FUR FACTS 



243 



In some sections of the Southwest large wolf are trapped that 



have little or no fur. They are just covered with coarse 



hair and these skins have very httle value for fur purposes. 



In some sections, it happens that the largest wolves are 



^ery coarse and very thinly furred and not worth as 



nuch for fur purposes as smaller wolves from the same 



lection that are full furred and the fur long, soft and 



lilky. Wolf are trapped and killed at nearly all sea- 



' • /E^ ^ 4 o'ls o^ t^ie year, with the result that many wolf are 



laken that are poor in fur. When buying wolf be 



:areful to examine the fur closely, see that it is free 



Irom rubbed or damaged spots. Shedded, rubbed or 



lamaged wolf must be graded as twos, threes or fours. 



Wolf skins that are badly taken off are not as valuable 



w| as those that are cased fur side out and stretched 



properly. Unprime wolf pelts are seldom blue so the 



safe rule is to judge the value by the quality of fur alone. The 



correct way to case and stretch wolf is like the illustration. 



FOX 



The same general rules apply to fox as to the other furs, except 

 that at times a fox may be prime pelted and well furred but be classed 

 as "rubbed". This is sometimes caused by the fox sitting on its 

 haunches or rubbing itself against a tree, thus damaging the guard 

 hair, which necessitates the grading of the skin as a 

 number two. Sometimes fine fox skins are damaged 

 by having the fur rubbed off at the rump. 



In buying fox skins it is important to watch the fur 

 and see that the fur is thick and even and not rubbed 

 and damaged in places. 



The same general rule applies to all foxes, except 

 the silver, blue and cross fox, where the color also plays 

 a very iinportant part. The silver foxes that are now 

 bringing the highest prices are those that are about 

 half black and half silver, and of a rich, clear color. 

 Silver foxes that have a rusty color, or a reddish cast 

 to them, are not so desirable, and a rubbed spot on a 

 fine silver or cross fox reduces its value considerably. 



The darker cross foxes with just a tinge of red are 

 the most valuable. 



Blue foxes are a solid dark bluish color, with a brownish cast. 

 These skins come mostly from Alaska. Red fox and grey fox are the 



