90 THE HUNTER AND TRAPPER. 



BEAVER SKINS. 



Ki}) the skin as you would that of a sheep. Stretch it 

 to its full size in all directions, and nail it on a board to 

 dry. It may be dressed by a mixture of equal j^arts of 

 rock salt and alum dissolved in water, with coarse flour 

 stirred in to make it about as thick as cream. Spread 

 this on about half an inch thick, and when dry, scrape it 

 off. If this is not enough, put it on a second time. 



To make it into furs, pluck out the long hairs. 



OTTER SKIN. 



Skin him nearly the same as the fox, only that the tail 

 must be ripped up, and when the hide is turned down to 

 the four legs, they must be skinned out carefully. Slip 

 the skin over a board that will not fit it so tightly as to 

 injure the fur. Stretch out the tail, and hold it in place 

 by tacking it with small nails around the edges. If it is a 

 real black fellow that shines like a crow, probably you 

 will get eight or ten dollars for him. It may be dressed 

 in the same manner as a beaver skin. 



MINK SKINS. 



The same directions in all respects as for the foregoing, 

 save that after the paste gets dry it should be scraped off 

 with the bowl of a spoon, taking care to keep the skin 

 stretched tightly, so that the astringent matter will not 

 shrink it too much. 



