BEAVER. 



253 



years, have onl}^ bought some of the smaller skins at the 

 public auctions, and now buy scarcely any. At the 

 collapse of this trade, some houses went into the leather 

 trade, wliilst others devoted their energies to the fur 

 trade. 



In the olden times, much care and capital were 

 devoted to the manufacture of the Beaver hat : the skins 

 were first washed to remove the grease; then pulled, 

 that is, the top hairs were removed ; the fur was then 

 cut off the pelt by machinery, and blown to remove the 

 coarser hairs, and afterwards worked on the nap of the 

 hat, and dyed. 



The following are some of the prices paid for Beaver 

 fur in 1857 :— 



The Beaver, as might be inferred from its having 

 formerly inhabited England, breeds in captivity in this 

 country. The food of the Beaver is of a vegetable 

 nature, and it is often fed on bread and cabbage in 



