DESTRUCTION FOR SKINS AND OIL 



IT is only in recent years that the value of fur-bearing 

 animals to mankind has been estimated at its real worth, 

 and that ruthless slaughter has been replaced by endeavours 

 to preserve and encourage the multiplication of creatures 

 whose coats are valuable commercial assets to their native 

 countries. There was no such farsightedness in Scotland 

 of the old days ; fashion and profit were the only guides, 

 and the result was a persistent destruction, which, sometimes 

 outpacing natural reproduction, contributed to the curtail- 

 ment of range or even to the extermination of our few native 

 fur-bearing animals. 



In former times Scotland held a European reputation for 

 its skins. What animals contributed to this fame, and 

 suffered on its account ? Boece, in the sixteenth century, 

 tells us that 



King Ewin biggit ane othir toon on the river of Nes, quhilk is yit namit 

 Innernes [Inverness], quhair sum time wes gret repair of marchandis, 

 quhilkis come out of Almany to seik riche furringis; as martrikis [Martens], 

 bevaris [Beavers] and siclike skinnis quhilkes aboundis in that regioun. 



In another place he mentions the coveted creatures in rather 

 greater detail : 



Beside Lochnes, quhilk is xxiv milis of lenth, and xii of breid, ar mony 

 wild hors ; amang thame, ar mony martrikis, bevers, quhitredis [Stoats or 

 Ermines], and toddis [Foxes] ; the furringis and skinnis of thaim are coft 

 [bought] with gret price amang uncouth [foreign] marchandis. 



And of the people of Orkney, Leslie said in 1578 that part 

 of "thair riches consistes...in the skinis of wilde beistes." 



Further light is thrown upon the traffic in Scottish skins 

 by an analysis of the customs duties levied upon exports. 

 The Ayr manuscript, written in the days of King Robert 

 Bruce, in a chapter on " Peloure or Peltry'' enumerates 

 along with the commoner skins of Tod, Whitret, Mertrick 

 and Cat, those of Beaver and Sable, perhaps foreign skins re- 

 exported, as well as hides and Deer skins. And at the Port 

 of Leith in 1482, among the taxed articles are mentioned 



