Massachusetts Trappers Association

Introduction to Fur Grading

    Fur pelts consist of three layers. There is the leather (or skin), the dense undercoat, and the long guard hairs that are water repellant, and act as a protective cover of the soft, insulating undercoat. It is the quality of that soft undercoat in proportion to the long guard hairs, that plays a large role in the 'primeness' of the pelt. Animals shed annually, but animals from the north tend to grow a heavier amount of undercoat during the colder, shorter days of winter, and therefore tend to be of greater value than those from the south.

Blue vs. Prime

    Prime: adj, First in excellence, quality, or value.
    Blue: adj, Not mature or ripe

   Whether or not a pelt is blue can be usually seen by looking at the leather side. While the coat quality plays a large role in the value of a pelt, unprime or blue pelts will have a dark discoloration of the skin. The pelt will also be thin, having insufficient guard hairs or under coat. This makes it supceptable to slippage during the tanning process, as the hair folicles are exposed. A prime pelt will have an off-white color to it, as the folicles have finished developing, and are no longer at risk. This improves the value of the hide tremendously, by reducing the risk for slippage during dressing.

    However, it is at this point in time where things start to turn. Once the folicles have finished developing, the quality of fur starts to decline. This can be due to fading, amongst other things. Raccoons during hard winter periods will often den up, urinating on eachother, and thus staining the fur. It's for this reason why some animals, like raccoons, are best harvested when they're just shy of primeness.

    Later in the winter, the guard hairs of the pelts become brittle, and often break, causing what is commonly referred to as "rubbing". As spring approaches, they will often lose some of their guard hairs through shedding, and the water animals like beaver, mink, otter, etc. will show a curling of the guard hairs (singed).

    Keep in mind that different auction houses sort differently from one another. For example, with one company, your bobcats may be split up into two groups (northern and southern), whereas another company may split cats up by region and type. During this time, the pelts will be evaluated with regards to density, color, texture, size, primeness, and damage. Then, depending on the demand for that year, projected demands for the future, and past supply and current warehouse condition, a value will be given.

    It is not uncommon to see a low price, a high price, and an average for a 'lot' of furs. This shows what the pelt of least quality fetched, the best pelt, and the average for the lot, which shows the quality of the animals submitted in general.

Density

Different pelts are used for different things in the garment industry. Heavy, thick furs are used as trim around hoods, sleeves, and other garments, whereas thinner pelts are used overall as the actual material, in Jackets and coats. This allows greater diversity, allowing the southern 'coat type' raccoons to be of as much value as the northern 'heavy' raccoons, but for different purposes. Preference and value assigned depend on the demand in the market.

Color and patterning are of great importance for some furbearers. For a long time, the darker water animals, such as beaver, muskrat and otter, were preferred. However, as the market has grown, heavy pressure from Asia has shown an interest in the lighter otters. With regard to the lighter color, more scrutiny has been given with regards to "clear pelts" (where the two levels of hair blend). Red fox come in a variety of colors, with brighter reds being preferred. Cross foxes, and silver phases can fetch good prices as well. Urine stain on raccoons will degrade the pelt. And bobcats are preferred to have spotty, light coats. The female fisher's pelt is darker, and while smaller than the male, a much richer color, and therefore preferred.

Raccoon, Fisher, Beaver and Otter, all of these pelts are believed by some to be best harvested just prior to full primeness. Raccoon will often lose a good deal of the guard hairs due to rubbing later in the winter months, thus compromising the texture. Beaver and Otter are often subject to singeing, or curling of the guard hairs, later in the year. And while the male fisher may have more in size, the female has a much silkier, desireable coat.

Your pelts will be graded according to size. These measurements (S, M, L, XL) will be based on the length and width measurements, and vary by species and origin. Beavers, for example, that measure over 65 inches (length + width), are referred to as 'Blankets'. ers to a stretched and dried pelt measuring over 65 inches, length and width combined. Generally the larger the pelt, the better the value, however this is not always the case (see above with fisher).

Damage comes in degrees. As your pelts are divided and scored, the best will be referred to as I's, or I pt. II's. These are top quality (the best of the best being referred to as 'top lot'). These are the best pelts received of the season, and usually only comprise of maybe 20-30% of the pelts for the year. II's are coat-type raccoons, slightly rubbed pelts, of less desirable color, or slightly damaged, but still of value and use. III's and IV's are low-grades. III's are often blue or heavilly singed. IV's are often damaged and of very little value. These will fetch a low price, and be used mostly for trim.