944 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



can companies, an average of 4,224 each year. So that the 

 average annual catch of Fishers for fur is about 8,600. 



At Lampson's annual fur sales, London, March, 1906, 

 2,211 Fisher skins were sold. (The Hudson's Bay Company 

 sold 3,010 the same month.) The highest price realized at 

 Lampson's was 52 shillings ($12.48) each for 24 first-class black 

 skins. But 30 to 40 shillings ($7.20 to ;^9.6o) were ruling 

 prices for first-class paler skins; second-class brought about 20 

 shillings ($4.80), and third-class 15 shillings ($3.60). 



Hardy says'" he once sold a few extra fine dark skins in 

 London for 100 shillings ($24), while some of the coarsest 

 and palest prime skins in the same lot did not bring over 16 to 

 20 shillings ($3.84 to ;$4.8o). 



™ See Note 4. 



