Fur-bearing Foxes. 357 



often a larger number, and Messrs. Culverwell and Co. would 

 in all likelihood tread very closely upon the heels of the 

 others. 



I may mention incidentally, that the Hudson's Bay Com- 

 pany sell their stock of furs by auction in the month of March. 

 These sales are always attended by fur dealers from foreign 

 markets, who purchase such furs as best suit them, and con- 

 sign them to Leipsig, at which city these furs are again disposed 

 of during the great fair, and thence are distributed to all parts 

 of the world. The other fur companies hold their sales 

 immediately after the Hudson's Bay Company. 



Granting I am right in these assumptions, I may safely 

 say that over £14,000 is returned each year at the March 

 fur sales for skins of the silver fox. But it must not 

 be forgotten that this sum only represents the wholesale 

 price ; if we take into consideration that these skins are 

 subsequently dressed and made into garments of different 

 kinds by the furriers, and in that condition are retailed at an 

 enormoiTsly increased tariff, we shall find that the skins of the 

 silver fox really constitute a most important branch of 

 commerce. 



Most of the fox skins purchased at the annual sales are for 

 the supply of the Eussian market. Silver fox skins of the 

 finest quality, when dressed, and made into cloaks or other 

 descriptions of wearing apparel for the, Russian grandees, 

 sell for sums of money which seem to us almost incredible. 

 A pelisse which belonged to the late Emperor of Russia, 

 was made entirely from the black necks of silver foxes ; 

 it may be remembered that this costly garment was displayed 

 at the Exhibition of 1851 ; its actual money value was three 

 thousand five hundred pounds sterling. Russian taste generally 

 inclines towards dark coloured furs, hence furs which are nearly 

 or quite black, and at the same time of a lustrous, soft, and 

 silky texture, always command the highest prices for the supply 

 of that particular market. 



Beautiful silver fox skins are brought from the cold arid 

 districts of North and North West America, nevertheless 

 they will not bear comparison with those obtained from some 

 parts of Russia. There is a popular saying, that these black 

 fox skins of Russian production are worth their weight in gold, 

 an assertion by the way not so far from a truism, when we 

 read that first-rate skins have fetched four hundred roubles 

 each. 



As regards the commercial value of its fur, the cross fox 

 (Vidjjes decussatus) comes next for our consideration. The 

 name cross fox has been bestowed upon this animal because 

 it is distinguished by having a dark coloured cross on its 



