On the Fur Trade, and Fur-bearing Animals. 327 



American martin skins there are a certain number which are beau- 

 tifully shaded, and of a dark brown olive color, of great depth and 

 richness. 



Next these in value, for ornament and utility, are the sea otter, 

 the mink, and the fiery fox. 



The fiery fox is the bright fed of Asia ; is more brilliantly colored 

 and of finer fur than any other of the genus. It is highly valued for 

 the splendor of its red color and the fineness of its fur. It is the stan- 

 dard of value on the North Eastern Coast of Asia.* 



The sea otter which was first introduced into commerce in 1725, 

 from the Aleutian and Kurile Islands is an exceedingly fine, soft, 

 close fur, jet black in winter with a silken gloss. The fur of the 

 young animal is of a beautiful brown color. It is met with in great 

 abundance in Bhering's Island, Kamschatka, the Aleutian and Fox 

 Islands, and is also taken on the opposite coasts of North America. 

 It is sometimes taken with nets, but more frequently with clubs and 

 spears. Their food is principally lobster and other shell fish. 



In 1780 furs had become so scarce in Siberia, that the supply was 

 insufficient for the demand in the Asiatic countries. It was at this 

 time that the sea otter was introduced into the markets for China. 

 The skins brought such incredible prices, as to originate immediate- 

 ly several American and British expeditions to the northern islands 

 of the Pacific, to Nootka Sound, and the North West coast of Ameri- 

 ca, but the Russians already had possession of the tract which they 

 now hold, and had arranged a trade for the sea otter with the Koudek 

 tribes. They do not engross the trade, however j the American 

 North West trading ships procure them, all along the coast, from the 

 Indians. 



Atone period, the fur seals formed no inconsiderable item in the 

 trade. South Georgia, in South lat. 55°, discovered in 1675, was 

 explored by Capt. Cook in 1771. The Americans immediately com- 

 menced carrying seal skins thence to China, where they obtained 

 the most exorbitant prices. One million, two hundred thousand skins 

 have been taken from that island alone, and nearly an equal number 

 from the island of Desolation, since they were first resorted to, for 

 the purposes of commerce. f 



* The fiery fox from Asia is known at the Leipzic fair, as the Padohan fox. 

 t See Weddell's voyage towards the South Pole. 



