THE FUR TRADE
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—I have just had a letter from a correspondent in Canada which I think would interest your readers. She writes as follows
I was very interested in your advertisement of the 'Fur Crusade' in an English paper, and wondered if you would care to have some cuttings from the Edmonton and Vancouver papers, which I am sending separately.
" Constantly coming in contact with trappers and listening to their conversation turned me against the wearing of furs, and I do not think any woman would wear furs if she knew the agony of fear and physical torture each skin represents.
" ' Fur,' as it is always called here, is getting very scarce and trappers have to go far afield now to get a fair catch. "
'Snaring, I think, is the worst form of trapping ; but they have passed a law that snares may only be used on wired-in land. The snares some used were fitted with a small triangular knife, which slowly pierced the throat, according to the struggles that the poor beast made. I asked one trapper how long it would take to kill a coyote or fox, and he thought about fifteen or twenty minutes, depending on the strength of its struggles. I have released dogs, when snared, but when the wire tightens they cease to fight, being used to chains and collars ; but a wild thing goes frantic. Good luck to your cause, and I hope that you will be successful."
I may mention that I now have nearly 100,000 leaflets in circulation, explaining about the horrors of trapping and which furs may be considered as humane. I will gladly send one to any of your readers who are interested. My efforts in this cause are only restricted by want of funds.—! am,
Previous page
