ON THE TRADE IN SKINS AND EURS. 429 



ing provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, in bear, fox, otter, 

 marten, mink, cat, and musquash. 



In the foreign courts, Messrs. Hesnault and Brothers, of Belgium, 

 showed a good assortment of rabbit skins in different stages of manu- 

 facture, natural, dyed, and pulled. As is well known, a large trade is 

 carried on with our markets in the flesh of these animals, the skins 

 having been previously retained by the skin-merchants, to be by them 

 prepared, in imitation of superior furs, to meet the requirements of the 

 less wealthy classes. The inferior skins have the fur cut off them, 

 which is sold to the hat-maker, and applied for making felts. Consider- 

 ing that in the markets of Leadenhall and Newgate alone 870,000 

 rabbits are annually disposed of, the fur of which is of small value, 

 this collection is suggestive • that rabbit-breeding might become an 

 important branch of British industry, if conducted in a more systematic 

 manner. 



From Costa Rica were sent skins of 'the puma, or lion of the New 

 World, and the jaguar. The number of puma skins collected annually 

 are few, and of little value. The jaguar is used for ornamental pur- 

 poses, as hearthrugs, &c. 



Denmark displayed some good blue foxes. These skins are not much 

 esteemed by English ladies, but in Germany realize very high prices. 

 Not many blue foxes are found in North America. Both the white and 

 blue are very numerous in Greenland, the northern and unexplored 

 part of which, subject to the permission of the Danish government, is 

 open to our trade, and well worthy the attention of an enterprising 

 adventurer. It is only needful to remark the high figures attached to 

 the goods exhibited to ascertain the value in the Danish market. 



The quilts shown from the dressed skin of the eider duck were neatly 

 made ; they are exceedingly light and warm. The specimens of Esqui- 

 maux workmanship are admirably executed, and merited the rewards of 

 the Jurors. 



From France there were three exhibitors. In Mr. Hasse's case the 

 goods presented were well assorted, from the finest Russian sables to 

 the common cat and rabbit, meeting the requirements of the noble and 

 the peasant. In the development of the rabbit-skin trade, Mr. Hasse 

 has taken a commendable interest in bringing the skins to great per- 

 fection, having successfully laboured to spread a knowledge amongst the 

 peasantry of the necessary demands of the furrier, which has resulted 

 in more than trebling the value of the skin. Skins of large size, and 

 of many colours and gradations, were exhibited, and also of the 

 silver-gray rabbit, a variety which has a special value as an important 

 article of trade with China and Russia. In the finer manufactured furs, 

 Mr. Hasse showed marked taste and superior workmanship. 



From Hungary, Messrs. Goldstein and Son presented some fine skins 

 in baum and stone-marten, lamb and fitch. Of these skins large quanti- 

 ties are manufactured in England. The cost of the' European marten is 



