Copper Country Trappers

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Title: Copper Country Trappers
Photographer: Unknown
Subject Headings: Persons, Manners and Customs - Recreation - Wildlife-Related Recreation - Hunting,
Condition: Good
Description: Sign of the times? - $640 in 1947 - $71 today...that is the predicament the beaver trappers are in. Copper Country trappers are shown having their pelts tagged by the Conservation Dept. ready for sale to fur buyers. Beaver trappers who came and went often took their pelts with them rather than "give them away" for the price offered by buyers. [Image of some of the trappers displaying their pelts. Please see comment section for additional information.]
Source of Description: Daily Mining Gazette - April 26, 1958 [Cataloger]
Institution: Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections
Donor: Robert Skuggen
Date of Photo: Saturday April 26 1958
Medium: still image
Color: black and white
Size: 14.1 cm x 19.9 cm
Polarity: Positive
Image No: MS051-15-02-04
Collection Name: Daily Mining Gazette Photograph Collection
Terms of Use: Rights to reproduce and distribute this image may be restricted. Contact the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections for further information.
User Comments:
• In front of photo is trapper Warner Jutila, left, of Jacobsville, who came with six beaver pelts and an otter. He got less than $100. In 1947 he'd receive $280. At right is Ivar Heikkinen of Star Route, Pelkie. He had seven beaver and an otter. Together with a companion, they had 15 beaver and an otter for which they received $71. In 1947 the sum would have been $640. The depressed market was due to decreased demand and imports from Siberia. Others in photo are from left, seated, Charles Palo, Lake Linden, Joel Kangas, Baltic and Walter F. Nelms, all three of the Michigan Department of Conservation; Waino Korri of Calumet, John F. Sullivan of Lake Linden, and Arnold Klatzky of Hancock, all three are buyers of furs. Standing at left is Earl Clarke, Houghton, vice president of Northern Michigan Sportsmen's Assn. These men gathered in the Houghton Fire Hall to tag and sell their pelts. (Daily Mining Gazette article, Saturday, April 26, 1958, page 7.)
8/23/2007 9:16:52 AM by Christine Holland, Archives