FUR-FARMING IN CANADA 



ful and durable, could not be sold as skunk, but, as ' black marten ', and 

 ' Alaska sable ', it is in high favour and likely to remain in the class of the 

 medium and higher priced furs. It is worth remarking that, since the 

 prejudice against the muskrat, skunk and other cheap furs has been 

 overcome, they can be sold under their real names. Muskrat backs are 

 now sold as ' rat ' fur at as high figures as the dyed product. 



The pressure of increasing demand has brought into 

 Imitations and common use the fur of animals with harsh brittle hair 



of any colour, which is sold under names which mislead 

 the public. Thus, the pelts of animals from the warmer zones such as 

 Chinese goat, Thibet lamb, Manchurian dog, hamster, marmot, Tartar 

 pony, opossum, raccoon, weasel, jackal fox, monkey, antelope, otter 

 and many others are now worked up by dressers and dyers into very 

 respectable-looking furs. They are inferior, however, to the furs from 

 colder climates in suppleness of leather, closeness of underwool, fullness 

 of overhair and silkiness of hair, and, because they are dyed, they are 

 less durable and less popular. 



The misnaming of furs has caused the London Chamber 

 Misnaming and of Commerce to give notice that misleading terms are 

 ecep ions ^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^-^^^^ offenders are liable to prosecu- 



tion under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887. Even in the early days 

 when misnaming was in its infancy, the manufactured furs were fre- 

 quently misnamed as follows : 



Muskrat or musquash, pulled and dyed Seal 



Nutria, pulled and dyed Seal 



Nutria, pulled and natural Beaver 



Rabbit, sheared and dyed Seal 



Otter, pulled and dyed Seal 



Marmot, dyed Mink or sable 



Fitch, dyed Sable 



Rabbit, dyed Sable or French sable 



Hare, dyed Sable, fox or lynx 



Muskrat, dyed Mink or sable 



Wallaby, dyed Skunk 



White rabbit Ermine 



White rabbit, dyed Chinchilla 



White hare, dyed or natural Fox, foxaline 



Goat, dyed Bear or leopard 



But, if laws were necessary twenty-five years ago to protect the 

 public from frauds, what must be the necessity at the present time, when 

 two hares brought up by the same mother may pose on the same coun- 

 ter, as 'white fox' and 'black lynx,' respectively? 



