FERRETS AS FUR BEARERS. 183 



1900 was worth only about 10 cents but during 

 the years of 1904-5 was worth fl.OO and later sold 

 as high as |1.50 for the choicest skins. 



Ferret is undoubtedly the best furred pelt not 

 now in general use. Brown weasel and the com- 

 mon rabbit, both used to some extent, do not com- 

 pare at all with ferret skins. While this article 

 after it does come into use is not apt to command 

 a fancy price or even a moderately high one, yet 

 at 50 cents to |1.00 would offer an outlet should 

 the market for live ones become overstocked, a 

 condition which so far has never occurred. In 

 fact the demand is usually greater than the sup- 

 ply. Again the fur market would be a means of 

 getting rid of any too old for hunters, etc. 



There is no denying that certain of the fur 

 bearing animals are gradually being reduced in 

 numbers. In fact such applies to nearly all 

 species. On the other hand the use of furs has 

 wonderfully increased of recent years. The hun- 

 dreds of thousands of automobiles now in use 

 mean more furs sold such as fur coats, muffs, 

 gauntlets, robes, etc. Remember that no small 

 per cent of the autos are in use winter as well 

 as summer. Again America's population is in- 

 creasing fast but the wild fur bearers are be- 

 coming less. Many different kinds of fur skins 

 now have a market value that did not a few years 



