UTILIZATION OF THE SKINS OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 311 



and even $16 for those of choicest grade, avei-aoing- .somewhat less 

 than $0 per skin. 



Fifteen years ago large quantities of beaver fur were used in this 

 country, and as much as 65 per cent of that sold in London was pur- 

 chased for the United States trade. At that time long garments were 

 fashionable, and plucked and dyed beaver was much in demand for 

 trimmings. During recent years, however, beaver fur has been largely 

 out of fashion in the United States and Canada, and consequently the 

 consumption in these countries has not been extensive. 



DRESSING AND FINISHING BEAVER SKINS. 



On arrival in the markets beaver skins are rough and greasy, with 

 the tine rich fur almost concealed by the coarse brownish hair. In 

 the process of dressing, the skins are first soaked in water over night. 

 The following day each one is placed, flesh side up, on a flat, hard- wood 

 beam, and with a breaking knife a workman breaks up the grain of 

 the pelt, thus softening it. The pelts are washed with warm water 

 and soap, and then prepared for plucking. The water is removed by 

 passing them through either an ordinary roller wringer or a centrif- 

 ugal wringer, or, in some houses, by pressing them with the breaking 

 knife. The hair side is dried and warmed by artificial heat, care 

 being taken to keep the pelt side damp; chalk is sprinkled over the 

 surface, and the hair is removed in the general manner described on 

 page 291. A very small percentage of beaver skins, probably not more 

 than 1 percent, are left "in the hair"— that is, the overhair is not 

 removed. Only a small demand exists for natural beaver, however, 

 owing to its rough and coarse appearance. 



Formerly it was customary to shear beaver skins, instead of pluck- 

 ing them, and many are yet prepared in that manner on the continent 

 of Europe. In this case it is unnecessary to moisten the pelt prepara- 

 tory to plucking; but, placing the skin, flesh side down, on a beam and 

 using a comb and shears, a workman clips off the greater part of the 

 long hairs in much the same way as a barber operates. Beaver 

 thus prepared bears some resemblance to sea-otter fur, especially when 

 very dark pelts are used, and sheared beaver is often used in imitation 

 of that costly fur. The imitation is greatly enhanced when the over- 

 hairs are whitened by means of an acid. 



After plucking, the pelt is shaved with a skiving knife, as described 

 on page 291, for the purpose of reducing its bulk preparatory to 

 leathering. The pelt side is then dampened with cold salt water and 

 allowed to so remain over night. The following morning it is 

 stretched lengthways and crossways and partly dried. Butter or 

 other animal grease is rubbed on the pelt side, and a number of skins 

 placed in a fulling or tramping machine in which two hammers push 

 or beat and turn them for eight or ten hours. The skins are then 

 placed with a quantity of hard-wood veneer sawdust in a large drum, 

 over either gentle charcoal fire or steam heat, and revolved for three 



