UTILIZATION OF THE SKINS OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 819 



ent limits of the United States many otters were obtained. It appears, 

 however, that the capture of these was merely incidental to the taking 

 of beaver. Indeed, during the first hundred years of the exploitation 

 of America the beaver was almost the onh' fur-bearing animal whose 

 capture was a special object of industry. Later, however, with the 

 increase in value of the pelts, the otter became an object of special 

 pursuit, and b}^ 1777 the industry reached an extent from which it has 

 varied little up to the present time. 



It is quite remarkable that the number of otter skins which are 

 handled annually at the London sales should have fluctuated so little 

 during the last 140 years. From 1763 to 1900 the annual quantity 

 exceeded 30,000 only twice, and it fell short of 8,000 the same number 

 of times, and the average by decades is nearly the same throughout 

 the last 120 years. 



With the exception of the nutria, a smaller proportion of the total 

 product of otter skins are now handled at the London sales than in 

 case of any other aquatic fur, only about one -third of the American 

 product being sold there. The others are sold at Lcipsic or directly 

 to the furriers of the LTnited States and Canada. The best local 

 markets for otters are in Russia and Greece, where the fur is much 

 used for caps, collars, and trimmings. 



Out of a total of 7,865 otter skins sold in London in March, 1901, 

 3,293 were No. 1; 2,198 were No. 2; 1,318 were No. 3, and 756 were 

 cubs. The No. 1 averaged in value 28.<?. Qd. ; the No. 2, 20.v. Qd. ; the 

 No. 3, 12.S. 1<^., and the cubs 5.s. Qd. per skin. These prices were 

 somewhat less than the average in 1900. The highest price secured at 

 the 1901 sale was llS.s-. each for a lot of 42 skins, while the lowest price 

 was 3*. each for a lot of cubs, and also for a number of part pale No. 3. 

 Exclusive of the cubs, those of a brown color numbered 269, while 301 

 were partly brown, 693 pale, 1,691 partl}^ pale, and the remaining 

 4,155 of the distinctive dark otter color. 



DRESSING OTTER SKINS. 



When received at the fur-dresser's, otter skins are almost invariabl}^ 

 cased, and are first cut open longitudinally down the chest and abdo- 

 men. The pelt is soaked in salt water over night for the purpose of 

 softening it and preparing it for "breaking."" The following morn- 

 ing each skin is placed on a beam, and a workman proceeds to break 

 up the grain of the membrane by the process described on page 291. 

 The pelt is now washed in warm soap water and the water removed, 

 as in case of beaver skins. (See p. 311.) If the overhairs are to be 

 plucked, that is done next. The choicest skins are left "in the hair," 

 the number amounting to about a third of the total quantity dressed. 

 The plucking is done in the manner described on page 291. 



The pelt, which has become less bulky and quite soft from frequent 

 handling, is now placed on a beam and skived in the general manner 



