CHAPTER XXIV 



MARTEN 



The marten is more generally known by the trade name of Hudson 

 Bay sable. It belongs to the same family as the Russian sable, in 

 fact it is difficult to tell some fine Hudson Bay sable from the Russian 

 sable. The Russian sable is usually a little deeper in fur. The 

 marten is found throughout Canada, but the larger and finer speci- 

 mens come from Alaska. They are also very plentiful in the western 

 states, especially in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Mon- 

 tana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado, in the states along 

 the Canadian border, and are found as far soi^th as the Adiron- 

 dack Mountains in New York. Like the mink, which it very closely 

 resembles in size and color, it avoids human habitation. 



Some trappers believe that the marten migrates in large numbers 

 for the reason that one season in a district the catch will be very 

 large, and the next year there will not be a marten to be found, and 

 none will be seen until the tenth year, when they will come again in 

 large quantities. They seem to migrate in cycles of ten years. 

 This seems to be especially true in certain parts of Canada and 

 Alaska and no one seems to know where they go to during the nine 

 year period when they are not plentiful. 



Some of the most beautiful Hudson Bay sable come from Labra- 

 dor. They are as fine in quality and almost as silky as the Russian 

 sable. In fact they are better than the Amur class of Russian sable. 

 Very fine colored skins, as well as fine in quality are found in the 

 Stewart River section of Yukon Territory, and also in Alberta and 

 Manitoba, and a great many very fine specimens of marten are 

 trapped in British Columbia. 



The marten found in our western states are known as the pine 

 marten. They differ somewhat from the Alaskan or Canadian 

 marten. The underside along the neck and breast is quite an 

 orange yellow color. The rest of the body is similar to the Canadian 

 or Alaskan marten, except that the fur is not as deep, the color is 

 not as lustrous, and the quality not so good. 



The marten usually lives in trees and is not fond of open country. 

 It ranges through thickets, and is a wonderfully quick climber. 



