THE RARE FURS OF THE WEASEL FAMILY 107 



tinged in his pelt, unneedful of dyes. He is handsome, bold, a tree 

 climber, a hunter, a fighter and a robber baron of all other animals' 

 stores and baits. He eats fish, flesh, herring, mice, rabbits, squirrels, 

 birds, snakes, eggs, frogs, toads, moles. He can live in a marsh, 

 or he can live next door to the marmot — whom he will eat — in 

 a rocky burrow, or he will climb up and take his day sleep in a tree. 

 He ranges from New York to the Pacific Coast far north as Alaska. 

 Yet it is seldom more than 10,000 of this long black snaky deep 

 furred fellow are taken in America in a year. His length is given as 

 24 inches in body with a 14- to 18-inch tail, which he curls round 

 his toes for warmth. 



Fishers, or pekans, are always favorites of the fur trader and will 

 be to the end of time. They are the biggest and most durable — 

 except otter — of all the weasel furs. They are known as "black 

 marten," "pennant marten," "cat marten"; and they are true 

 martens in all but color, which is a jet black, or black brown. 



I find less known of the fisher's habits than any other fur bearer ; 

 and I can recall having seen only one in wild life — and it was a 

 vanishing black streak making from a pond for the woods. 



Can the weasel family be fur farmed ? 



After the record in silver fox, I should not like to answer that. 

 The next ten years will answer the question. 



Mr. Ned Dearborn, Assistant Biologist of the Bureau in Wash- 

 ington, gives the following facts as to the weasel fur bearers : 



"The Marten's size is about twice that of minks. The fur 

 which is very soft, somewhat resembling that of foxes, is about i| 

 inches long when prime. The color varies, individually, from 

 pale gray to orange brown and dark brown. 



"The color of fishers varies from grayish brown to nearly black. 

 The fur when fully developed measures about i\ inches in length. 



"The cost of installing and stocking a mink or skunk ranch 

 is comparatively small, depending somewhat on location. Material 

 for a single pen for either of these animals can be bought for about 

 $2. Minks (live), usually sell at from $8 to $12 each and skunks 



