UTILIZATION OF THE SKINS OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 309 



BEAVER FURS. 

 DESCRIPTION OF BEAVEK SKINS. 



During the .seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the beaver fur- 

 nished the principal item in the fur trade of the world, but at present 

 it is of somewhat minor commercial importance among* the aquatic fur- 

 bearing animals. The skins received by the wholesale dealers from 

 various localities shows different characteristics of pelage. In winter, 

 the color on the back and sides is generall}^ dark bay or brownish 

 black, tipped with chestnut or russet, and seal-brown on the under 

 parts, legs, and feet. The prevailing color ranges toward the south 

 to a yellowish tinge upon brown, and in the north approaching a 

 glossy blackish brown. In general, the beavers obtained in cold lati- 

 tudes are darker than those secured in warmer climates, but those 

 from the northwestern part of the United States are very light in 

 color. A few black beavers and still fewer spotted ones are obtained; 

 also, at very rare intervals, a yellowish w^hite or pure white one is 

 taken. The Labrador beaver, now somewhat scarce, is superior to 

 those caught farther west, while those of Canada in general, as well as 

 of the northern parts of the United States, are superior to those taken 

 in the Southern States. 



The overhair of the beaver is from 1^ to 2i inches in length, rather 

 stiff', and of a dull color for two-thirds of its length from the base, and 

 is terminated ])y shining points ranging in color from the most delicate 

 brown to rich, glossy blackish-brown, giving the general color to the 

 pelage. The underhair or fur is very thick, fine, and soft, from one- 

 half to three-fourths of an inch long, and of a uniform bluish or 

 brownish gra}^ color from the roots to the tips. It is denser and 

 shorter on the underparts than on the back. The fur becomes prime 

 in October in the latitude of the northern boundary of the United 

 States, and continues in good condition until Ma}^, when it begins to 

 deteriorate. The pelts are marketable, however, till about June 15, 

 although they are somewhat thin, light in weight, and of less value. 



THE MARKETS FOR BEAVER SKINS. 



The economic use of beaver pelts antedates the discovery of Amer- 

 ica. As far back as the Middle Ages, at least, beaver skins w^ere 

 used as clothing by primitive people in Europe. Their principal use, 

 however, was as furnishing material for fashionable hats for men. 

 Beaver hats were worn as early as the twelfth centur}', but their pop- 

 ularity was not permanently established until the sixteenth century, 

 and then for more than two hundred years the beaver supplied the 

 fashionable world with' hat material. As the business increased, it 

 resulted in the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of the animals, the 

 market consumption in certain j^ears approximating 400,000 skins, 

 practically all of which were obtained from Canada and the United 

 States. So extensive and resfular was the l)eaver trade thsit in the 



