Mackinaw.--I mentioned that, in my trip to Lake Superior, I was
accompanied by a gentleman attached to the American Fur Company, who
have a station at this island. I was amusing myself in their
establishment, superintending the unpacking and cleaning of about forty
or fifty bales of skins, and during the time collected the following
information. It is an average computation of the furs obtained every
year, and the value of each to the American Fur Company. The Hudson Bay
Company are supposed to average about the same quantity, or rather more;
and they have a larger proportion of valuable furs, such as beaver and
sable, but they have few deer and no buffalo. When we consider how
sterile and unfit for cultivation are these wild northern regions, it
certainly appears better that they should remain as they are:--
+====================+=======+====================+
YSkins. Y YAverage value. Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YDeer, four varietiesY150,000Y45 cents per lb. Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YBuffalo Y 35,000Y5 dollars per skin Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YElk Y 200Y Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YBeaver Y 15,000Y4.5 dollars per lb. Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YMusk Rat Y500,000Y12 cents per skin Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YOtters Y 5,000Y6.5 dollars per skinY
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
Y Y 2,500Y2 do. Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YMartin or Sable Y 12,000Y2 do. or more Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YMink Y 10,000Y Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YSilver and Black FoxY 15Y Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YCrop Fox Y 100Y4 dollars per skin Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YRed Fox Y 3,000Y1 do. Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YGrey Fox Y 1,000Y1.5 do. Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YPrairie Fox Y 5,000Y.5 do. Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YBears Y 4,000Y4.5 do. Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YLynx Y 500Y2.5 do. Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YWild Cat Y 2,000Y2.5 do. Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YRacoon Y 70,000Y.5 do. Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YWolves Y 12,000Y.5 do. Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YWolverein Y 50Y2.5 do. Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YPanthers Y 50Y Y
+--------------------+-------+--------------------+
YBadgers Y 250Y.25 do. Y
+====================+=======+====================+
besides skunks, ground-hogs, hares, and many others. These are priced
at the lowest: in proportion as the skins are finer, so do they yield
higher profit. The two companies may be said to receive, between them,
skins yearly to the amount of from two to three millions of dollars.