238 FUR FACTS 



The more black fur on a skunk pelt, the more valuable it is. The 

 color of the pelt side of an unprime skunk is blue, or black; in fact 

 this applies to the pelts of all unprime skins. 



Illustration (A) shows the black skunk, (B) the short stripe 

 skunk, (C) the narrow or long stripe skunk, (D) the broad or white 

 stripe skunk. 



These skunks are illustrated fur side out in order to show you 

 the relative difference in the stripe. The length and width of these 

 stripes vary according to the section of the country in which the 

 animal is trapped. 



The proper way to stretch skunk is to case the pelt with the fur 

 side in and the pelt side out. Always be sure and have the pelt 

 scraped free of surplus fat before packing for shipment. 



It is very important to take the color of the flesh side into con- 

 sideration in judging the value of a skunk pelt. The all important 

 thing that makes a skin valuable is the amount of fur, but the in- 

 experienced often mistake hair for fur. The color of the flesh side 

 usually indicates the condition of the fur; if it is prime, that is if the 

 flesh side is a healthy reddish white color, you can be reasonably sure 

 that the fur is fully developed. If the pelt has a slightly bluish cast, 

 it indicates that the fur is of good quality, though not fully developed. 

 But if the pelt side is a flat looking black color, then you must be 

 careful and look for fur that has only partly developed, and that is 

 lacking in a full growth of under fur. 



OPOSSUM 



Opossum is one of the leading American furs and one of the 

 greatest sources of profit to the trapper and fur shipper. In some 

 sections they are used as an article of food and are therefore valuable 

 in two ways, but to be valuable for fur purposes opossum skins must 

 have fur. Opossum skins that are taken before they are full furred 

 or when they are shedded are sometimes of very little value. If 

 you are buying opossum we would advise you to pay attention to 

 the amount of the fur, and not judge the opossum by the size of the 

 pelt alone. 



Opossum are not judged so much by the pelt as other fur bearers. 

 It is the thickness and the quality of the fur that counts and a skin 

 may be large in size, and look prime, but if poorly furred has little 

 value. 



Opossum that just have long coarse hairs, and no under fur have 

 to be graded as twos, threes or fours. In grading or valuing opossum 



