FERRETS AS FUR BEARERS. 185 



litters can be had much later than when breeding 

 for hunting purposes. Ferrets attain full size, if 

 well cared for, in three months. Allow four, and 

 second litters born any time in September, will 

 be grown by January. Most of the second litters 

 will be born by August so that by December they 

 will be ready to kill for pelts. 



One difficulty with second litters when raised 

 for rats or rabbits is, that should the market be 

 supplied, the expense of keeping another season 

 will be considerable. With a market for fur any 

 and all not sold for hunting can be killed, skinned 

 and pelts sold. 



As various fur animals are becoming more 

 scarce, ferret fur will gradually rise in price. 

 The day perhaps is not far distant when hun- 

 dreds of thousands of skins will be sold to the 

 fur trade and at prices probably equal to what 

 the live animals sell for now. Ferret pelts to the 

 value of f 1,000,000 yearly may be a reality soon. 



