412 PROOFS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. [B, 



Furs differ in value, according to the fineness, the length, the thick- 

 ness, and the color, of their hair. The most precious is that of the 

 ermine, a species of weasel; it is thick, soft, fine, and of dazzling white- 

 ness, except the tip of the tail, which is of a glossy black color, and is 

 used to form spots on the skin. Of great value, also, are the skins of the 

 marten, the sable, the fiery fox, the silver fox, and the black fox; after 

 which come those of the sea otter, the beaver, the seal, and — though far 

 inferior to the others — of the muskrat, the raccoon, the fox, the weasel, 

 &c. Of these, the ermine is, as before said, the most precious ; the 

 muskrat is that of which the greatest quantity is collected ; while the 

 aggregate value of the beaver skins annually consumed among civilized 

 nations is greater than that of all the other furs together. 



The finer furs are principally used in Russia, Turkey, and China, — 

 in the latter country especially, where they form important portions of the 

 dress of every rich, noble, or ostentatious person. In Europe, and in the 

 United States, furs are also much worn in the shape of caps, muffs, and 

 trimmings. The greatest consumption of the inferior furs is in the man- 

 ufacture of hats, which is of comparatively modern date, and, as well as 

 the use of those articles, is confined almost entirely to Europe and 

 America. The furs mostly used for this purpose are those of the beaver, 

 the otter, the nutria, (an animal resembling the beaver, found in Patago- 

 nia,) and the muskrat; but the greater number of hats are composed 

 chiefly of wool, with or without a slight covering of fur. 



Nearly all the furs now brought into commerce are procured from the 

 countries north of the 40th parallel of north latitude, through the agency 

 of the British Hudson's Bay Company, or of the Russian American 

 Company, or by various private associations and individuals in the United 

 States. Of those obtained in the Russian dominions, some are carried 

 over land to China, others also over land to Europe, and the remainder by 

 sea to Europe. Those found in the territories of the United States are 

 nearly all carried to New York, from which portions are sent to London 

 or to Canton. The furs collected in the parts of America possessed or 

 claimed by Great Britain, are mostly shipped for London, either at Mont- 

 real, or at York Factory on Hudson's Bay, or at Fort Vancouver, at the 

 head of navigation of the Columbia River. The southern hemisphere 

 supplies scarcely any furs, except those of the nutria, of which consid- 

 erable quantities are brought from Buenos Ayres to New York or to 

 London. London is undoubtedly the most extensive mart for furs in the 

 world, and New York is probably the second; of the others, the princi- 

 pal are Leipsic, Nijney-Novogorod on the Wolga, Kiakta on the boun- 

 dary line between Russia and China, and Canton. Of the value of the 

 furs thus annually brought into trade, it is impossible to form an exact 

 estimate. According to a rough calculation, the amount received by the 

 first collectors, for the skins in their undressed state, is about three mil- 

 lions of dollars; but they afterwards pass through many hands, so that the 

 price is much enhanced before they reach the actual consumer. 



The fur trade has been, hitherto, very profitable to those engaged in it; 

 but it is now, from a variety cf causes, declining every where. The in- 

 crease in the number of persons employed in the pursuit, and the spread 

 of civilized population over the countries from which the furs are chiefly 

 procured, are rapidly diminishing the number of the animals; so that, in 

 many countries in which they formerly abounded, not one can be obtained 



