century, the marten became extinct on the island.68 Several recorders commented on the value of its fur“, with Hill (1839) even going so far as to say that it was among those animals that ”greatly contributed in the early years to the settlement of the island, to its commerce as well as to the supply of some of the necessary articles of winter clothing”.7O We have one example of this last use in Benjamin Chappell's (1775-1818) payment in 1778 while at New London of 2 shillings 6 pence each for two marten skins for a ’nor-wester’ (Le. a fur cap)". Samuel Holland also reported that it was one of those animals that the refugee Acadians were compelled to use as food after the expulsion of 175872. The weasel — The first record for the presence of the weasel or ermine (Muste/a erminea) on the island (including the French period) is that of Stewart (1806) (Table 2—1). In fact, he treated it as two separate species, as did several later recorders. One of these he called the 'weasel’, which he said was ”common" and ”often destructive amongst poultry”, while the other, the ’ermine’, was ”uncommon” and made its nest inside fallen trees. Twenty—two years later MacGregor (1828), continuing this distinction, said that ”weasels and ermines were not common”, as did Bagster in 1861, who however considered only one species to be present, which he called the ermine or ”white weasel". In the same year Sutherland (1861), still listing it as two separate species, said that they were "much more 68 Cameron (1958) lists it as ‘exterminated’, and it continues to be listed as so by the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre (ACCDC 2004). 69 Anon. 1808 (he recorded the price as 2 shillings and 6 pence) ; MacGregor 1828; Bagster 1861; Sutherland 1861; Bain 1890. 7” l have come across by chance only two contemporary records of this trade: the inventory of the estate of David Rennie in 1791 recorded that at his death he was in possession of “six dozen dressed marten skins"; plus other “fur work made up" (Nicholson 2004) (p. 223). The other record is of marten skins being shipped to Halifax (along with those of other fur-bearers) in four trunks on the vessel Betsy on 19 June 1802. [Ref.: C.O. 231/2; R.G. 9: Collector of Customs. Shipping outwards all points (1802-1827) (1831- July 1845), Reel # 7.] 7‘ Curtis (1775) (p, 45) [not extracted here] gives a definition of a ‘nor-wester‘: “a cap lined with fur that covers the face“, he said it was a necessity in venturing out on cold days. This definition and citation has not reached the Oxford English Dictionary (1989); (Vol. X: 526) which defines ‘nor-wester‘ as in effect an alternative name for a ‘sou-wester', i.e. “an oil-skin hat worn by sailors in rough weather". ’2 Holland 1765: March and October. 246 numerous” than the otter, and that their fur ”brings a fair price", which is the only comment on its value as a fur—bearing animal. Apart from Stewart, as just noted, no other author implies that it was a pest, and Bain's (1890) comment that it was ”frequently seen about farmsteads where it comes in search of mice", implies that it was not uncommon, and at the same an assistant in mouse control. The mink — The mink (Muste/a vison), which had been recorded in an earlier French period record”, is first recorded in the British period by Samuel Holland (1765) and it thereafter appears in twelve of the sixteen other lists (Table 2-1). The only comment on its abundance is Sutherland's (1861) that it was much more numerous than the ”comparatively scarce” otter. Its habitat associations are encompassed in Stewart's (1806) description of it as 'amphibious’, while Bain (1890) used the term ’semi-aquatic’, and said that it fed on fish and frogs, as well as ”small land animals”. Bagster (1861) also noted fish as its main food item. In terms of its pest status, both Stewart (1806) and Bain (1890) recorded that it attacked poultry and eggs, while Bagster (1861) said that it also caused damage to mill-dams by perforating them. Several recorders report its fur to be of value”, though Bagster (1861) said it varied very much in quality. The otter — The otter (Lutra canadensis), which had also been recorded in the earlier French period75, makes an appearance in fourteen of the lists, beginning with that of Holland (1765) (Table 2-1), who noted that it was among those animals hunted by the refugee Acadians for food. Another early recorder, M'Robert (1776), reported seeing otters in what is now Summerside Harbour. Due to the high quality of its fur and the high monetary value assigned to it”, the otter seems to have been under considerable pressure from trapping. As early as 1806 Stewart's use of the past tense: ”they have been very plenty on the island” implies ’3 Sobey (2002), (p. 147). 7" Stewart 1806; MacGregor 1828; Hill 1839; Sutherland 1861; Bain 1890. ’5 Sobey (2002), (p. 147). 76 Stewart (1806) said that some of the skins sold for as high as “six dollars". Although in the United Kingdom the word ‘dollar‘ was a slang term for the ‘crown‘ (Le. a five shilling coin), Stewart may have had in mind the American dollar, which was worth slightly less at 4 s, 1‘/2 d. Other recorders who noted the high value of its fur are: Anon. 1808; MacGregor 1828; Hill 1839; Bagster 1861; Sutherland 1861: Bain 1890.