HAT MANUFACTURE. 223 



much in demand for use in the making of hats and other articles of 

 wearing apparel. 



These fibres, like those from most other mammals, are of two kinds : 

 the outer pelage consists of long coarse fibres of a somewhat rigid nature, 

 while the inner is formed of soft short down. The latter is so much in 

 demand for fur or beaver hat-making, that some of the best stapled 

 fibres have realised as much as ten shillings per ounce. 



The fur fibres of the Rocky Mountain Beaver are very scarce. The 

 general length of the down is one-quarter to half an inch. 



Beaver fur fibres, when magnified, show two kinds of fur, the finer 

 one being those of the inner, the coarser one those of the outer fur. 

 The latter are distinguished by what may be termed deeply punched 

 scales or transverse depressions, which nearly resemble those of the hare's 

 fur, but are finer and more silky in the apparently moniliform markings. 



Beaver fibres are superior to those of the hare and of the coney for 

 beaver hat-making. Some fibres are used by tailors for dress materials, 

 muffs, coats, etc. 



Camel's Hair (Camelus Bactrianus). Camel hair fibres are long, 

 cylindrical, tapering, and finely serrated when seen under a moderately 

 high-power of the microscope. 



Camel's hair is much exported from Smyrna, Constantinople, 

 Alexandria, and Persia. It is said to have been used in the making of 

 hats, and for the manufacture of very fine pencil brushes, and in the 

 woollen industry. 



There are three principal types of camel's hair, known respectively 

 as the black, red, and grey. The black is most in demand, and fetches 

 the highest price; the red. comes next; and the grey is of the least 

 value. 



The fibres of came), hair have been spun into yarns and manufactured 

 into camel-hair blankets. Dr. Jaeger, whose name has long been connected 

 with fabrics made of pure animal fibres for both sanitary and wearing 

 purposes, has advocated the use of camel-hair blankets. It has been 

 stated that these fibres are equal to the best of all animal fibres for 

 protection and warmth to the skin. This may be true when they are 

 compared with "woollen" fabrics that are partly made up of woollen and 

 cotton yarns, and are spoken of and sold as " all wool " fabrics. The 

 use of camel hair for the making of belts has received some attention 

 from the manufacturers of belting fabrics for use in spinning mills. 



Deer's Hair (Cervus elaphus). The hair of the deer has been used 

 for upholstery, stuffing for mattresses, pillows, cushions, quilts, quilted 

 skirts, bustles, breast pads, and, on account of its lightness, for lifebuoys. 

 Before using, it is recommended that it should be cleaned and dried in a 



