80 THE TRAPPER'S ART. 



its fur changes to a delicate cream-colored white, on all parts 

 of the body except the tip of the tail, which retains its black 

 color and forms a fine contrast to the rest of the body. It is 

 only in the coldest portions of Norway, Sweden, Russia, and 

 Siberia that the Ermine becomes sufficiently blanched in win- 

 ter to become of any commercial value. Russian Asia fur- 

 nishes the greater portion of those caught. In England the 

 Ermine, when in its summer coat, is commonly called the 

 Stoat, and, on account of its predaceous habits, is thoroughly 

 detested. 



Ermine fur was formerly monopolized by the royal families 

 and nobility of Europe, but now finds its way into the gen- 

 eral markets. 



The same general methods should be pursued in trapping 

 the Ermine as in the case of the mink and marten. 



THE FISHER. 



This animal is usually called Pennant's Marten by the 

 naturalists. From some hunters it also receives the name of 

 Pekan. But in the fur-trade it is generally known as the 

 Fisher. It is strictly a North American animal, ranging from 

 the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the mountains of North 

 Carolina and Tennessee to the Great Slave Lake, and perhaps 

 still further north. 



The Fisher belongs to the weasel family, and resembles 

 both the marten and the wolverene in its habits and general 

 appearance, though much larger than the former and less 

 than the latter. Its general shape is like that of the marten, 

 but its head is more pointed, its ears are more rounded, its 

 neck, logs, and feet are stouter in proportion, and its claws 

 much stronger. An average, full-sized Fisher will measure 

 about two feet from the nose to the root of the tail. Its tail 

 is about fifteen inches in length. Its feet are large, short, and 

 stout, and thickly covered with fur and hair. The color of its 

 fur is dark brown or black, and its tail is black and bushy. 



Fishers are found chiefly in the cold, snowy regions of the 

 north, and are generally nocturnal in their habits, though less 

 so than the fox. They do not live so exclusively in the 



