INTRODUCTION, 



no business of tlie importance of the ferret 

 industry has received so little attention 

 and notice especially from the press. 

 Fur Raising, Ginseng and Golden Seal 

 Culture, Game Growing, Fish Culture have all 

 been given a good deal of attention from news- 

 papers, magazines and books upon the several 

 industries as well as publications devoted en- 

 tirely to these special lines. Although the ferret 

 industry, in America, is really yet in its infancy 

 the business is of much more importance than 

 generally realized. Perhaps there is no better 

 way to illustrate the extent to which even now 

 ferrets are raised, sold and used than to call 

 especial attention to Chapter II — Ferretville. 



Ferrets are a domesticated wild animal. I 

 have seen more than one raiser pick up, with 

 bare hand, old ferrets, handling or wooling them 

 around. The ferrets apparently enjoying it. At 

 the approach of the owner or raiser they usually 

 come to him, or as close as the wire screen will 

 allow, jumping up or clinging to the wire and 

 otherwise showing their friendliness. 



11 



