4 



farmers' BULLETm 832. 



B672M 



Fig. 2.— Ridges made in a field by the mole of the Northwestern States. These are so conspicuous that it 

 is an easy matter to know where to set traps. 



MOLESKINS IN THE TRADE. 



Moleskin garments have been fashionable in this country, particu- 

 hirly in the larger eastern cities, for several years and fur dealers con- 

 sider it probable that undressed mole pelts will continue indefinitely 

 to have a inarketable value, the value fluctuating, of course, with the 

 demands of fashion. In England, Scotland, and some of the con- 

 tinental coast countries moles are trapped extensively both for their 

 pelts and for the private bounties paid for their extermination on 

 certain estates. The sole source of supply of moleskins for use by 

 manufacturing furriers of this country hitherto has been the pelts 

 of the European mole, obtained through importations from London. 

 In a period when moleskin garments are in fashion the volume of 

 business in furs of this class wiU reach two or three million doUars 

 annually. 



AMERICAN MOLESKINS. 



The Biological Survey has found that the skins of certain American 

 moles are of much greater value for the furrier's purposes than those 

 of the European species. They should therefore be classed by them- 

 selves. This apphes particularly to the skins of the common large 

 mole of western Washington and Oregon,^ which are larger and have 

 better texture and fur than those of Europe.^ Since this fact has 



1 Scapanus townscndii and other species. 



2 Talpa euTopxa. 



