294 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



In order to obtain those shades which taste and fashion have deter- 

 mined to be the most desirable, much of the aquatic fur is dyed; either 

 the ends of the fur and hair are merely tinted, or the color of the 

 entire skin may be changed. The object of tinting or blending is to 

 make all parts of the fur used in a garment of the same color, to make 

 an inferior grade of fur like that of a superior, or to cause the fur 

 of one animal to resemble that of another. Certain furs so closely 

 resemble choicer ones in every particular except color that when 

 dyed to a similar hue the}^ are almost indistinguishable to the casual 

 observer. 



While dj'eing may be a cheap and ready process in the treatment of 

 low-priced furs, it is an art when applied to choice skins. Its perfec- 

 tion consists in the exact imitation of the proper color and tint, with 

 the preservation of the glossiness of the fur and its natural firmness 

 and pliability, and, finally, in the durability of the dye. In case of 

 the fur-seal, fashion has decided that the color shall be changed to a 

 lustrous blackish-brown, an original color resembling nothing what- 

 ever in the animal kingdom. 



Some skins of beaver, otter, etc., are ''silvered" by passing lightly 

 over them a solution of sulphuric acid, and also some are made a 

 golden 3^ellow b}' means of peroxide of hydrogen. Dyed furs are 

 generall}^ not so durable as those left in the natural state, the artificial 

 color fading and the garment sooner presenting an old and worn 

 appearance. 



The dyeing of furs is of great antiquitj', but its principal develop- 

 ment, in America and Europe at least, has been within the last forty 

 j^ears. Experiments on the part of conscientious and able chemists 

 have resulted in greatly improving the permanency of the d3^es and 

 lessening their injurious eft'ects. The methods are constantly under- 

 going changes and man}^ improvements are introduced from time to 

 time. The composition of the new dyes and the methods of applying 

 them are carefully guarded from general knowledge. One frequently 

 runs across published directions for compounding the, dyes and 

 methods of applying them, but usually these descriptions are totally 

 valueless, the methods described being either superseded by ])etter 

 ones or lacking in certain essential ingredients. 



The number of successful dyers in the world is very small; their 

 prosperity is dependent as much upon the elimination of competition 

 as on the excellence of their work, consequently they are not proclaim- 

 ing from the housetops the composition of their dyes, frequently the 

 results of long and costl}^ experiments. 



In the separate chapters devoted to each variety of furs certain 

 general methods of dyeing those particular skins will be described, but 

 the writer is unable to promise the formuhv and details of the newest 

 and most successful dyes in every instance. 



