At first such a plan looks reasonable, but after looking at the suggestion from all sides it does not appear so.
In the first place prime, large mink vary in weight from 3 to 5 pounds, depending in what section caught. The five pound skin, usually from an open country, is pale and not so finely furred as a 3 pound one from the Northern New England States or Eastern Canada.
Again, were mink graded by a standard size, they would be over-stretched.
A dealer who we believe tries to treat all fairly submits the following measurements for the three sizes--large, medium and small:
Large, 22 inches long, 4 wide at tail, 3 1/2 at neck.
Medium, 18 inches long, 3 1/4 wide at tail, 2 5/8 at neck.
Small, 14 inches long, 2 3/4 wide at tail, 2 1/4 at neck.
The figures are from root of tail (tail not measured) to end of nose.
The measurements as given are intended to be general, including skins from Southern, Central, Western and Northwestern sections, with the exceptions already noted, but at the same time it must be kept in mind that all skins the same size are not worth the same.
It is a good idea to stretch the pelts as soon after removed from the animal as possible. If allowed to lay around for hours the pelt will be hard to stretch to its normal size.