394 Department of Conservation of Louisiana 



Primeness of pelt is a very important factor in grad- 

 ing this fur and any tendency toward bluishness will 

 naturally bring down its value in the eyes of the raw 

 fur dealer. The condition of the pelage, its depth and 

 color and markings are so carefully scrutinized by the 

 grader, as the raccoon is one of the few fur animals that 

 are cured stretched open and should never be cased when 

 dried. The manner in which the skin has been handled in 

 stretching it for drying also affects its grading. For this 

 reason the 'coon skin should be stretched absolutely 

 .square, as shown in the accompanying illustration. 



Prime 'coon skins, with good dark color, size and 

 shape, and density of fur, would be graded extra large 

 No. l's, medium No. l's, and small No. l's, or No. 2, No. 

 3, No. 4. 



Any pale, reddish or rusty — sometimes termed "yel- 

 " low" — raccoon skin, irrespective of size or thickness of 

 pelage, even though exhibiting a prime pelt, would not 

 be graded a No. 1 of any sort. 



Raccoons must never be trapped late in the winter, 

 as they have a tendency to get "springy" very early, and 

 this lowers the grading considerably. A reddish spot on 

 the back of the neck is usually the sign of a late-caught 

 'coon and the color markings have a tendency to become 

 faded. 



What has been written above under color should be 

 studied again in obtaining an idea as to raccoon grading. 



Otter Fur 



In the consideration of an otter and the price its pelt 

 will bring, it must be remembered that sizes of otters 

 taken vary considerably, as does the underfur and guard 

 hairs and the color of the pelage. The color of the fur 

 of the otters taken in Louisiana are seldom very uniform, 

 some being very dark brown, while other are light 

 enough to be termed almost yellow. 



Just what causes this wide range of color is not 

 known, but it is safe to presume the temperature of the 

 water habitat has something to do with it, as it is a fact 

 that otters from the hot climates of Mexico and Central 



