530
Class 16.—'LEATHER, SADDLERY, BOOTS AND SHOES,Areas G. H. I. J. 10 to 14.
[United
Chinese markets, being highly prized in these countries.The cross and red fox are used by the Chinese , Greeks,Persians , &c., for cloak-linings and for trimming dresses.The white and blue fox is used in this and other coun-tries for ladies’ wear. In the sumptuary laws passed inthe reign of Henry III. , the fox is named with other fursthen in use.—J. A. N.]
6. Group of otter ( Lutra Canadensis).
[The Hudson’s Bay North American and European otters are chiefly exported for the use of the Russians ,Chinese , Greeks, and others, for caps, collars, trimmingnational dresses, robes, &c. Upwards of 500 otters, theproduce of Great Britain , during the last year, were ex-ported.—J. A. N.]
7. Group of beaver ( Castor Americanus).
[The beaver in former years was one of the Hudson’sBay Company’s most valuable productions; but since itsuse has been almost entirely discontinued in the manu-facture of hats, it has lost much of its value. Experimentshave, however, been made, and with prospect of success,to adapt its fine and silky wool to weaving purposes.The skin of the beaver is prepared by a new process, afterwhich the surface is cut by a new and ingenious machine,and the result is a beautiful fur for ladies’ wear. It isexported in its prepared state to various parts of Europe and the East. The rich white wool from the under partof the beaver is largely exported to France.—J. A. N.]
8. Group of lynx (Felts Canadensis).
9. ,, lynx cat (Felts Bitfa).
[Both the above furs, when dyed, were formerly muchused. It is still dyed and prepared, and exported inlarge numbers for the American market. In its naturalstate, it is a greyish white, with dark spots, and is usedby the Chinese, Greeks, Persians , and others, for cloaks,linings, facings, &c.: it is very soft, warm, and light.The fur formerly called the lueern is the lynx.—J. A. N.]
10. Group of wolf (Canis Occidentals).
11. ,, fisher (Mustela Canadensis).
12. „ wolverin (Gulo luscus).
[The wolves are generally used as cloak and coat liningsin Russia , and other cold countries; also for sleigh-coverings, and open travelling carriages. The other skinsenumerated are principally used for trimmings, linings,&c. The tail of the fisher is very valuable, and exclusivelyused by the Jews.—J. A. N.]
13. Group of badger (Taxidea Labradoria).
[The North American badger is exported for generalwear; its soft fine fur renders it suitable for that purpose.The European badger, on the contrary, from the natureof its hair, is extensively used for the manufacture ofshaving brushes.—J. A. N.]
16. Group of musquash, or musk-rat (Fiber zibethicus)-
[The musquash, orlarge American musk-rat, is importedinto this country in immense numbers: it was formerlymuch used in the manufacture of hats, but the introduc*tion of the silk hat has entirely superseded its use; afldthe fur is employed for wear after having undergone pi' e “paration.—J. A. N.]
17. Group of weenusk (Arctomys empetra).
18. ,, swan (Cygnus ferns).
19. ,, white hare (Lepus glacialis).
20. ,, rabbits (Lepus Americanus ).
[The Hudson’s Bay rabbit is one of the least valuableskins imported by this Company: like all furs from th 0Polar regions, its hair is fine, long, and thick, but th 0skin is so fragile and tender that it is almost useless.-J. A. N.]
21. Group of black bear (Ursus Americanus).
22. ,, brown bear ( Ui'uss, var. Americanus).
23. ,, grey bear (Ursus ferox).
[The large North American black bear is technicallytermed the army bear, because it is generally usedmilitary purposes in this and other countries, for cap 8 *
pistol-holsters, rugs, carriage hammereloths, sleigli cove 1 "ings, &c. The fine black cub bears are much sough*after in Russia for making shube-linings, coat-liningtrimmings, facings, &c. The other sorts, with the lafS®grey bears, for sleigh-coverings and accompaniments,
The white Polar bear, the supply of which is very limitedis generally made into rugs, which are often border‘dwith the black and grey bear. The brown or Isabel! 0bear is at the present time used for ladies’ wear ^America.—J. A. N.l
24. Group of sea-otter (Eutrydra maritima).
[The sea-otter is most sought after by the traders, ° paccount of its great commercial value: it is said to be th eroyal fur of China , and is much used by the officers 0state, mandarins, &c. It is in great esteem in Russia and principally worn by gentlemen for collars, cu# s *facings, trimmings, &c. On account of its great weightit is rarely used by ladies.—J. A. N]
25. Group of swan quills.
26. ,, goose quills.
27. „ isinglass in its natural state.
[This specimen is in its original state; by a subsequ 0 * 1process it is prepared for domestic use.—J. A. N.]
•301a Nicholay, John Aug., & Son, 82 Oxford Sired'Collectors, Importers, Manufacturers, &c.
Selected from Canadian importation, with the assist^of C. M. Lampson, Esq.
(Main Avenue, West.)
iCl
14. Group of martin or sable [Mustela mantes).
[The Hudson’s Bay martin is consumed in large quan-tities in this country, in France, and in Germany . Thelining of a mantle made of black sables, with whitespots, and presented by the Bishop of Lincoln to Henry I. ,was valued at 1001. In Henry the Eighth’s reign, asumptuary law confined the use of the fur of sables to thenobility above the rank of viscounts.—J. A. N.]
15. Group of mink (Mustela vison).
[The mink is exclusively the produce of the Hudson’sBay possessions and North America ; it is consumed inEurope in immense numbers, principally for ladies’ wear.—J. A. N.]
28. Group of racoon (Procyon lator).
[The finest racoon furs are produced in North and are imported into this country in immense numb el jThey are purchased here by the merchants who att eI \the periodical fur sales, and who dispose of large quantd 1 .^at the great fair at Leipsic: they are principally used ^Russia, and throughout Germany , for lining shubes $coats, and are exclusively confined to gentlemen’s .The dark skins are the choicest, and are very valuable- 1
29. Group of cat lynx (Felis Rufa).
30. Group of mink [Mustela vison).
31. Group of grey fox ( Vulpis Virginianus). ^