ii2 THE FUR TRADE OF AMERICA 



the Northeast. The highest quotations are always for skins from 

 Canada and the Eastern United States. 



"The prime requisite for success in raising any fur-bearing 

 animals is a thorough knowledge of their habits, especially breed- 

 ing and food habits. The following notes are offered as suggestions 

 in conducting experiments with otters : 



"Otters are semi-aquatic, are powerful and rapid swimmers, 

 able to stay under water for a considerable time in pursuit of prey 

 or in escaping from enemies, but they are well adapted to dry land. 

 They make long journeys overland from one stream to another and 

 especially delight in travelling over soft snow, on which they run 

 and slide on their silky bellies with apparent enjoyment. On 

 freshly fallen snow or wet snow they often prefer this method of 

 travelling and will follow the banks of a stream for miles ; but the 

 greater part of their travelling is in the water where most of their 

 food is procured. The long flattened tail is a powerful propeller 

 and the large webbed hind feet give additional paddle surface for 

 easy and rapid progress through the water. While on dry land their 

 motions are comparatively slow and awkward ; in the water they 

 are rapid, lithe and seal-like, almost as easy and graceful and even 

 more rapid than those of many fish. Fish are pursued and caught 

 apparently in fair chase and with great ease, though it is perhaps 

 not safe to say, that all kinds are an easy prey. Otters seem to 

 be about equally active night or day, but most so in the morning 

 and evening hours." 



In 1918, shipments of Land Otter from Alaska totalled 1647. 

 Of the 161 3 sold in the spring auctions of New York in 1920 prices 

 ran from $7 to $66 — $7 being for unprime, which ought to be a 

 crime. Of the 4800 sold in St. Louis*in the spring sales, prices 

 ran about the same as in New York but not so high as in Montreal, 

 because the best Otter in the world come direct to Montreal from 

 Labrador. London's spring sales numbered about 5400 Land Otter, 

 which it may be guessed came from the Canadian market. The 

 12,000 sold in these spring sales would represent about a third of 



