322 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The total product of sea-otter skins, obtained from the North Pacific 

 since the development of the hunt, about two hundred 3'ears ago, 

 approximates 700,000, mad« up as follows: 



iv whom obtained. 



Number 

 of skins. 



Russian traders, previous to 1797 . 

 Russian American Co., 1798-1867 . 

 Miscellaneous traders, 1785-1828. . 

 Miscellaneous traders, 1829-1867 . . 

 Miscellaneous traders, 1868-1900.. 



130,000 

 160,000 

 250,000 

 15,000 

 145,000 



Assuming that these skins cost the consumers an average of $150 

 each, we have a total of $105,000,000 expended for sea-otter furs, of 

 which doubtless over 95 per cent came from residents of China and 

 of Russia, and probably more than 80 per cent from the Chinese alone. 

 A single skin has sold for $1,400, and though that is a fancy price, 

 $700 or $800 is not unusual. The value is determined by the size, 

 richness of color and texture, and the depth of the blackish hue stud- 

 ded with a suitable number of silvery hairs. The market value has 

 varied somewhat from year to year, but has been high ever since the 

 origin of the traffic in these furs. At the time of Cook's celebrated 

 voyage to the North Pacific in 1778, the price of a prime skin was 

 about $120 in China. In 1802, when the largest collection was made — 

 25,000 skins — the average price of large and small at Canton was about 

 $50 each. In 1810 prime skins sold readih^ for $150 each out of the 

 vessel. The average price of all skins at the London sales in 1888 was 

 £21 10s.; in 1889, £33; and in 1891, £57; but the first-quality skins 

 fetched much higher prices. At present, pelts average in value £65 

 each, including cubs as well as prime skins, while choice specimens 

 readily fetch £200 each. 



Seldom do the choicest sea-otter skins enter into the retail trade in 

 America or England; and although the greater part of them are caught 

 within the limits of the United States, it might be difficult at times to 

 find a dozen skins in all the fur stores of the country. This fur has 

 ever been held in high estimation by the Russians and Chinese, but the 

 great cost limits its use to the wealthy classes exclusively. It is the 

 royal fur of China, being worn by officers of State, mandarins, and 

 other persons of importance in the Celestial Kingdom. In Russia it is 

 used principally for the collars of overcoats. Sea-otter fur is also used 

 for making muffs and for bord(.u'ing fine garments made of textile fab- 

 rics or of other costl}^ furs. Owing to its great weight as well as cost, 

 entire wraps are rarely made of it. 



While manj sea-otter skins are marketed in Asia and Russia, prol)- 

 ably 80 per cent of them pass through the London auction sales held 

 in March of each year. The large decrease in the abundance of these 

 animals is well ilhistratcd by the decreasing numbers ofi'ercd at those 

 sales, the quantity sold at present being little more than 10 per cent 

 of what it was twenty years ago. 



