8 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



overcome, they can be sold under their real names. Muskrat backs are 

 now sold as 'rat' fur at almost as high figures as the dyed product. 



The pressure of increasing demand has brought into 



Imitations and cQ^imon use the fur of animals with harsh, brittle hair 

 Misnaming 



of any colour, which is sold under names which mislead 



the unwary public. Thus, the pelts of animals from the warmer zones 



such as Chinese goat, Thibet lamb, Manchurian dog, hamster, marmot, 



Tartar pony, opossum, raccoon, weasel, jackal fox, monkey, antelope, 



otter and many others are now worked up by dressers and dyers into 



very respectable-looking furs. They are inferior, however, to the furs 



from colder climates in suppleness of leather, closeness of underwool, 



fullness of overhair and silkiness of hair and, because they are dyed, 



they are less durable and less prized. 



The misnaming of furs has caused the London Chamber 

 DecepUons ^^^ °^ Commerce to give notice that misleading terms are 



not to be used and that offenders are liable to prosecu- 

 tion under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887. Even in the early days 

 when misnaming was in its infancy, the manufactured furs were fre- 

 quently misnamed as follows: 



Muskrat or musquash, pulled and dyedr. Seal 



Nutria, pulled and dyed Seal 



Nutria, pulled and natural Beaver 



Rabbit, Sheared and dyed Seal 



Otter, pulled and dyed Seal 



Marmot, dyed Mink or sable 



Fitch, dyed Sable 



Rabbit, dyed Sable or French sable 



Hare, dyed Sable, fox or lynx 



Muskrat, dyed Mink or sable 



Wallaby, dyed Skunk 



White rabbit Ermine 



White rabbit, dyed Chinchilla 



White hare, dyed or natural Fox, foxaline 



Goat, dyed Bear or leopard 



But, if laws were necessary twenty-five years ago to protect the 

 public from frauds, what must be the necessity at the present time, 

 when two hares reared by the same mother may pose on the same 

 counter 'as 'white fox' and 'black lynx', respectively? 



The following is a list of common misdescriptions: 



