296 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



1877 it was $5.50, and gradually decreased to $2.25 in 1880; it increased 

 to $7.50 in 1897, and in 1900 it averaged $6.50 per pound. Single 

 sales have been made as high as $14 per pound. The total product of 

 nutria fur used in hat-manufacturing in 1900 is estimated at 80,000 

 pounds, valued at $520,000. It is claimed that a single manufacturer 

 in Philadelphia has at times over a million nutria skins in warehouse. 



Otter ranks next in grade among felting furs, but only a small 

 quantity of this kind is used, and that is obtained from fur-cutters' 

 waste. The clippings and waste sell for about 1:5 cents per pound, and 

 the cut and blown fur for about $3.50 per pound. The quantit}^ used 

 by hat-manufacturers annually probably approximates 700 pounds. 



Muskrat fur is used extensively in hat-making, the whole skin as well 

 as cutters' waste being utilized. Like beaver fur, it is assorted into 

 three grades — backs, sides, and bellies — on account of difference in color 

 and texture. The belly fur is the choicest and is used for making light 

 or pearl hats. During the last 25 years the price has ranged from 

 $1.80 to $3.25 per pound, averaging about $2. In 1876 it was $2.25, 

 from which it varied little till 1890, when it began to increase, reaching 

 $3.25 in 1892, and since then it has steadil}^ decreased to the present 

 price, $1.80 per pound. The cutters' waste sells for 35 to 10 cents per 

 pound and the blown fur for $1.30 to $2 per pound. The standard 

 mixed grade of blown muskrat fur usually sells for 30 or 10 cents less 

 per pound than the belly fur, while dyed muskrat sells usually for one- 

 third the price of cut bell}^, or about 60 cents per pound. 



A small quantit}^ of mink fur is used by the hat-manufacturers, the 

 amount not exceeding 1,500 pounds annuall}'^, obtained entirely from 

 cutters' waste, no whole skins whatever being used for this purpose. 

 Mink fur is rather poor for felting, as may be inferred from the price 

 at which it sells, the clippings fetching about 15 cents and the blown 

 fur about $1.10 per pound, or only one-sixth the price of beaver. 



The cheapest aquatic fur. received by the hatters is that of the fur- 

 seal, of which probably 5,000 pounds are used annually. This is 

 obtained almost exclusively from cutters' waste of dyed clippings, and 

 when cut and blown sells for about 75 cents per pound. 



The preparation of all of these furs for felting purposes is practicall}^ 

 the same in each case. Preparatory to cutting them from the whole 

 skins, the pelts are scoured thoroughlv with soap water to remove the 

 grease and other impurities, then they are properly dried and plucked, 

 each one of these several .processes being performed in much the same 

 manner as in the fur-dressing establishments, except that it is done with 

 greater expedition and less care. The over hairs are of no value in 

 felting, and are sold as stuffing in upholstery, for plasterers' use, etc. 

 The plucked skins are next carroted, consisting in moistening the fur 

 with a solution of quicksilvei- and nitric acid or ( hloride of mercury, 

 and then spreading them out Hat to dry. This is done either in the 

 open air or in rooms heated by steam, according to the color desired. 



