222 Out North Land. 



natives eat its flesh, which is tender, but not well-flavoured. It is 

 larger than a cat, being about three feet long. The skins have a 

 high commercial value and are always in good demand. 



Of the weasel family, the sable and ermine are of great value. 

 There is one highly-prized species of the sable found in Russia, 

 another in Japan, but that taken in the northern part of America is 

 equal to the best. An ordinary skin is worth $35, and many have 

 been obtained which command as much as $60 or $75. 



The sable loves to dwell in the mountain snow wastes where its 

 drifts, heaped about like mountains, are ever changing position and 

 shape. Here they are followed by the hunter with great difficulty, 

 and sometimes with positive danger. They have their winter homes 

 in holes in the ground or rocks, and readily disappear beneath the 

 snow on the approach of danger. They make warm nests out of 

 moss, dried leaves, etc. 



They are frequently captured in traps, and sometimes, where 

 large numbers of them dwell together, they are taken by digging 

 into their holes and catching them in nets as they are forced to 

 escape by a kind of smoke which is injected. If the unfortunate little 

 animal takes shelter in the branches of a tree, a noose is thrown 

 over its head and it is secured in that way. 



A great peculiarity of the sable fur is that it will lay any way 

 you stroke it, equally smooth. It is long in proportion to the 

 size of the animal, and extends down the limbs to the claws. It is 

 an exceedingly rich brown, mottled with white about the head, with 

 grey on the neck, and always brings high prices. 



The fisher is also much sought after, and, in the west, large num- 

 bers are annually captured. 



But even the detested polecat becomes valuable under the refin- 

 ing influence of northern snows. It is not quite so large as the 

 marten, but is more vicious, and will destroy hares with great ease. 

 It is famous, not only for its blood-thirsty disposition, but for the 

 unpleasant odour which it has the power to emit at will. When 

 wounded or annoyed in any way, it fills the air with this insuffer- 

 able odour, driving both man and beast from its vicinity. The skins 

 are valuable, and a large number are annually taken in the far north- 



