Transcribe Adams, William. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1873-12-03)

have it for 30 lbs..., putting it on Rail here for Liverpool the Cash to be sent to your agent in L'pool to be handed us on delivery.

    Next season if you wished I would endeavor to secure

for you a full grown skeleton of the Narwhal. They are however difficult to handle ^and preserve for bringing home ^ & entail a great deal of labour which would make the figure pretty high. It would not be less than 45 or 50 lbs I think, - the horn itself sells from 10/- to 11/- & weighs 18 to 20 lbs. A full grown Narwhal would measure from 16 to 18 ft exclusive of horn which I is generally apt 8 ft in length. You will have some idea of the labor & trouble when I tell you that the carcase weighs abt 1 1/2 tons. If you want me to try and secure one say if the skin is wanted as well as the Bones. I brought two Narhal foetuses with me last voyage but both turned quite putrid.

  I  generally bring from 18 to 20 Polar Bear Skins

but they are in great demand & bring high prices would cost 5 to 7 pounds according to size undressed, dressing (not mounted) 2.10/ to 3.10/ lbs. - I also sometimes have opportunities of securing Arctic Wolf & Fox skins &e.-&e. The Musk Ox I do not often come across. I shall be glad to hear further from you & meantime I Remain Yours truly Wm. </u Adams > </u Master S S Arctic > P. S.. Along with the Walrus skeleton offered You u also get its skin which has beeb very carefully taken off with flippers attached. If we do well for stuffing, one of the heads for it & the other for the skeleton making two specimens of Walrus