CHAPTER XXXI.
PRICES FOR WORK.
To those who hope to coin spare hours into dollars and cents, or others who must make a hobby pay its own expenses at least, an important question is, what is my work worth?
And one will concede that a taxidermist should receive at least as much as a skilled mechanic and the experts both in commercial and museum work are sometimes (not always) highly paid.
What seems the fairest method of compensation is by "piece work" and most custom taxidermy is handled on that basis. Most professionals have a regular scale of prices which, while necessarily more or less elastic, will give the public an estimate of cost.
The schedule which I give is, I think, about that in use in the Eastern States. The outside prices are for extra large specimens or those mishandled or injured so as to require an extra expenditure of time to give satisfaction.
PRICES FOR MOUNTING SPECIMENS.
BIRDS.
Small Wrens, Canary, $ 1.00 to $ 1.50 Robins, Jays, and similar, 2.00 to 2.50 Medium Quail, Snipe, Dove, Woodcock, 2.50 to 3.00 Large Crow, Grouse, Duck, 3.00 to 4.00 Larger Horned Owls, Fish Hawk, etc., 4.50 to 5.00 Eagle, Turkey, Pea Fowl, 10.00 to 15.00
Birds with spread wings add 25 per cent.
MAKING BIRD SKINS.
Small up to size of Sparrow, .20 Robin, Jay, etc., .25 Pigeon, Hawk, and similar, .35 Screech Owl, Green Heron, .50 Crow, Teal, .75 Large Hawks, Ducks, $1.00 Herring Gull, Eider Duck, 1.25 Great Horned Owl, Fish Hawk, 1.50 Eagle, Goose, Swan, 2.50
WHOLE ANIMALS.
Mouse, Mole, Chipmunk, $ 1.50 to $ 2.00 Squirrels, Weasels, 2.00 to 3.00 Mink, Muskrat, Opossum, Rabbit, 3.00 to 4.00 Skunk, Woodchuck, 4.00 to 5.00 Coon, Fox, Wildcat, 6.00 to 10.00 Dogs, 10.00 to 35.00 Domestic Sheep, 25.00 to 40.00 Bear, Mountain Lion, 20.00 to 75.00 Deer, Antelope, 30.00 to 75.00
Price on whole mounted specimens include rustic stands, stumps, or rock work.
HEADS.
Elk, Moose, Steer, $20.00 to 40.00 Caribou, Mountain Sheep, 15.00 to 25.00 Deer (buck), Antelope, 7.50 to 12.00 Deer (small), common sheep, 5.00 to 10.00 Bears, 7.50 to 15.00 Wolf, 5.00 to 7.50 Fox, Wildcat, Raccoon, etc., 4.00 to 6.00 Hawks, Owls, Eagles, 2.00 to 3.00 Fish, 2.00 to 5.00
Suitable shields or panels are included.
FISH, REPTILES, ETC.
Small fish, $ 2.00 to 5.00 Medium, Bass, etc., 5.00 to 10.00 Large, Tarpon, Salmon, 10.00 to 25.00 Snakes, as to size, 5.00 to 25.00 Alligators, 1.50 to 25.00
MOUNTING HORNS, INCLUDING SHIELDS.
Deer, $ 2.50 to 5.00 African Horns, 2.50 to 10.00 Cow, Steer, 2.50 to 5.00 Caribou, 3.50 to 7.00 Moose, Elk, 5.00 to 10.00
SKINS.
First column shows cost of tanning only; second of tanning, mounting 1/2 head and lining as rug; third of complete rug with open mouth.
Black Bear, $4.00 $10.00 $15.00 Mountain Lion, Jaguar, 3.00 10.00 15.00 Tiger, 5.00 15.00 20.00 Wolf, 2.00 8.00 12.00 Coyote, Lynx, 1.50 7.50 10.00 Fox, Wild Cat, Coon, House Cat 1.00 5.00 6.00 Sheep, 1.50 .... .... Goat, 1.50 8.00 .... Deer, 2.50 10.00 .... Opossum, Muskrat, .50 .... .... Mink, .75 .... .... Snake, 1.00 and up Alligator, 2.00 and up
NOVELTIES.
Deer Feet, each, $2.00 to 3.00 Moose and Elk Feet, 3.00 to 4.00
Including fittings.
ROBES.
According to size and variety of skins from $15.00 to $25.00 including tanning, sewing up and linings. The smaller skins of course require the most work.
Domesticated animals, dogs, cats, cage birds, etc., are mounted at the rates for similar sized wild specimens. Inasmuch as they are of value only for associations most taxidermists require a small advance payment on pet animals before commencing work; other work is usually C. O. D.
A discount of 10 to 20 per cent is often made for large quantity or to those in the fur trade who may be so induced to secure orders.
It would pay for at least one person in every furriers shop to have a knowledge of taxidermy and a connection with some dealer in sportsmen's goods is often of advantage.
Much of this matter of prices must be left to your own judgment. Often a fair profit can be made on work taken at a low figure during the "off season." Perishable work demanding instant attention should receive the best pay and pieces which may be picked up in odd moments, thus using time otherwise valueless, may be figured near the foot of the scale. The public appreciates work thoroughly done and it is the very best advertisement.
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