100 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



ever, that only personal ownership of the fur-bearers would ensure nearly 

 100 per cent, of the pelts marketed being prime. 



The fur moth also causes immense losses. Modern refrigeration, 

 however, has solved this problem by providing cold storage chambers 

 for furs stored in the warm season. 



. All seal and Persian lamb skins go through a process of 



of Furs dyeing. Seal skin, after the water hair is plucked, is of a 

 drab colour, but expert English dyers make it a dark-brown- 

 ish black. As German dye excels in fastness of colour and in leaving 

 the skins supple after treatment, the Persian lamb skins are mostly 

 dyed in Germany. The French are very skilful in ' topping ' where 

 the overhair is made to imitate sable. Latterly, the Germans have de- 

 veloped a large trade in ' pointed fox,' which is an ordinary cheap fox 

 dyed black, and afterwards ' pointed ' by sewing in white hairs. The 

 German dyed article is quite durable in colour, but it, again, is imi- 

 tated by furriers in America, who colour with ordinary black dye and 

 glue in badger hairs. In a few months the difference in the quality of 

 the dye used is revealed. Good dyes — such as those developed in Eng- 

 land for seals and in Germany for lambs — are likely to remain trade 

 secrets. 



The dressing and dyeing of furs in Canada is nearly all performed 

 by one firm which handles about 2,000,000 skins annually. The work- 

 men and experts are largely German and other Europeans and have 

 received their training in the old world. The dressing and dyeing of 

 furs in America is steadily improving and the proportion shipped to 

 Europe is decreasing. 



. The natural colours must be of a certain quality to 

 Esteemed Natural , , . , , , t mi i • . . 



Colours be highly esteemed. Thus pure white ermine is cost- 



lier than the gray or yellowish-white kinds. With 

 white furs, it is the purest and, with black furs, it is the densest that 

 are most desired. A brownish colour in a silver fox is very objection- 

 able (although common in most districts), while a bluish cast is de- 

 cidedly to be preferred. In fact, it is almost axiomatic that a bluish 

 cast, instead of a rusty or brownish, is preferred. It is the brown cast 

 of Hudson Bay marten that makes it inferior to the Eussian sable, 

 which often has a bluish-brown colour. The predominance on the mar- 

 ket of brown or rusty coloured skins can be readily accounted for when 

 it is remembered that most 'springy' skins are brownish, no matter how 

 blue-black, or blue-brown, or blue-gray they were when prime. 



. The modern art of dressing and dyeing furs is a great im- 



Furs provement on pioneer methods, especially in dyeing and fin- 



ishing. For giving suppleness and durability, the primitive 



