FUR FACTS 235 



fur singed. Badly singed otter skins are usually plucked as singed 

 pelts do not make up attractively. 



It pays to trap when furs are at their best. Take mink for in- 

 stance. A mink skin could be of large size but if the pelt were black, 

 and the fur just a little fuzzy hair, the skin would grade low and 

 would be worth a low price. On the other hand, if the same mink 

 (unless it was a sick or diseased animal) were trapped when the fur 

 was at its best and the pelt prime, it would be worth big money. 



Cdor 



In addition to the primeness and condition of the pelt and the 

 thickness and quality of the fur and the size of the skin, another 

 important element that enters into the grading of some furs, such as 

 mink, marten, otter, fisher, raccoon and even muskrat, is the fur color. 

 As a general rule the darker skins are the more valuable. Silky dark 

 mink bring higher prices than coarse brown ones. 



Beginners, and sometimes older trappers, make the mistake of 

 believing they have very dark skins because it is the darkest one they 

 ever have seen in their vicinity, when as a matter of fact, the skin 

 would not grade dark in the market because in some sections darker 

 skins are produced. 



A skin to grade dark should be a rich, dark brown chocolate color, 

 and the tips of the guard hair must not be singed by the sun. Under 

 an electric light on a dark day such skins look almost black. 



You will readily see therefore, that in grading and valuing most 

 furs there are four distinct things to take into consideration — ^prime- 

 ness or unprimeness of the pelt, the size, the thickness and quality, 

 and the color of the fur. Also take into consideration that cut skins, 

 tainted skins or improperly stretched skins are not strictly No. 1 skins. 



MINK 



Mink is one of the most beautiful and servicable of our American 

 small furs. It is found in nearly every state in the Union 

 and in large quantities in Canada and Alaska. Its habits, etc., are 

 described in another chapter. The finest mink in color and quality 

 are found in the Northeastern states and Eastern Canada; Maine 

 mink probably being the finest in quaUty. Michigan and Wisconsin 

 are famous for mink of fine quahty and color; Minnesota is the 

 home of mink of splendid size and color. The largest mink probably 

 are found in North Dakota. Louisiana is a big mink state, although 

 quite naturally the quality of the fur is not as fine as those found in 

 the more northern states. Many mink are found in parts of Texas 



