MUSQUASH. 261 



stretched into a flat circular form ; these are called bags 

 or pockets, and are abundant in the western districts of 

 the United States, and a few also in Canada Proper. 

 Skins that are " doubled wrong," or folded sideways, 

 called by the French bonnets d'evequc, are now rarely met 

 with. The usual way is to open them at the head and 

 tail, turn them inside out, and fold the back against the 

 belly. A few are sent, hair outwards, from Nova Scotia 

 and Canada. 



The Musquash is a very jDrolific animal. " In latitude 

 55° it has three litters in the course of the summer, and 

 from three to five young at a time. They begin to 

 breed before they attain their full growth " (Northern 

 Zoology). The enormous quantities in Minnesota and 

 Eed Eiver district are perhaps due to the abundance 

 of water ; but extreme frosts, which freeze up the 

 entrances to their huts, and also diseases at times, carry 

 them off by thousands. 



Most animals are trapped, but some are also speared 

 and shot. There are two collections in the year, one 

 in the autumn, which consists of the half-seasoned 

 summer skins, and the other in the spring, consisting of 

 the winter skins, which are of better quality, and bring 

 a higher price. The latter catch is sometimes shortened 

 by the severity of the weather. 



This fur is one of the best known furs, and is exten- 

 sively used in Europe, America, and Australia. From 

 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 skms are imported annually. 

 In 1891 the Hudson's Bay Company sold 554,104 skins. 



These skins are used almost exclusivelj" for fur, 

 either in the natural state, or dyed black, and light and 

 dark brown. They are sometimes pulled and dyed to 

 imitate Seal, and are made into boas, capes, jackets, 

 muffs, bags, etc., the bellies being especially suited to 



