UTILIZATION OF THE SKINS OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



285 



aggregate value, but of far less value individually, is the niuskrat, of 

 which about 5,000,000 are slaughtered annually. The nutria or coypu 

 is a small, beaver-like animal found in large numbers in South America, 

 and about 2,000,000 are taken annually. Many thousands of beaver 

 and otter skins are obtained each season, and each of these forms an 

 important item in the fur trade. 



The following summar}^ condensed from the table appearing on 

 page 287, shows approximately the total quantity of aquatic furs pro- 

 duced throughout the world in 1900: 



Classified statement of flic ivorkV s product of aquatic furs in, 1900. 



Designation. 



Beaver . . . 

 Fur-seal.. 



Mink 



Muslirat.. 

 Nutria . . . 



otter 



Sea-otter . 



Total 



6, 677, 078 



The foregoing table shows the great importance of the muskrat in 

 the trade, the aggregate area of the skins yielded annually by that 

 animal being as great as that of all other aquatic furs combined, and 

 more than six times as great as that of the fur-seal. Indeed, the aggre- 

 gate area of the muskrat skins secured annually in the United States is 

 approximately twenty times as large as that of the fur-seal product. 

 The nutria ranks second in total area, but about 30 per cent of those 

 skins are used by manufacturers of hats. Far below these two comes 

 the fur-seal with 535,700 square feet, or scarcely 8 per cent of the 

 total area of aquatic furs produced. Lower yet, in this particular, 

 rank the mink, beaver, and otter; while of sea-otter fur only 4,595 

 square feet were produced in 1900, or less than one-tifteenth of 1 per 

 cent of the total area of aquatic furs yielded during that j^ear. 



There are many industries more or less directh" associated with the 

 fur trade. Omitting' the manufacturers of traps, guns, boats, vessels, 

 and other apparatus and equipment, the men principall}^ interested 

 are the many hunters, trappers, and the like engaged in securing the 

 pelts. Then come large numbers of men who collect the furs, trans- 

 port them to the trade centers, effect their sale, and distribute them 

 to the places of consumption. Next are the fur-dressers, who prepare 

 the raw, greasy pelts and make them suitable for manufacture. The 

 fur-manufacturers employ a very large number of skilled workmen, 

 including assorters, cutters, nailers, sewers, etc. In addition to these 

 are the wholesale fur-dealers and the numerous retail merchants. It 

 is estimated that the number of persons employed in the United States 

 in the various branches of the fur trade approximates 15,000. 



