38 FUR FACTS 



muskrat fur is cut down to almost the same length as the Alaska seal 

 and is dyed by much the same process and produces much the same 

 effect, except that seal made from muskrat is lighter in weight than 

 the Alaska seal. 



Plucked Fur 



The plucked furs are the beaver, the otter, and the Alaska seal. 

 The Alaska seal is always dyed after it is plucked. The otter is 

 sometimes dyed, but it is more often used in its natural state as it 

 resembles the beaver but is a little shorter in nap and finer in quality. 

 The beaver is rarely, if ever, dyed, but it is always plucked before it 

 is made into fur garments. 



In judging a seal coat, whether it be made of Alaska seal or 

 muskrat, the lustre, quality and thickness of the fur must tell their 

 own story. It is difficult to distinguish between the Alaska seal gar- 

 ment and one made from the muskrat, there is little difference in 

 price and no reliable store would attempt to sell one for the other. 

 There are many discriminating women who prefer seal made from 

 the muskrat to the Alaska seal. There is a seal, however, made from 

 the Australian rabbit which is sheared down and made to imitate 

 the finer seal, but it is poor in quality, will not wear, and is not de- 

 sirable. This is readily distinguished however, from the muskrat or 

 Alaska seal, as it has a longer soft nap, does not stand up, and looks 

 like what it is, namely rabbit skin. No large department store or re- 

 liable retail furrier, would attempt to sell sheared and dyed coney, 

 which is known as French seal and electric seal, as muskrat seal or 

 Alaska seal. The great popularity of muskrat and the fact that musk- 

 rat are bringing high prices is due to the fact that it makes such a 

 wonderful seal fur, known as Hudson Bay seal. Firms specializing in 

 the dressing and dyeing of muskrat have developed this art until the 

 finished product is a thing of beauty and a joy to most women who 

 like a light weight, stylish, and beautiful coat. 



Silver Fox 



The highest priced pelt in the world is the American silver fox. 

 It is found in some of our northern states, throughout all of Canada, 

 and in Alaska, and is raised on a very extensive scale in Prince Edward 

 Island, and in other parts of Canada as well as in the United States. 

 Silver foxes are judged by their lustre, quality, and the beauty of the 

 fur. The finest skins are a rich, deep, bluish black color, about three 

 quarters of the length of the body, and the balance of the skin down 

 to the root of the tail is sprinkled with white silvery hairs. The 



