176 MUSTELADJi. 



The method which has been recommended to train 

 them to this purpose is as follows: — They should be 

 procured as young as possible, and they are at first fed 

 with small fish and water. Then bread-and-milk is to be 

 alternated with the fish, and the proportion of the former 

 gradually increased till they are led to live entirely on 

 bread-and-milk. They are then taught to fetch and carry, 

 exactly as dogs are trained to the same trick ; and when 

 they are brought to do this with ease and docility, a leather 

 fish stuffed with wool is employed for the purpose. They 

 are afterwards exercised with a dead fish, and chastised if 

 they disobey or attempt to tear it ; and finally, they are 

 sent into the water after living ones. In this way, 

 although the process is somewhat tedious, it is believed 

 that the Otter may be certainly domesticated, and rendered 

 subservient to our use. 



The fur of the Otter is very much valued in many 

 other countries, but has been less employed in England. 

 Great numbers of the skins of the American Otter are 

 annually imported here, to be again exported to the 

 North of Europe, &c.* 



The female goes with young nine weeks, and produces 

 from three to five young ones, in March or April. The 

 nest is formed of grass and other herbage, and is usually 

 placed in some hole in the bank of a river, protected 

 either by the overhanging of the bank, or by the pro- 

 jecting roots of a tree. 



The habits of the Otter, and its rank fishy taste, have 



* The numljer of Otter-skins imported into this country in 



1830 was 713,115 



1831 „ 494,067 



1832 ,, 222,493 



1833 „ 23,889 



After September 1st, 1833, the duty was reduced from ^d. each to Is. per 

 hundred, since which we believe the importation has gradually increased. 



