Ferreting 100 years ago . . . . .

[Crow 1]

In response to some questions by ‘Ferretlove’ I thought I’d post my findings as a thread just in case others are interested!

 

Ferretlove wanted to know about keeping ferrets 100 years ago, so what better place to ‘read all about it’ than in these books:

 

Ferrets by N. Everitt. Published by Adam & Charles Black 1897 (I think Read books have re-issued)

Ferrets & Their Management by C.J. Davies. Published by Vinton & Co. Ltd c1905

Ferrets & Ferreting by C.J. Davies. Published by Burlington Publishing Co. c1910

 

Here are the answers to Ferretlove’s questions:

 

 

1) Did poachers/keepers use hobs just as a liner?

 

It appears not, although the hob was the ferret of choice for the job.

 

Interestingly whilst Everitt referred to the male as a ‘Buck’, Davies referred to it as either a ‘Dog’ or a ‘Hob’. I thought Hob was a relatively new expression

 

2) Did keepers keep their own hobs or where they shared between several keepers?

 

There’s no reference by either author of Hobs being shared, therefore I can only assume that they weren’t.

 

3) Is there any truth in ferrets being fed on sops rather than rabbit?

 

Everitt recommends that working ferrets should be fed bread/milk sop as a stable diet but with a supplement of flesh now and then – but no more often than every three days! As for non-workers they got bread/milk. However, for youngsters the diet is a little different; bread/milk as a staple with flesh as a supplement – but LESS often than the adults!

 

Davies seemed a bit more in tune with the fact that the ferret is a carnivore and decried the bread/milk sop diet as ‘absurdity’.

 

 

I love reading the old books as they are full of fascinating stuff – some interesting and some no less than barbaric!

 

In the books detailed above there is guidance on making a ‘warreners telephone’ which I think I’ll give a go!

 

There are chapters on making muzzles and how to cope – which I’ll leave in the realms of history!

 

There are details on the various traps available at the time (heard of the Everitts Patent Safety Humane Vermin trap Ditch-Shitter?)

 

And there are details on the various laws relating to ferret ownership at the time.

 

Fascinating

[Kay 3,709]

Thanks a milion for that , its very interesting reading & i look forward to my book coming so i can find more info out & log it,

 

Chuffed with that thanks you so much

[Kay 3,709]

'' As for non-workers they got bread/milk. '' I wonder if ferrets were kept as pets as well then, does anyone have any idea on that one,

 

I must admit i was supprised that the sops feeding was true, i wonder how they handled & can imagine they lived short lives compared to the average life expectency of todays ferrets, i did think maybe jills were shortlived due to them not being brought out of season , other than breeding, but not knowing how many ferrets a keeper would have on average its difficult to know how many they would breed from each year.

 

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Everitt Trap ? I have indeed, mate. It's one of those traps which seems to fire the imagination of everyone who gets interested in the older traps. Henry Lane ~ one of uk's biggest and longest established Trap Makers ~ took on the production of it. In fact, I almost wonder why it's not still made available for use today?

 

But then, if ye look at it with a dispassionate eye; Quite clearly a bird such as a hen or pheasant could in fact peck at the pan and get caught in it. (Mind you; Same could happen with a standard Rat Snapper!) Still, all consigned to history and our walls now.

 

 

Everitt Rat Trap

 

 

That shot courtesy of James Bateman. " Animal Traps and Trapping ". I actually own a couple of examples of this delightful old trap, only I can't be doing with digging them out and photographing them by Flash light just now

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

:whistle:

[Guest craftycarper]

I believe there is a portrait of Elizabeth 1st with her pet ferret, hanging up somewhere

[Yokel Matt 918]

Everitt Rat Trap

 

 

That shot courtesy of James Bateman. " Animal Traps and Trapping ". I actually own a couple of examples of this delightful old trap, only I can't be doing with digging them out and photographing them by Flash light just now

 

Thats a good book Ditch there's some ingenious traps in there, i fould that treadall trap for deer a jaw dropper... both constructing the bugger and having the fieldcraft to set it is awe inspiring. :whistle:

 

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Can but agree about the Deer Treadle, mate! Willow Bows??? Manys the time, over the years, I've just sat there, examining and reading that bit and just thinking; " How the f*ck ....?!? " And they were supposed to have been virtual 'Cave Men'?!

 

And yeppers. I too swear to god I've seen that portrait reproduced somewhere! Isn't it an albino?

[bullsmilk 2]

Can but agree about the Deer Treadle, mate! Willow Bows??? Manys the time, over the years, I've just sat there, examining and reading that bit and just thinking; " How the f*ck ....?!? " And they were supposed to have been virtual 'Cave Men'?!

 

And yeppers. I too swear to god I've seen that portrait reproduced somewhere! Isn't it an albino?

that pic is made up mate they call it artistic licence......if it was true the queen would have been the only person to have owned a a white ferret with black "dalmation" spots

all the confution comes from the fact that the royal courts robes hade a white fur with black spots trim on them witch was a manafactured fur from 2 or more furs its was called "ermine" thus the spotty ferret in the pic. all made up

Edited January 8, 2007 by bullsmilk

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Excellent Result! Thankyou, Bulls!

 

So that sorts That out then; Failing memories of something once glimpsed ~ 'Albino' or otherwise ferrets? It was, in fact, as ye say, an artistic mish mash! Brilliant!

 

So some one worked in how they imagined an " Ermine " (White, winter coated stoat) must have looked, eh?

 

Now, I wonder: Kings and Queens of England tended to be based around London, at that time. Stoats that end rarely develope the full white with the black tipped tail. Bit like my own Mole Skin waistcoat was actually made of moles from Aberdeen - where they grew a thicker velvet.

 

I wonder then if this Tradition of trimming english Royalty in ermine comes from 'up north'? Ermine was obviously highly valued in those days. But did it come as a first gift from some historical, (Scottish?) King? Or What?

 

Anyone care to further our lost understanding of this issue ....?

[Crow 1]

 

 

[Kay 3,709]

 

 

nice one

 

 

Excellent Result! Thankyou, Bulls!

 

So that sorts That out then; Failing memories of something once glimpsed ~ 'Albino' or otherwise ferrets? It was, in fact, as ye say, an artistic mish mash! Brilliant!

 

So some one worked in how they imagined an " Ermine " (White, winter coated stoat) must have looked, eh?

 

Now, I wonder: Kings and Queens of England tended to be based around London, at that time. Stoats that end rarely develope the full white with the black tipped tail. Bit like my own Mole Skin waistcoat was actually made of moles from Aberdeen - where they grew a thicker velvet.

 

I wonder then if this Tradition of trimming english Royalty in ermine comes from 'up north'? Ermine was obviously highly valued in those days. But did it come as a first gift from some historical, (Scottish?) King? Or What?

 

Anyone care to further our lost understanding of this issue ....?

 

I wondered if fitch was used by the people who made the nobilitys clothes, if ermine was only white in the winter & henry wanted a new top,in the summer who would argue with him maybe albino ferrets were used as a substitute to ermine or maybe the minor royals used fitch

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Classic shot from Crow, there! Is that one of the lost and fabled " Aleutian Island " ferrets, mate?

 

 

Ferretlove; Define " Fitch "! The author of " Tarka the Otter " (Name lost to me ), a Devonshire man, stated a 'Fitch' was a stoat. A " Vair " (?), a weasle. Almost dialectic terms, it would seem?

 

I grew up learning that a " Fitch Ferret " was what most would know as a " Sandy " - one of three, recognised colour variants of ferret, in those days.

 

I later came to know a Mink Farmer who spoke of " Fitch " as quite other things ~ none of them stoat. I believe the Fur Trade sees 'Fitch' as domesticated / farm bred Polecat?

 

 

Here we go again; Yet Another invitation to discussion! No?

[bullsmilk 2]

fitch is what they call farmed ferret fur mate.....makes a nice coat

[Guest craftycarper]

That looks nasty, better report it to Defra