318 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



ing the pelt moist. The overliiiirs are removed principally by hand, 

 the workman pulling them out by grasping them between a dull knife 

 of soft metal and his thuml), protected by a rubber cot. Practically 

 all nutria skins arc plucked, it being difficult to iind a single dressed 

 uni)lucked skin in New York. 



If convenient, the pelts are soakeil again overnight in cold water, 

 and then fleshed by drawing each one successively across the edge of a 

 large vertical knife (see p. 292). After fleshing, the skin is l)rushed 

 on the pelt side with strong salt water, and after remaining in that 

 condition over night, it is treated in much the same manner as a beaver 

 skin. It is moistened on the flesh side with some animal grease, pref- 

 erably butter, worked in the tramping machine or the ti'amping tub, 

 the grease removed by revolving in a drum with sawdust, and the 

 skin freed from sawdust in a cleaning drum. It then goes to the 

 picker, who places it upon a beam and skims over the sui'face of the 

 fur with a large flat-bladed knife having a razor-like edge, removing 

 the remaining hairs, thus completing the process. 



Nutria fur, natural, plucked, or plucked and dyed, is used for all 

 the purposes of l^eavcr fur, and the choicest can be distinguished from 

 the latter onh' b}^ experts, being nearly as fine and durable. It is 

 used principal!}' as a dressed fur, the overhairs being removed and the 

 fur dyed dark brown, aftording one of the best imitations of fur-seal 

 for small articles. It is also dj^ed various other shades of brown, and 

 occasionall}- is silvered with acid as in case of beaver furs. 



OTTER FURS. 

 CIIAHACTERISTICS OF PELAGE. 



The fur of the otter is short, abundant, and of fine quality. It is 

 slightly waved and sillvv and is similar in appearance to that of the 

 bearer, ])ut is somewhat shorter and more delicate and glossy. The fur 

 on tlie stout tail is of the same character as that on the bod}', but not 

 so long. That on the body is of a whitish-gray color for two-thirds 

 of its length from the base, rich brown at the tips, and is interspersed 

 with stifl", thick overhairs similarly colored. The general color of the 

 overhairs is brown al)()ve and a little whiter beneath, with chin and 

 throat whitish. The shade of l)rown varies according to the locality 

 iti which the animal lives; in eastern Maine this is almost black; in 

 Canada, Nova Scotia, and La1)rador it is dark brown; in Alaska and 

 British Colum])ia the animal is light brown. The fur on the throat, 

 undci- parts, and imici" surface of the legs is usually of various shades of 

 t)r()\vii. White or an)ino skins are occasionally secured, and silvery, 

 grizzly, mottled, and slate-coloi-ed are met with at times. 



TRADE IX OTTEIl SKINS. 



The early trade in otter skins in America, although never so exten- 

 sive, was almost contempoi'aneous in its development with the trade 

 in beaver furs. In the operations of the early fur-traders in the pres- 



