occupied by both.
Thus, we have the history of the famous Hudson's Bay Company, from its origin to its perfect organization. It is a most stupendous concern, and its annual shipment of furs, is something amazing.
Their great sales take place in the month of March, in order to be completed before Easter; and again in September, every year at London, and are attended by purchasers from nearly all parts of the world. Leipsic, the famous fur mart of Germany, is also the scene of a great annual fair, for the sale of skins.
The importance of the fur trade in this country, led to the [Page 281]
early settlement of the Western territories of the United States; and many a frontier city, like St. Paul, has been built up by the enterprise of the trapper. Mackinaw and Montreal owe much of their growth to the traffic of the fur trade; and many a kingly fortune--John Jacob Astor's, for instance--has been founded on peltry.
Besides the above fur sales in London a moderate portion of those annually collected in the United States are retained for use, amounting to about 150,000 mink and 750,000 muskrat skins, besides a number of other furs which are manufactured and worn.
The annual yield of raw furs throughout the whole world is estimated at over twenty millions of dollars in value; and when we include the manufactured articles therefrom, the amount will swell to a hundred millions or over. This will serve to give some idea of the immensity and value of the business.
American dealers divide our native furs into two cla.s.ses, viz., _home_ and _shipping_ furs; the former being chiefly utilized in our own country, while the latter are exported to all parts of the world. New York City is the great fur mart and depot for the shipping trade in this country, and the annual value of its exports, in this one branch of trade is enormous.
The princ.i.p.al shipping furs are the silver, red and cross Fox, Wild Cat, Racc.o.o.n, Fisher, Muskrat and Skunk.
Among the home furs are the Marten, Mink, Opossum, Wolf and Muskrat, the latter being extensively used both here and abroad.
In the following chapter will be found more detailed notes on the leading American furs, including their various uses and the different countries for which they are the especial staples.
In order to give the reader some idea of the variety and magnitude of the yield of furs from our own country, we annex a table (p.
282) showing the sales of the Hudson's Bay Company, at London, in the year 1873.
MARKET VALUE OF FUR SKINS.
Below will be found an authentic table of the comparative values of the various American furs at the present date of publication.
The quotations are those of one of our largest fur dealers, as published in "THE HAT, CAP AND FUR TRADE REVIEW," the leading journal of the trade in America. Of course these values are constantly varying--keeping pace with the eccentricities of fashion and the demands of the fur trade; but [Page 282]
the table will serve at least to gauge the relative values, as between the two extremes of common and scarce furs. The fur market is a great deal like the stock market. It is constantly fluctuating, and a fur which is to-day among the novelties, may next year find itself on the low priced list. The demand for furs of any kind is nearly always governed by fashion, and of course the value is estimated on the demand. If the convention of fur dealers should decide to usher in _Muskrat fur_ as the leading and most fashionable article in that line, the fashion would create the demand, the demand would be in turn supplied by the trappers throughout the country, and in proportion as the Muskrat skins became scarce, so their value would increase. In this way a skin which may be worth fifty cents at one time may soon acquire a value of twenty times that amount. The comparative value of skins is, therefore, constantly varying more or less; but the annexed table (page 283) will be found useful for general reference, and for approximate figures, will probably answer every purpose for some time to come.
==========================================================================
No. of
No. of
Estimated
Skins.
Skins.
Total
Price according to
average KINDS.
March
Sept.
No.
quality.
price per
Sale.
Sale.
skin.
------------
---------
---------
---------
-------------------------------
s. d.
Badger
2,700
2,700
1s. to 7s.
1 06 Bear
5,217
2,794
8,011
5s. to 8 10s.
5 0 00 Beaver
111,993
37,052
149,045
4S. 3d. to 38s. 6d.
1 00 00 Fisher
2,843
779
3,622
8s. to 3 5s.
2 10 00 Fox, Blue
90
90
18s. to 4.
2 10 00 " Cross
1,818
471
2,289
5s. to 4.
1 10 00 " Kitt
6,930
6,930
2s. 8d. to 28s. 10d.
3 00 " Red
6,914
1,383
8,297
4s. 6d. to 17s.
10 00 " Silver
540
148
688
3 10s. to 21.
10 00 00 " White
7,312
7,312
2s. to 14s. 9d.
7 00 Lynx
2,468
1,652
4,120
9s. 6d. to 1 14s.
18 00 Marten
47,878
18,955
66,833
10s. to 3 19s.
1 10 00 Mink
31,802
12,896
44,698
4s. to 1 8s. 6d.
15 00 Muskrat
651,498
116,488
767,896
3d. to 16d.
00 8 Otter
8,571
2,681
11,252
14s. to 3 18s.
2 10 00 " Sea
98
98
4 10s. to 32.
15 00 00 Rabbit
10,029
10,029
3d. to 4d.
00 3 Racc.o.o.n
3,582
3,582
1s. to 3s. 3d.
2 6 Skunk
1,691
1,691
2s. to 7s.
4 00 Wolf
6,216
188
6,404
6s. to 2 15s.
15 00 Wolverine
1,770
320
2,090
8s. to 1 1s.
15 00 ==========================================================================
[Page 283]
AMERICAN FUR SKINS--TABLE OF VALUES.[*]
==========================================================================
Prime.
Seconds.
Thirds.
Fourths.
--------------------------------------
--------
--------
--------
-------- Badger
$1.00
$0.50
$0.10
$ Bear, Black
18.00
9.00
1.00
" Cub
10.00
5.00
1.00
" Brown
7.00
4.00
1.00
Beaver, California per lb.
1.25
75
50
" Southern
1.00
75
40
" Upper Missouri
1.75
1.50
50
" Lake Supr. and Canada.
2.50
1.75
75
Cat, Wild
40
10
" House
15
10
Deer, Florida per lb.
20
" Missouri
20
Elk and Moose per lb.
35
25
Fisher, Southern
7.00
5.00
1.00
" Eastern and Canada
10.00
8.00
2.00
Fox, Silver
100.00
25.00
1.00
" Cross
3.00
1.50
1.00
" Blue
15.00
5.00
1.00
" White
3.00
1.50
" Red
1.75
1.00
75
25 " Gray
3.00
1.50
50
25 " Kitt
50
25
Lynx, Minnesota
2.50
1.00
" Canada
4.00
2.00
Marten, Dark
10.00
6.00
2.00
" Small Pale
2.00
1.00
50
Mink, Southern
1.00
50
25
10 " Western
1.25
1.00
50
10 " Middle States
2.00
1.25
50
10 " Minnesota
2.50
1.50
75
20 " New England
3.50
1.75
1.00
20 " Quebec and Halifax
4.00
2.00
1.00
20 Muskrat, Southern
28
25
15
5 " Western
30
28
18
6 " Northern
32
30
20
8 " Eastern
35
30
22
10 Opossum, Ohio
30
20
10
" Southern
20
10
Otter, Southern
5.00
3.00
2.00
50 " Northern
10.00
6.00
2.00
50 Rabbit
3
Racc.o.o.n, Southern
50
30
15
5 " Western
1.00
50
20
5 " Michigan
1.25
80
30
5 Seal, Hair
60
" Fur
10.00
Skunk, Black Cased
1.00
60
40
10 " Half Stripe
60
50
25
10 " White
20
10
Wolf, Timber
3.00
1.50
" Prairie
1.00
75
Wolverine
5.00
2.00
==========================================================================
[Footnote *: From the "Hat Cap and Fur Trade Review."]
[Page 284]
Notwithstanding all these advertised prices, the young trapper often experiences great difficulty in a profitable disposal of his furs. Like every other business, the fur trade runs in its regular grooves, and the average furrier will often pay an experienced professional five dollars for a skin for which he would not offer a _dollar_ to an amateur. This certainly seems discouraging, but the knowledge of the fact is calculated to prevent _greater_ discouragement.
We often see fancy prices advertised by fur dealers for first-cla.s.s skins; but when the furs are sent, only a few are selected as "_prime_,"
the rest being rejected as worthless, or perhaps meeting with a meagre offer far below the regular rates. In this way the dealers have the opportunity of choice selection without incurring any risk. Many a young trapper has been thus disappointed, and has seen his small antic.i.p.ated fortune dwindle down to very small proportions.
The fur trade is supplied through regular professional channels; and in giving our advice to the novice, we would recommend as the most satisfactory and profitable plan that he should make his sales to some local hunter or trapper, who has had experience with the fur trade, and who is satisfied to pay a fair price for the various skins with the probability of selling at an advance, and thus realizing a profit.
In nearly every trapping locality such men are to be found, and although the prices earned may be below the market rates, the amateur takes none of the speculative risks of the business, and should be willing to take lower prices on this account.
AMERICAN FUR SKINS--THEIR USES AT HOME AND ABROAD.
In the early history of fur apparel, its use was determined by _climate_; to-day, and especially in this country, it is regulated by the caprice of _fashion_. The mink for many years took the lead in the list of fashionable furs, but has of late been superseded by the introduction of the fur seal. The most choice and costly of our American furs at the present day is the Silver Fox. When highly dressed they are worth from 10 to 50 guineas each in the European market. They are princ.i.p.ally bought by the Russians and Chinese.
The skins of the Red Fox are purchased by the Chinese, Greeks, Persians, and other Oriental nations. They are made into linings for robes, etc., and ornamented with the black fur of the paws which is set on in spots or waves. The fur of the [Page 285]
Beaver was formerly highly prized in the manufacture of hats and yielded a large portion of the profits of the Fur Companies, const.i.tuting the largest item in value among furs. Cheaper materials have since been subst.i.tuted in making hats, and the demand for this purpose has been greatly reduced. By a new process the skin is now prepared as a handsome fur for collars and gauntlets, and its fine silky wool has been successfully woven. The soft, white fur from the belly of the animal, is largely used in France for bonnets.
Racc.o.o.n skins are the great staple for Russia and Germany, where, on account of their durability and cheapness, they are in demand for linings for coats, etc. Among the Bear skins, those of the black and grizzly are extensively used for military caps, housings, holsters, sleigh robes, etc.
The fur of the Lynx is soft, warm and light, and is commonly dyed of a beautiful shining black. It is used for the facings and linings of cloaks, chiefly in America.
The Fisher yields a dark and full fur which is largely used in fashionable winter apparel.
The skin of the Marten, is richly dyed and utilized in choice furs and tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs.
The Mink, like the two foregoing, belongs to the same genus as the Russian Sable, and its fur so much resembles the latter as to be sometimes mistaken for it. It is one of fashion's furs, and the hair of the tail is sometimes used in the manufacture of artist's pencils.
The Muskrat produces the fur most worn by the ma.s.ses, and is largely exported into Germany, France and England. It is estimated that over six millions of muskrat skins are annually taken in America, and of that number one-half are used in Germany alone.
The skin of the Otter is at present cla.s.sed among the leading fashionable furs in this country. They are dyed of a deep purplish black color, and are made into sacques, m.u.f.fs, etc. It is also used by the Russians, Greeks and Chinese. It is mostly an American product, but is also procured to some extent in the British Isles from a smaller variety of the species.
The skins of the Wolf are chiefly used for sleigh robes and such purposes. The fur of the Rabbit is mainly employed in the manufacture of felt, and is also utilized for lining and tr.i.m.m.i.n.g. The business of breeding rabbits for their fur has been introduced into the United States, and large numbers have been successfully raised in Danbury, Conn., for felting purposes connected with the manufacture of hats.
[Page 286]
The fur of the Wolverine or Glutton, finds a market for the most part in Germany, where it is used for tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs and cloak linings.
The Skunk furnishes the fur known as Alaska Sable, which forms one of our staple pelts, many thousands being annually exported to Poland and the adjacent provinces.
The Badger yields a valuable and fashionable fur, which is also extensively used in the manufacture of artist's brushes; a good "badger blender" forming a valuable accessory to a painter's outfit.
Shaving brushes by the thousand are annually made from the variegated hair of the badger.
The Opossum yields a fur in very common use among the ma.s.ses, and the skins of the domestic Cat are utilized to a considerable extent in the manufacture of robes, mats, etc. The fur of the Puma and Wild Cat are also employed in this form, and may often be seen handsomely mounted and hanging on the backs of sleighs on our fashionable thoroughfares. Among the small game the skins of Squirrels are used for linings, and the soft, velvety fur of the Mole is manufactured into light robes, and very fine hats, and in theatrical paraphernalia is sometimes employed for artificial eyebrows.
Full descriptions of the color of the various furs will be found in our lengthy ill.u.s.trated chapter on our American animals.
[Ill.u.s.tration: THE END.]
