54 BULLETIN 1151, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
frame is inserted into a pelt and a wedge is forced in to stretch it 
tight there will be no overlapping of the boards. By varying the size 
of the wedge this device may be used for pelts of different sizes. No 
more stretching should be done than is required to bring the skin into 
natural shape. Undue st retelling detracts from the value of the pelt. 
To allow the skin to dry the hind legs and tail are fastened to the 
frame, by means of small strips of wood and tacks, and the front 
legs are tacked to small pieces of wood, as illustrated in Plate III, 
Figure 2. 
A tablespoon is used as a scraper to flesh the skin and remove 
any excess fat. Scraping should not be so close as to remove not only 
alf of the fat but part of the membrane also, for this will cause the 
skin to shrink from the roots of the guard hairs, permitting them 
to be pulled out. thus limiting the life of the pelt. Fur buyers look 
for this defect, and skins having it are severely cut in price. 
After the skin has been fleshed and dried on the frame for a day 1 
or so it may be taken off, turned fur side out, and immediately re- 
placed. After another day or two it should be again removed and 
hung on a rope to finish drying. The drying takes about four or 
five days, and should not be hurried by placing the skin near artifi- 
cial heat, as this has a tendency to injure it. 
After the skin is thoroughly dry it is shaken vigorously and 
worked with the hand to make it pliable. It is then brushed with 
a stiff brush and rubbed with burlap to remove all foreign material. 
A comb may be used, if necessary, to remove dead hairs. All clean- 
ing is done by hand and no chemicals should be applied to the pelt. 
Frequent handling and brushing at this time does not injure the 
pelt, but rather puts it in better condition for the raw-fur market. 
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD PELT. 
In general, the main thing to be kept in mind in judging a silver 
fox pelt is quality, and this is affected by many factors. First, the 
pelt must be prime. This is determined by examining the skin side, 
which, if the pelt is fresh, should be fairly white or cream-colored 
and show some " life " when handled. The skin of a fox pelt turns 
yellow with age and loses its firmness. The fur side should be per- 
fectly and evenly furred all over, both on the back and on the belly, 
with the fur reasonably long, lustrous, and silky. The brush should 
be sufficiently long to maintain a balance with the rest of the pelt and 
should carry a white tip 2 to 4 inches long. There should be no 
rubbed spots or defects. 
Clearness of color is the second factor determining the quality of 
a pelt. Whether the pelt is classed as black, extra dark, dark silver, 
or pale, it must be bright and clear in its color phase, that is, there 
should be no tinge or rust to give the characteristic chocolate or 
brownish cast. Careful fur buyers make a greater cut in the price 
of a pelt having a rust or tinge than for any other defect. As a rule, 
more is paid for a clear, bright-colored pelt that is not so well furred 
than for a well-furred skin that has a brownish or faded appearance. 
Size is the last consideration in valuing a pelt. A difference of 
3, 4. or 5 inches in size does not reduce the value of a skin, provided 
it lias the right quality. An extra-large pelt is not desirable, for 
the principal reason that it is not becoming to the average wearer. 
