184 FERRET FACTS AND FANCIES. 



ago. No doubt were a bunch of several hundred 

 prime ferret skins offered to some manufacturing 

 furrier even now he would see their worth and 

 buy. 



The ferret is in reality a fur-bearing animal, 

 being known to the fur trade in Europe by the 

 name of fitch. Kemember that ferrets were 

 brought to America from Europe where they 

 were known as fitch or fitch-ferret. In other 

 words the animal is called fitch in Europe and 

 ferret in America. The fur is called fitch in 

 Europe where upwards of 100,000 skins are used 

 annually, although the price has been low. It 

 may not be generally known, nevertheless it is a 

 fact, that thousands of these skins are sent each 

 year to this country. 



The fact that fitch or ferret (whichever name 

 is used) are white and brown and that by cross- 

 ing various colors or rather shades can be raised, 

 should not be overlooked. This enables the 

 breeder to raise the colors selling best. When 

 the fur value reaches something like fl.OO, even 

 for best, they will offer money making possibili- 

 ties, for the fur only, as two litters can be raised 

 in a year. The raiser for fur will have a cash 

 market for all produced and need not advertise 

 to sell as is now necessary in most instances. 

 Again the raiser for fur will find that the second 



