310 rp:pokt of commissionek of fish and fisheries. 



oi»;hte(Mitli and the early part of tlio iiinoteenth century the skiii.s Avore 

 aecepted as curreiiey throui^hout the western i)art of Canada and the 

 United States and were the standard for bartering- with Indians. 



It was not lono" ))eforc the market demands outran the resources of 

 nature and the beaxer was in danger of extermination. The price of 

 the skins increased correspondingly, selling at times for $S or $10 per 

 pound, and the finished hat for $20 or more. At length the suppl}'- 

 of the fur l)ecame so inadecpiate that other materials were necessaril}^ 

 substituted, resulting about 1839 in the general adoption of the silk 

 hat In' the fashionable world. 



The demand fi'om manufacturers of hats diminishing, tiie i)rice of 

 beaver pelts fell so low that the hunt proved unprofitable. Later a 

 demand de\eloped for the skins in the dressed-fur trade, and the ]>rice 

 became steady at about $2 or $3 each. This fur became fashionable 

 about twenty A^ears ago, and the indications an^ that it will be in favor 

 for many years. Small quantities. ])artly damaged in the curing, are 

 3'et used by the hatters, but its employment- is mainlj- as dressed fur 

 for caps, mutHers, gloves, trimmings, etc. Sometimes entire gar- 

 ments are made of it, but its weight makes it objectionable for that 

 purpose. The darker pelts are usually i)urchased for the European 

 and Canadian markets, while the medium and paler shades are worked 

 up for consumption in this country. 



The greater portion of the beaver skins taken on the American con- 

 tinent during the last 200 years have been handled at the London 

 auction sales. The first sale occui'red on January 24. 1072, and was 

 an event of much importance. From that time to the present the 

 total number of skins handled in London approximates 30,000,000 with 

 a total valuation of $100,000,000. The average annual sales at present 

 approximate 50,000 in number. 



In addition to those handled in London, a))()ut 20. 000 beaver skins 

 are now marketed each year, being sold at Leipsic and at private sale 

 in the United States and Canada. This makes a total of about 70,000 

 skins marketed annually in recent years, of which about 10,000 are 

 obtained in the Ignited States and 60,000 in the Dominion of Canada. 



in the markets, bea\'er skins are classed not only according to the 

 general localities whence they are obtained, Jjut also according to their 

 size and the (lutdity of the fur. In assorting them four grades are 

 recognized. Those of the lirst grade have a Hesh-colored pelt, which 

 appears fresh and sound, and with long hea\y fur, which separates 

 down to the meml)rane when ])lown into and ai)pears uniformly even, 

 line, and silky. The seconds are almost clear in the pelt and the fur 

 only slightly scant or poor. In the thirds the fur is thin, scant and 

 poor, and the pelt dark. Fourths are of the poorest (juality, with pelt 

 almost black or l)luish-green color, and the fur short and thin. Each 

 of these grades is divided according to size, the large, medium, small, 

 and kitts. The prices range from $1.2.') for the poorest to $10, $12, 



