178 



FERRET FACTS AND FANCIES. 



until 1858 was skunk fur used. Such being the 

 facts, in connection with the fur trade, does it 

 appear unreasonable that ferrets will soon be 

 included in the list of fur bearing animals? 



In reply to letters of inquiry as to the fur 

 value of ferrets two of the leading dealers in 

 American raw furs located in New York City 

 wrote as follows : 



"In reply to 

 yours beg to state 

 that the ferret is 

 the same animal as 

 the European Fitch 

 except that a prime 

 fitch is heavier in 

 fur. I have no 

 doubt that they 



have been sold in Europe as Fitch but the best 

 of them known as ^halbe' in other words 

 ^halves' bringing half price. Their value here 

 has been nominally about 5 to 10 cents for the 

 last ten years." 



The other letter said: 



"It is our belief that ferrets, particularly tame 

 or raised, would hardly serve as even an imita- 

 tion of European Fitch. While both are almost 

 of one species the Stone and Baum Marten are 



THE EUROPEAN FITCH-BROWN. 



