Hunting & Trapping -- Trapping -- Furmarket

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ANIMALS	PRICES
BEAVER	Declined around 40 percent as the season advanced, and any collections caught now will be springy and of even less value. Expect tops of $20-25 for fresh goods. The market for "hatter" types was relatively stable during the season, but buyers for the more expensive beaver pelts were at times scarce. Still, beaver remains a staple of the fur trade and should continue to be worth catching.
BOBCAT	Will sell for $20 or less.
CASTOREUM	Is being purchased by speculators who are stashing the item away. Prices of $2.50-$7.50 a pound were the norm during this past season. This trend may continue for quite some time.
COYOTE	Buyer Roger Schuer, of Spokane, was hington recently noted that noted that he would be more optimistic of he wasn't holding carryover skins. To be sure, lots of coyotes remains unsold from last year, especially hte lower grades semiheavy and commercial types, and some quantities of the coarser eastern varieties. On the other hand, the extra-heavy trim goods have either been sold or dealers are asking more the manufacturing trade is willing to pay at this time. The expected tops price of $35-$45 for the very best edtra-pale Dakota/Montana/Alberta Northwestern skins. Banded belly Western and Eastern brush-wolf pelts till top at around $20, with other varieties topping at $10-$14. Lower grades and smaller sizes remain cheap.
FISHER	Continues to sell well to the Russian trim trade. Prices should hold at around $30-$40 for the females and $25-$35 for males.
Gray FOX	Will top at $8-$10 depending upon section.
LYNX CAT	Any collections yet unsold will find offers of around $75 tops for the better, pale, exdtra heavy Rocky Mountain Cat.
MARTEN	(Sable) also was disappointing last season. The marketing of this item depends heavily on Japan and Europe, especially Italy. Economic problems in both areas hurt the market for this item. Improved prices await the return of these important buyers. Any collections still around may find offers of around $20 tops on lower 48 goods, and $35 for the better Canadian/ Alaskan types.
MINK	Taken in the spring has little value. Expect prices in the fall to open at $12-$15f tops with averages under $10 in most sections.
MUSKRAT	Will openingat $2-$3.50 in the more commercial sections. Expect offers of around $5 for the better shearing rats as they become available.
NUTRIA	Well sell will, with the better section goods from Washington/Oregon hitting $10 tops at one stage in the season. The limited supply of this item should keep prices steady. Expect prices of around j$6 tops on the western types, and $4-$5 on the southern saltwater skins from coastal areas.
RED FOX	will find offers of $12-$15 tops. This item was a disappointmen for may fur buyer last season, and quantities remain unsold.
RACCOON	Pelts go mostly to Greece and Russia these days. Decline in the price of this item can be attributed to a surplus of skins. There was a carryover of skins when we entered the season, and the large harvest pushed prices lower. A contributing factor was the eagerness of dealers to sell once the price of other items began to fall. The fur trade, after all, remains susceptible to the same psychological pressure that affect all commodity trading. When a multitude of anxious dealers are willing to sell for less, there is a general downward decline in the market. It will be interesting to see if lower late-season prices result i a short catch next fall. Any raccoon furs carried over at this time may expect tops of $15 on northern heavies, up to $12 on seimiheavies, and around $8 tops on coat types. At this time, all averages will be below $10. Lower grades and smaller size skins declined drastically as the season progressed.
WEASEL	Are selling at $4-$6 for the larger varieties and $2-$3 tops on the smaller skins.