498 
for all species ran less than 1 per cent. A 
few trappers reported taking lice-infested 
minks, which were thinly furred and of 
poor quality. Some of the mink pelts 
showed wounds, evidently the result of 
chewing or scratching irritated spots. 
Some account was taken of unusual 
skins observed in various fur-receiving and 
storage rooms, or reported by dealers. 
Such pelts usually bring less than furs of 
Ittinois Naturat History SURVEY BULLETIN 
Vol. 22, Art. 6 
muskrats at the rapid rate of 60 per hour. 
In Illinois, most trappers visit their 
traps daily, usually as early in the morn- 
ing as possible. Unlike north-woods trap- 
pers, few have lines so long as to require 
more than a half day to cover them. Lines 
run early in the day result in fewer es- 
capes, less damaged fur, less theft and, of 
course, much less suffering on the part of 
captured animals. Furbearers still alive 
Table 21.—Percentages of raw skunk furs of five different qualities, judged on the basis of 
color alone, from the three Illinois trapping zones, 1938-39 and 1939-40. Figures furnished by 
fur dealers. 
ZONE BLAack STAR 
Northern ae, =e 4 3 
Gén tral ae oe 3 7 
Southern... au. =. 9 14 
Suort Stripe |NARROW STRIPE| BROAD STRIPE 
22 Bg 32 
35 Ap! 23 
58) Das 23 
normal color, but it should be remembered 
that they make up an exceedingly small 
part of the total catch. This information 
may be presented as follows: 
Muskrat—albino, and a dappled color. 
Opossum—albino, white (not albino), 
black and rufus. 
Raccoon — albino, cinnamon-albino, 
black, and yellowish. 
Skunk—albino, russet, and broad stripe 
extending around under tail with white 
spots on abdomen. 
Mink—albino, sorrel, and “cotton.” 
Coyote—one odd pelt evidently result- 
ing from coyote-dog cross. 
Handling 
Despite the more or less standardized 
system of grading furs according to size 
and quality, there is a surprising laxity 
among trappers in handling skins, which 
has very important effects on quality. 
Carelessness, most often characteristic of 
boy and nonprofessional fur-takers, is due 
to several reasons: lack of individual skill ; 
rush of work, particularly during the 
early part of the season; and ignorance 
or shiftlessness. Professional trappers take 
pride in handling their catches and some 
of them possess great skill in skinning 
and stretching, fig. 33. Many trappers 
are able to skin a muskrat properly in 45 
seconds and to stretch it in less time. 
Some experienced trappers regularly skin 
are killed by the trapper, usually by 
drowning if convenient, but often with a 
hatchet, club or small rifle. Most skunks 
are shot and most opossums are dispatched 
by breaking the neck with a stick or 
hatchet handle placed across it. Mud- 
coated animals are washed, either in a 
pond or creek or under a faucet. Skin- 
ning, except by the most successful musk- 
rat trappers along the Illinois River, 1s 
seldom done in the field. Skinning and 
stretching are thus usually reserved as 
afternoon or evening work. 
All Illinois furs except raccoon are 
“cased,” that is, not split down the belly. 
Stretching cased skins is by means of 
boards or metal frames of such sizes and 
shapes as to fit the various sizes of skins. 
Muskrat pelts may be stretched on wire 
frames, purchased for a few cents each, 
or on shingles, willow boughs or other 
devices. Wooden forms are usually em- 
ployed for the larger species such as foxes. 
Raccoons, except the better quality north- 
ern skins, which grade as “collar” coons, 
are usually stretched open, and a very 
large percentage are nailed on barn doors 
or comparable stretching surfaces. The 
removal of excess flesh and fat from 
freshly skinned pelts is necessary to pre- 
vent spoilage and “‘grease burning.” ‘The 
survey disclosed that many trappers were 
careless in this phase of pelt care. The 
resultant loss probably amounted to 10 per 
cent of the value of the annual catch. 
