114 FANCIERS’ 


of poultry. But little capital is needed in the beginning ; 
faithful care is sure to bring good results, and much pleasure 
is gained, if no profit. 
Poultry houses of all styles, from the two dollar pen to the 
five hundred dollar establishment, are going up. The man 
with small house and smaller means may produce a fowl 
that shall pay him a big bonus, and another season a larger 
house will grace his grounds. The present winter has, thus 
far, been very favorable for poultry business, and, as other 
business has been dull, it has kept the “ blues” from many 
a brain. Man must have some employment—some interest 
in something—to be happy. Fanciers are now sitting hens, 
and, in a few weeks, little chicks will furnish new employ- 
ment and create a new stock in trade. They will go hither 
and thither, like migrating birds. Hundreds will only 
live to ‘‘peep”’ disconsolately a few days, while the few are 
destined to become the pride of the fancier’s heart. 
S. B.S. 
Essex Co., Mass. 

(For Fanciers’ Journal.) 
THE OTTER. 
Mr. Epiror: 
The Otter is so seldom seen in the domesticated state that 
I suppose but few of the readers of the Fancier have ever 
seen one, and consequently must have a very indefinite, if 
not imperfect idea, of this truly wonderful creature. To 
such as are familiar with the appearance of the weasel, I 
would say that the otter is not unlike an overgrown weasel, 
both being long and slender, but the otter is of much 
larger and stronger proportions. The head of the otter is 
broad and flat, with small bright-eyes; its legs are short, 
heavy, and strong, and its feet are broad and webbed; its 
limbs are so limber and elastic as to be capable of being 
used as are the fins of fish, and his long tail is used in 
water as a rudder in turning quickly. 
Although this animal is covered with a beautiful thick fur, 
it is amphibious, inhabiting alike land and water, but when 
in water must now and then come to the surface to catch 
breath to prevent drowning. It is a very ready swimmer, as 
may be imagined when it is known that its food consists prin- 
cipally of fish, which it contrives to catch for itself. He is 
very cunning and is a close observer, and has learned that 
hungry fish always run with their heads against the current, 
so as to catch and devour anything suited to their taste that 
may float downward. The eyes of the fish are so arranged that 
they cannot see downward, while the otter’s eyes are so placed 
as to see equally well in every direction; so in seizing his 
prey he resorts to a little strategy by swimming against a 
stream, and when a fish is observed above him, he quickly 
darts upward and seizes it, carrying the fish to his rendez- 
yous for a comfortable meal. Being an adept at fishing, he 
remains in his habitation but little, spending most of his 
time in water, catching fish. His taste, too, is quite fastidi- 
ous, as he only devours the most dainty parts, such as the 
flaky portions about the shoulders and along the back, leay- 
ing the remainder for birds and fish-loving creatures. There 
are times when he is not so dainty and cannot find fish to 
eat; then he perambulates dry land and searches for a farm- 
yard, seizing such prey as he can make off with. hen 
he cannot find fish or meat to satisfy his appetite, he is con- 
tent to devour vegetables or gnaw the bark of roots of trees. 
The otter is found in Europe, Asia, and in North and 
South America. His home is usually in a hole in the bank 


JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 
of some stream, the entrance of which is always under water, 
with its course deviating upward in order to insure a dry 
sleeping place above the water’s level. 
Instances are recorded where otters have been caught, 
when quite young, and domesticated; they are said to be 
quite frolicsome, playing and gamboling like a kitten. They 
have also been trained to catch fish for their master, but 
writers agree that it is difficult to teach them to deliver the 
fish to their master, for, true to instinct, they prefer to take 
the first nibble themselves. 
The process of training is as follows: Feed it on bread 
and milk or vegetables until a taste for such food is ac- 
quired; then permit it to play with a leather imitation of a 
fish, as a kitten plays with a spool or anything that will 
remind it of a mouse, then this imaginary fish may be 
thrown in the water, and by means of a string attached 
may be drawn quickly and the pupil encouraged to plunge 
into the stream and bring it ashore. After having done so 
it should be rewarded by a dainty morsel, which his instruc- 
tor should be careful to provide beforehand. Having become 
proficient in the first lesson, a dead fish may be substituted, 
and the otter encouraged to seize and yield it at the com- 
mand of its master. After a while a living fish is substituted 
and fastened to a string, and the otter is taught to pursue 
and capture the fish and yield it as before to his master. - 
After this the remainder of the task is easily performed, and 
when the animal is taken to the water-side it is quite willing 
to chase the finny tribe and bring them ashore, and receive 
the praise and caress of its master; and last, but not least, 
receive the reward of food which the apt pupil so justly 
deserves. 
Another important lesson is to teach him not to spoil the 
fish in seizing it. If so, a reprimand must be given, and 
perhaps, in order to make the lesson more impressive, a few 
taps with a switch may serve the purpose. 
A friend once owned a tame otter that used to follow 
him like a dog, and when in the house would crawl up 
and nestle in his lap and go to sleep. He was a great pet, 
but would not allow strangers to handle him; in fact, in 
some cases, when strangers came around, he manifested so 
much temper that no one excepting his master cared to be 
too familiar with him. There was no stream of water in his 
vicinity, consequently no effort was made to teach him to 
fish, but a tub of water was provided for bathing purposes, 
which seemed to delight him much. One day he ven- 
tured too far from home, and his life was sacrificed by the 
shot of a sportsman, not knowing that the creature was 
domesticated. His beautiful skin was presented to the 
writer and, after being suitably dressed, was employed 
many years as a covering to a pair of medical saddle-bags. 
Its thick fur seemed entirely impervious to the most drench- 
ing rains. 
The color of the otter is of a rich brown, which is lighter 
on the back and outside of the legs than on other parts of 
the body. 
When attacked, the otter is a desperate fighter, never 
yielding as long as able to snap at its antagonist. Its mode 
of seizing and shaking renders its bite doubly severe. But 
few dogs not trained are able to cope with and conquer it 
in a fair fight. . 
The best dog for otter hunting is the otter-hound, which 
seems to be a cross between the deer-hound and some other 
variety, though some claim it to be a pure bred dog. 
The entire length of the otter is about three feet; of this 
