--- In cybalist@..., "tgpedersen" <tgpedersen@...> wrote:
> > BTW on that subject, the only animal hide that doesn't
> > need "carroting" with a mercury compound (done on the hide
> > itself, which is then shaved, and the shaved-off hair is
> > then pounded to become felt) is that of the beaver. Which
> > means that carroting may have been invented to compensate
> > for a decreasing supply of beaver hides. So if one wants
> > to place the appearance of mad, red pointed-hat Magi, look
> > for where and when the beaver went extinct. It can't
> > have been hunted for anything but that.
Not at all Torsten. It's my understanding that men have been
pursuing beaver for a very long time, and not just for wearing
on the head. As I understand it, the pursuit of beaver is also
common the world over. It's very widespread (the pursuit that
is, not always the beaver, although probably necessarily so
when worn on the head). In any case, you Europeans sure are a
progressive lot! While pounding beaver hair is allowed here in
the U.S., I don't believe that it's yet legal to apply mercury
compounds to one's beaver, at least not in several states. Does
it really turn them red? Well, thanks for all the information.
I'm sure that at least a few list members were wondering how
they might manage to get some beaver felt.
David