PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ^ASSOCIATION. 391 



In visiting this place his boyish ciuiosity had led him to observe that the 

 grcase was abstracted from the fnr by means of calcined plaster of paris, 

 ' placed in a large iron pan, under which was a flame which kept it at a cer- 

 tain point of heat. After the plaster was removed by shaking the skins, 

 they were sent directly to the stores. The chinchilla furs were all done in 

 this way. 



Instead of the treading operation, sometimes the skins and sawdust ai'e 

 placed in a slowly revolving drum, which is claimed to be an improvement. 

 All the little clippings from tlic skin are carefully gathered, and are sold 

 at from three to four dollars a pound. They eventually are exported. The 

 very smallest strips find their way to China, where they are sewed together 

 so neatly as not to be distinguished on the fur side from a whole skin. The 

 very low price of lal>or in that country enables th<; furrier to accomplish 

 this at a profit. 



The furs which arc used for felting purposes, in hat making, are the 

 beaver, ott«r, nutria, wolf, and miaskrats 



The fur of the sable is now from five to six times mor« costly than the 

 <^rmine, which derived its value from being used in the difiorent courts of 

 Europe and by the nobility. But the most valuable fur is the silver fox. 

 So rare is it that only 471 skins of this animal were sold by the Hudson 

 Bay Company during the past year, Threoof these skins brought ^170 each. 



The skin of the Persian black lamb is coming into quite general use both 

 here and in Europe. Its fine wool is black, but it is dyed the same color 

 to give it a gloss. The mode of prepari-ng it is the same as that described 

 at a previous meeting, when speaking of the skins used by glove makers. 



The Chairman remarked that but little was generally known concerning 

 furs, even in this coyntrj', where they have been gathered in greatest 

 tjuantities. 



It would be gratifying to us to' recei've and publish all the information 

 which can be obtained concerning fur producing animals. 



The Russian sable has long been regai'ded as one of the most valuable 

 of furs. About 25,000 are annually collected in Russian Possessions, and 

 but few are sent from the country. The fur is very fine mid beautiful; the 

 color is brown, with some gray spots about the head. The average value 

 is from §10 to $15, but the darker variety is the most valuable, A single 

 skin will often coeamand from $40 to $50. This sable resembles the Stone 

 and Pine Martin and the Hudson Bay Sable, and some writers believe they 

 •are varieties of the same species. 



The Pine Martin is distinguished from the Stone Martin by the yellow 

 x;olor of tlje throat. Other parts of tlie skin are brown, and are dyed by 

 the farrier a dark color to s«it the prevailing taste. As the Frencij exce 1 

 in dyeing this fur, it is sometin>os called the French sable. 



The skin of iftte little minx or mink has a fur resembling that of tXi^e sable 

 in color, but it is shorter and more glossy. 



The ermine somewhat resembles the weasel, and in Russia when he is 

 found during winter he wears (the whitest of all furs. 



The fitch or pole-cat resembles the skunk, and has a fur which is mucJa 

 «8ed. A skin of Uie Jatter will bring $1, 



