252 RODENTIA. 



since 1743, in which year 127,080 skins were imported 

 into La Rochelle in France, the French then enjoying 

 the monopoly of the fur trade. Before that period, 

 when New York was occupied by the Dutch, Beaver 

 skins were sent to Amsterdam. Beaver skins in those 

 days were sold for wampum, which was then the means 

 of barter. According to Adrian Yander Donk, 80,000 

 skins were taken yearly in the State of New Y^ork. 



The incisor teeth of the Beaver were used by the 

 North American Indians, as well as by the earlier 

 inhabitants of Britain, as cutting instruments. 



Many skins are sold with the long top or water-hairs 

 removed, thus showing the beautiful soft under fur. 

 This process is called pulling, and is performed with a 

 long wooden knife, and is chiefly the work of women. 

 Another method, which is called unhairing, is to soak 

 the skins, and then remove the upper hairs by scraping 

 with a knife. 



Some skins are dyed brown or black, either with or 

 without these water-hairs. In the dyed state, the skin 

 is sometimes furnished with white hairs to imitate the 

 Sea-Otter fur, and many pulled and unhaired skins are 

 silvered with acid. 



Beaver skins are made into sets of trimmings, cuffs, 

 or muffs, according to the prevailing fashion, and a few 

 clipped skins are used in the glove trade. 



Many skins are exported to France, Germany, 

 Russia, and America, but a large quantity are also used 

 in this country. 



In the days of the Beaver hat trade, Beaver skins, 

 which felt very well, were exclusively bought for cutting 

 and felting, and were sold by the pound, but now this 

 trade has almost ceased, owing to the introduction of 

 silk hats. Messrs. Christy & Co., in the last 10 



