, fox and skunk begin to fade, or
become rubbed, while the mink that is caught in October, has nearly
its full amount of fur. Still, the flesh side of the skin is a little
dark, which gives the dealer a chance to quote the skins as unprime,
notwithstanding the pelt has its full value as to fur purpose. And as
to furs caught in March, the dealer has a chance to quote "springy."

And brother trappers of the States, do not put off your shipments of
furs until late in March. It has been my experience where furs are
shipped late in the spring, the returns are marked "springy,"
"rubbed," etc., notwithstanding the skins, or at least part of them,
may have been caught in December or January.

Comrades, let us work for our own interest, for no one will do it for
us. And, Comrades, you are certainly aware that the dog man is
playing every card to put the trapper in the hole.

* * *

Comrades of the trap line and trail, I wish to ask your ideas as to
whether it is advisable to stick to the taking of the fur and game
late and early, all the year around. We know that we all like the
sport, and the trapper is a little greedy, as well as people of other
occupations. But, is it wise to take a mink, fox or other fur bearing
animal so late or early in the season that the skin is not worth more
than one-third of what the same skin would have brought in a prime
condition?

On the 18th day of March, 1912, a neighbor, who had put in many a day
on the trap line with the writer, a man who with his three younger
brothers makes a business of trapping every season and makes good
money, came to my house with a female fox skin that he had just
caught. I glanced at the skin and remarked that the skin was of but
little value. My friend replied in an angry tone, "No. It ain't!" And
that is not the worst of it--she would have soon had five young
foxes. I said, "You will keep it right up, won't you, Fred." "No, I
am done now," he answered. But I said, "Fred, that is what you say
every year."

The skin was large for a female fox, and had it been caught any time
from November to the last of January, it would have brought five or
six dollars; but the best that he could get for the skin was three
dollars. This is only one case of many, which came under my
observation, and especially in the case of taking skunks after they
are so badly rubbed that they will not bring more than half the price
of prime skins.

Now in the case mentioned above, of the