148 WINTER SKETCHES. 



on hatters ' furs of twenty per cent, is often 

 escaped by importing the free skins and strip- 

 ping them here. I wonder if the Australians, 

 know anything about Danbury and Derby 

 hats ? Rabbits are overrunning their country 

 and devouring their substance. Why not trap 

 a few millions of them, kill them, and send 

 their skins to Danbury? 



First we were shown cases of boxes, in each 

 division of which from 2^ to 4 ounces of fur 

 had been carefuly weighed out according to 

 the weight of the hats intended to be made. 



This is soaked and steamed in rooms of a 

 temperature like that of a Russian bath, until 

 it becomes pulp. Then it is spread with al- 

 most transparent thinness over a cone three 

 feet high and a foot in diameter. Next it is 

 shrunk and partially dried. By and by, after 

 being dyed, it comes down to the size of an or- 

 dinary hat when it is blocked. Now it would 

 answer for a " wide awake," but it must be stif- 

 fened with gum shellac and the edges curled. 

 Thus far all this heavy and dirty labor has 

 been done by men, each one having his piece- 

 work. At this stage it is turned over to the 

 deft manipulation of the women, who bind, 

 stitch, line, and pack. Then the carpenter 



