CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX 



THE DIFFERENT MUSKRAT FURS 



A trade journal of New York recently published the 

 following article on the different qualities of muskrat 

 b pelts and their compartive points of value, which is 

 reproduced here as an unbiased and authoritative review 

 of the different muskrat furs, in which the Louisiana pelt 

 does not suffer by comparison: 



At present muskrat is used in only two ways: in its 

 natural coloring, and dyed black to imitate seal skin, says 

 the Fur Trade Review article. For the past few years 

 muskrat, in its natural color, has been used to a great 

 extent because it lends itself particularly well to the making 

 of jacquettes and sport coats. Its rich and varied coloring 

 can be worked up effectively into stripes and designs for 

 garments of this type. The fur is full and soft, with a fine 

 lustre, and the pelt is strong and serviceable. 



The muskrats in common use can be divided into four 

 classifications, viz., natural black, northern, southern tops 

 and southern. All of them are of a distinctive brown color, 

 varying in depth of shade from very dark brown with black 

 top hairs, to a light brown with black top hairs. The 

 underfur varies from dark gray to light slate gray. 



Natural Black 'Rats. — Of all the muskrats that are used 

 in the natural state, the natural black 'rat is by far the 

 finest in appearance and quality. Its full, heavy top hair 

 and uniform, charcoal-black coloring make it so distinctive 

 that it can be easily recognized in the manufactured gar- 

 ment. Because of its superior quality and the fact that the 

 skins are never over-plentiful, owing to the limited catch, 

 the natural black muskrat always brings a higher price, 

 both in skins and garment, than any other 'rat. The best 

 black 'rats come from New Jersey and Maryland, respec- 

 tively, and some are found in parts of Delaware and Penn- 

 sylvania. 



Southern Tops. — The next most desirable 'rat for use 

 in the natural color, and which is used most extensively, is 



