Grades of Beaver

castor gras (oily beaver): beaver robes worn by the Indians for a great length of time

castor sec (dry beaver): beaver skins not previously worn, with the guard hair still on them and the fur lacking the downy character of castor gras

demi-gras d'hiver (winter half-oily): robes which the Indians were beginning to wear, and of which the skins were beginning to turn yellow--a poorer grade of beaver skin

castor gras d'été (summer oily beaver): robes which were made of skins taken in summer with very little fur, and thick pelts

castor veule (thin beaver): robes which had been scraped thin and treated, but not worn, of which the skins were white and very light

castor sec d'hiver (winter dry beaver) or bardeau (clapboard): beaver skins taken in winter which had not been made into robes, because of holes and imperfections and which were, as a result, badly prepared and very coarse

castor sec d'été (summer dry beaver): skins taken in summer

muscovie veule (thin Muscovy): beaver skins taken in winter without damage, which had large excellent fur and long hair, and was carefully prepared for the trade in Russia

mitaines (mittens) and rognures (trimmings): small pieces used for making sleeves and mittens

NOTE: The concept of beaver skins should not be reduced solely to the item itself unless one is referring to it as a commodity and its role in the fur trade as part of the first valorization scheme in North America. Beaver skins, at least the castor gras, were worn by Indians before they were traded to the French. In other words, gras (oily) refers to the suppleness of the beaver skin rendered after long contact with the skin of an Indian wearing it. The Indians at first were puzzled by the traders' desire for worn-out beaver robes.

Innis makes it quite clear in his masterful work, The Fur Trade in Canada, that the Indians were the first consumers in North America. They valued the goods they received from the French and English, especially those made of iron.

Can we consider the manufacture of discarded beaver robes into hats in Europe as the first instance of recycling?