THE BEAVER. 281 



animals were once numerous,, they have greatly decreased 

 in numbers. The Beavers inhabiting Oregon, and the 

 Rocky Mountains, are of a very light color, almost white ; 

 those found in the Southern States, Mexico and Arizona, 

 are poor in quality, being heavy in pelt, and pale in color. 

 The skins most valued, are those with a dark reddish 

 brown hue found in the Hudson Bay country, in the 

 Fort York district, and along the Moose River. 



Beavers are also found in Europe, where they burrow 

 along the banks of the Rhone, the Danube, the Weiser 

 and other rivers. Scientists are somewhat divided in 

 opinion because of the difference in their habits as to 

 whether the European beavers belong to a distinct species, 

 or are prevented by the closer vicinage of man, from 

 building their houses like the American Beaver. 



At one time, most of the Beaver skins were sold to the 

 manufacturers of silk hats, commonly called "beavers"; 

 who first washed the skins to remove the grease, then re- 

 moved the long top hairs ; after which the under fur was 

 cut off the pelt by machinery, and blown to remove the 

 coarser hairs, before it was worked on the nap of the 

 hat and dyed. Today the majority of skins taken go to 

 the furriers, who use most of them, with the long top or 

 water hairs removed, for making muffs and neck pieces 

 for women; cuffs, coat facings and. gloves for men; and 

 for trimmings. Some skins are dyed black or seal brown, 

 either with or without the long water hairs. The dark 

 skins are sometimes made to imitate the sea otter fur by 

 being pointed with white hairs. 



Skin for skin, there are other furs that will bring more 

 dollars than the Beaver ; but none that are so well known 

 in commerce, or that have such a staple value. In the 

 early days of the fur trade on this continent, the beaver 

 skin was the basis by which not only the value of other 

 skins, but of all other commodities, was determined. A 

 beaver skin was worth so many muskrats, and it took so 

 many beavers to buy a sable or an otter skin. People paid 

 their bills with Beaver skins and estimated the value of 

 their possessions, by the number of Beavers they represent- 

 ed. To illustrate the way trades were made at this time, we 

 reproduce here a schedule showing the value, in beaver 

 skins, of some of the various articles traded to the Indians, 



