THE FUR, LEATHER AND HIDE TRADES 



59 



to protect the animals from the climatic rigors than in the South, there- 

 fore the northern furs in many cases are better and bring higher prices, 

 as is well illustrated by some of the figures in the ensuing table. Also 

 there are, of course, great individual differences in pelts of the same 

 species all from the same region, just as some men are larger, in better 

 health, and have thicker and finer hair than others. In addition the sea- 

 son for prime furs is usually short, in many species only about two 

 month long, and furs taken out of season are inferior. Five animals 

 trapped in California in July and sold for $2.50 would have brought 

 $200.00 had they been caught in the winter. 12 Size, color, thickness of 

 hair, the care with which the animal has been skinned, and the method 

 of caring for fur and its whole general condition must all be considered 

 in grading furs for sale, which is done by high-salaried experts. In 

 order to show the great differences in value we have compiled from 

 the report of an auction sale held in New York from January 23 to 

 February i, 1928, the maximum prices for the largest and best and the 

 minimum prices for the smallest and poorest pelts of the principal kinds 

 from various regions. 13 



Mini- 

 mum 

 Badger 



Canadian $10.00 



Northwestern 9.75 



Western 80 



Southwestern 24 



Bear 



Black 70 



Brown 4.75 



Polar 19.00 



Beaver 



Quebec and Ontario . . . 6.00 



Western Canadian .... 11.50 



Alaska 7.25 



Western U.S 4.00 



Broadtail (sheep) 6.00 



Caracul (sheep) 1.50 



Cat 



Civet 28 



House 12 



Ringtail 4.60 



Sundry 45 



Cat, Wild 



Northern 7.00 



12 California Fish and Game, p. 120, 1917. 



13 The Fur Market Digest, issued by the New York Auction Co., Inc., obtained by 

 us through the courtesy of E. A. Stephens & Co., Denver, who write : "Prices paid to 

 trappers would average approximately 10 per cent to 20 per cent less than these prices, 

 but on account of a different system of grading it is rather difficult to say whether 

 or not the difference would be that much." 



