CANADIAN OTTER 101 



dition. It seems not improbable that, with dark otters from eastern 

 Canada to breed from, a high grade of fur might be produced over most 

 of the southern states where no other high-priced fur could be success- 

 fully raised. The abundance of fish and crustaceans in many of the 

 southern streams would be a distinct advantage in the way of food 

 supply, and ideal situations for otter farms could be found on hundreds 

 of streams where a few of the animals now live in the wild state. 



"For breeding purposes otters with the most valuable coats should 

 be selected, preferably the very dark individuals from eastern Canada, 

 Labrador, Newfoundland or Maine. Considerable individual variation 

 is shown and the grade of fur could doubtless be steadily improved by 

 selective breeding. The largest individuals are from Alaska and the 

 Northwest, but the skins of these are less valuable than those of the 

 smaller and darker animals of the Northeast. The highest quotations 

 are always for skins from Canada and the Eastern United States. 



"The Fur Trade Review for December, 1908, and January, 1909, 

 quotes No. 1 otter skins as follows: 



Canada and eastern $18 to $20 



Northwestern and Pacific coast $12 to $14 



Western and southwestern $10 to $12 



Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia $10 to $12 



"Otter fur in the north is at its best in December, but keeps in 

 prime condition until March. In the southern states it probably does 

 not reach its best condition before January. 



General ' "^^^ prime requisite for success in raising any fur-bearing 

 Habits animals is a thorough knowledge of their habits, especially 

 breeding 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 also well adapted to dry land. They make 

 long journeys overland from one stream to another and especially de- 

 light in travelling over soft snow, on which they run and slide on their 

 silky bellies with apparent enjoyment. On freshly fallen 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 



