WATER FOWL 263 



handling of these products: Dry-picked goose and 

 duck feathers should be placed on the floor and 

 spread out for two or three days. The feathers 

 from white birds should be kept by themselves. 

 Special care should be taken to have the floors 

 scrupulously clean, for white feathers especially, 

 since the whiteness increases value. Each day 

 until thoroughly dry, the feathers should be turned 

 over. The quills and coarser feathers should never 

 be included with the body feathers. 



Burlap or cotton sacks are best for shipping the 

 small feathers, which unless perfectly dry, are apt 

 to become mildewed very rapidly and to command 

 a reduced price. In the autumn, pure white goose 

 feathers dry and in good condition are worth about 

 60 cents a pound. Gray goose and white duck 40 

 cents each, gray duck 32 cents. Scalded stock 

 brings from 3 to 5 cents less a pound. 



