398 Department of Conservation of Louisiana 



etc., has been popular with furriers and for certain modish 

 fur garments. Broad-stripes have brought almost as much 

 as short stripes, when used for collars or silver and golden 

 muskrat coats and j acquets. 



The designation of Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., is never used in 

 grading skunk furs. 



Wolf 



A wolf skin, like that of the opossum, is seldom graded 

 oy size or the appearance of the pelt. According to some 

 graders and dealers, the value of wolf skin is determined 

 by quality of the fur and the best prices are paid for skins 

 possessing a soft and silk-like pelage. Skins which have 

 long hairs with little or no fur are limited to uses in the 

 fur industry and therefore do not command a price, re- 

 gardless of the size of the skin. This holds good for skins 

 with a good quantity and quality of fur, but which also 

 possess a coarse mane down the back, as this must be cut 

 out by the furrier when preparing the tanned skin for man- 

 ufacturing use. 



The color of a wolf's pelage is not to be taken into con- 

 sideration when grading the skin because it is almost in- 

 variably dyed before being made into garments. Nor is 

 size an important factor in determining the value for, as 

 stated before, coase and thinly furred skins are not worth 

 nearly as much as the better and softer furred specimens. 



As with other unprime pelts, the wolf skins are always 

 graded No. 2's or No. 3's or even lower, depending on dam- 

 age, rubbed or other like factors. 



The wolf skin should always be cased when prepared 

 for drying and never- stretched out like a raccoon skin. 



Gray Fox 



To grade as a No. 1 fox the skin must be prime of pelt 

 with the entire outer side covered with a full coat of fur. 

 A No. 2 skin is usually unprime of pelt, but possessing a 

 full pelage of fur, while prime pelts, with slightly rubbed 

 fur, or if slightly damaged, will also grade a No. 2. Any 

 badly rubbed or poorly furred skin is graded as No. 3. Skins 



