THE FURS AND FISHES OF NOVA SCOTIA. 393 



European Otter ; it affords a valuable, brilliant, and most durable fur ; not 

 rapidly diminishing. 



Four Eaccoon skins, (Procyon lotor). The Raccoons are increasing in 

 number, and afford a rather handsome fur for robes ; the skins are also used 

 in the manufacture of felt hats. 



Three Bear skins, ( Ursus Americanus). American Bear ; by no means 

 diminishing in numbers ; differs from Europeans species, and affords in 

 season a thick and brilliant black fur. 



Eight Beaver skins, {Castor canadensis). Differing from European 

 Beaver ; it became nearly extinct a few years ago, but now is increasing in 

 numbers. 



Twenty-five Musquash skins, (Fiber zibethicus). Abundant and rather 

 increasing ; the beauty of this fur in its natural state is well seen in 

 Mr. Coleman's manufactured articles ; when dyed and plucked its resem- 

 blance to the fur-seal is so great as to deceive any but dealers. It must rise 

 in value and importance. 



Rabbit skins, (Lepus Americanus). Hare, formerly confounded wth the 

 varying Hare of the Old World. 



It is found in enormous quantities, and is often a great boon to poor 

 settlers ; some families with wire snares have caught in one season between 

 two and three thousand. Sixty thousand skins have been shipped by one 

 dealer alone. 



Fishes, &c. — The fisheries of Nova Scotia are an almost inexhaustible' 

 source of wealth. Though a large portion of the population is engaged 

 in agricultural and other pursuits, the exports of fish in 1860 amounted 

 in value to $2,956,788. The census table gives 396,427 quintals of dried 

 fish, and 283,273 barrels of pickled fish. 



The shipping owned in Nova Scotia and employed in the fisheries, &c, in 

 1860 amounted to 3,258 vessels, with a gross tonnage of 248,061 tons, being 

 almost a ton to every man, woman, and child in the province. This 

 amount of tonnage places Nova Scotia in the rank of one of the principal 

 maritime countries in the world, and the first as to the proportion of ton- 

 nage to population. 



The fish of Nova Scotia are represented by specimens preserved in 

 alcohol in clear glass jars, by J. M. Jones, Esq., and also by specimens of 

 pickled, smoked, and dried fish, purchased in the market, being samples of 

 those preserved for ordinary use or export. 



The exhibition of fish does not include the finest specimens, but must 

 be considered as containing fair samples of such as can be procured between 

 the months of October and January in the Halifax market. 



The reason for the largest and best specimens not being exhibited arises 

 from two causes : 



1st. The jars used, though ordered at the kind suggestion of Professor 

 Agassiz from the New England Glass Company by the Nova Scotian Com 

 missioners, and being larger than any manufactured in England for a 



