28 FERRET FACTS AND FANCIES. 



total is 4,000 young producing females. Say 

 they raise five each the first litter and the total 

 young is 20,000. Perhaps half or 2,000 are bred 

 again. The second litters do not average so 

 many. It is probable the average will be only 2^ 

 or 5,000. This brings the number raised to 

 25,000, and assuming that the same number will 

 be kept another year for breeders, would leave 

 25,000 for sale. 



At the highest tide of the industry it is esti- 

 mated that 35,000 were shipped during a single 

 season. The average is considerable less, being 

 around 20,000 annually. The largest single 

 shipment was one made the season of 1914 of 

 several hundred and valued at |1,500.00. 



Ferret raising, like other enterprises, has its 

 dark side, for all who engage do not succeed — 

 neither do they in other lines. Yet the wonder- 

 ful success made by a few caused others without 

 any ferret knowledge to engage in the business. 

 Many such, after a year or two, quit. Those 

 who today are making a success, study the ani- 

 mals and look after them closely. 



In the first years of the business Mr. Farns- 

 worth arranged with farmers to raise for him, 

 paying 50 cents for the young in the early fall. 

 At that season there was ready sale at |2.00 

 each or better, so that it was easy money for the 



