UTILIZATION OF THE SKINS OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 313 



use for that purpose. Practicall}" the onl}" beaver fur now received by 

 the hatters is the blown fur obtained from manufacturers' clippings 

 and that cut from skins damaged in curing or otherwise, as has been 

 already noted in the chapter on hatters' furs. But even in using fur 

 from these sources, a light hat made from beaver can not be purchased 

 for less than about $10, and the price is likely to be $15 or more. 



MUSKRAT FURS. 

 DESCRIPTION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF FUR. 



The fur of the muskrat is dense and «of t, somewhat like that of the 

 beaver, but is shorter and inferior in denseness, fineness, and durability. 

 The color is generally drab blue, in some cases with a whitish appear- 

 ance, and tipped with reddish brown. The fur of the small muskrat 

 found in Alaska is of a light silver}^ color, almost white on the abdomen, 

 and verv fine, the pelts from that locality being highly prized when 

 beaver hats were in fashion. The fur is concealed by long, stifi", brown 

 overhairs on the upper surface and sides of the Iwd}. The general 

 color of the animal is dark umber brown, almost blackish brown on 

 the back and gray below, but specimens are found ranging through 

 the various shades of brown, blue, and yellow to pure white. 



In the Chesapeake and Delaware regions and, to a less extent, in other 

 parts of America, in addition to those of the usual coloring, some 

 individuals are ver}" dark, so nearh^ black, in fact, that they are desig- 

 nated "black nniskrats'' in the trade. These are of superior qualit}' 

 and value. In some specimens, especially among those found in cer- 

 tain regions of Canada, the chest and a])domen is of a chestnut lirown 

 and in others almost white, but the latter are by no means connnon. 

 Pure white muskrats are occasionally found, but they are of no more 

 value in the trade than those of the ordinary coloring, although highly 

 prized by collectors of natural-history specimens. As is the case with 

 most aquatic mammals, the skins of those occurring in southern locali- 

 ties are thicker and more spongy than those in the colder latitudes. 

 Muskrat fur is inexpensive, the skins selling usually for 10 to 20 cents 

 each; however, under the skill of the fur-dresser and the dyer, it 

 assumes a high role in the form of imitations of more costly furs; in 

 retail stores it is found prepared in so many different wavs and with 

 such a variety of finish as to be scarcely recognizable to the most 

 expert trappers who are familiar with the raw skins only. 



PRODUCT OF MUSKRATS AND THE MARKETS THEREFOR. 



While the annual product of muskrats is at present very large, this 

 extent is of comparatively recent development. During the eighteenth 

 century the annual yield was relatively small and the fur was little 

 prized. Many farmer bo^'s found it convenient to set a few traps, 

 using some of the skins for making caps, gloves, etc., and sending the 

 rest to the market. The average (piantity received on the market 



