INTRODUCTION. 9 



everybody knows, is an immense business. The making of 

 the weapons and the fighting may be out of sight, but the 

 spoils of the war are seen by all. Many a colossal fortune, 

 like John Jacob Aster's, has been founded on peltry; and 

 many a frontier city, like St. Paul's, has been built up by the 

 traffic that originates in the enterprise of the trapper and trap- 

 maker. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE FUR-TRADE. 



The following statements are made on the authority of 

 members of large fur-dealing firms in the city of New York. 



The yearly production of raw furs in the whole world is 

 worth from seventeen to twenty millions of dollars, and the 

 whole amount of the fur-trade, including manufactured goods, 

 reaches a value of not less than one hundred millions. 



The whole number of Muskrat skins alone, taken annually, 

 is estimated at five or six millions ; of which three milUons 

 are used in Germany. 



Raw furs are divided by American dealers into two classes, 

 viz., shipinng furs, i. e. furs that are to be sent abroad ; and 

 home furs, or furs for use in this country. The leading arti- 

 cles among shipping furs are the Silver, Red and Cross Fox, 

 Raccoon, Fisher, Wildcat and Skunk. Among home furs are 

 the Mink, Opossum, House Cat, Wolf, and Marten. The 

 Muskrat and other furs are classified under both heads. 



Prices for shipping furs are regulated by the foreign de- 

 mand. 



The great fur-marts in Europe, are London, Leipsic, and 

 Nijni Novgorod. At these points semi-annual sales (or fairs as 

 they are termed), take place. The spring sales are most 

 important. Here the representatives of the leading fur-houses 

 from all parts of Europe meet to make their purchases during 

 the months of March, April, and May. 



The fur-trade of Leipsic is estimated at six and a half mill- 

 ions of dollars annually. 



Raccoon fur is the great staple for Russia ; Red Fox for 

 Turkey and the oriental countries ; Skunk for Poland and 

 the adjacent provinces ; Muskrat for Germany, France, and 

 England. 



