[to be continued.]
[PET STOCK MARKET REPORT.]
BY A. W. ROBERTS.
The report at the end of this article will enable any boy or girl who wishes to exchange pet stock to see at a glance the market valuation placed upon such things as young people would probably like to deal in.
In making up this report I have avoided the very high selling prices, and often the very low prices paid by dealers, but have taken the figures of dealers who are satisfied with a fair profit. Purchasers of pet stock will do well to bear in mind that prices vary greatly according to the season of the year, as, for instance, a month previous to the holidays the prices range the highest. During the hot midsummer months, when the young folks are in the country, the demand falls off greatly, so that dealers are forced to reduce the amount of stock on hand and the prices to the lowest figures.
The valuation of pet stock also varies according to the age, shape, color, and purity of breed, and the amount of intelligence or training possessed by the animal. The supply and demand also regulate the market price, as, for instance, I have known gold-fish of best size and color to be disposed of to dealers as low as two dollars per hundred in the months of June, July, and August, but during the months of October, November, and December the same quality of fish rose in price to ten and fifteen dollars per hundred. A caprice of fashion for any particular variety of animal or class of pet stock will often run up the price with dealers.
There is no reason why boys should complain of having nothing to do, when there are so many things that can be raised by them for the New York market that yield a fair profit, and often a large one. By clubbing together, some might raise white pigeons, for which there is so steady a demand and high prices paid. Or a pond might be constructed for raising golden carp, or gold-fish, or German carp. Just think of it: here is the United States government offering, through Professor Baird, thousands of German carp, which have been carefully bred, for free distribution to any persons who have a suitable pond or ponds in any part of the United States. When I was a boy there was hardly any demand for gold-fish, and the German carp was unknown in America; now there is a steady demand for the golden carp at six and eight dollars per hundred, and German carp sells readily at ten and fifteen cents a pound.
Think of all the books, papers, magazines, printing-presses, and scroll-saws that might be purchased with money earned by some such pleasant occupation!
What lots of fun could be had. How much could be learned about the natures and habits of the lower animals. When any of them might die they could be stuffed or set up, thus learning a lesson in taxidermy, or their skeletons might be prepared and set up, and a lesson on comparative anatomy learned. Also studies in pencil or India ink of animal life might be made. Then, again, the club could have a rabbit pie once in a while.
| PRICES TO PURCHASERS. | PRICES PAID BY DEALERS. | ||
| Rabbits, common, per pair | $1.00 to $2.50 | Very young, 50 cents; breeders, $1 per pair. | |
| Rabbits, fancy breeds, according to } | |||
| age and purity of breed, per pair } | 3.00 " 15.00 | No established price. | |
| Guinea-Pigs, common, per pair | 1.50 | Per pair | $0.50 to $0.60 |
| Guinea-Pigs, all white, " | 2.00 | " | 0.75 " 1.00 |
| Guinea-Pigs, African, " | 3.00 | " | 1.00 " 1.25 |
| Ferrets, English, " | 15.00 | " | 4.00 " 5.00 |
| Squirrels, gray and black " | 3.00 " 10.00 | " | 1.00 " 1.50 |
| Squirrels, all white, " | 15.00 " 25.00 | No established price. | |
| Squirrels, flying, " | 3.00 " 4.00 | Per pair | $1.50 |
| Squirrels, small red, " | 2.00 | " | 0.75 to 1.00 |
| Cats, Maltese (males), each | 5.00 | Each | 2.00 " 3.00 |
| Cats, Albinos, pink or blue eyes, each | 3.00 " 5.00 | " | 2.00 " 3.00 |
| Rats, white China, pink eyes, per pair | 1.50 | Per pair | 0.50 " 0.60 |
| Rats, piebald, per pair | 1.50 | " | 0.50 |
| Mice, white, pink eyes, per pair | 0.50 | " | 0.20 " 0.30 |
| Mice, piebald, per pair | 0.50 | " | 0.10 " 0.20 |
| Raccoons, each | 4.00 " 5.00 | No established price. | |
| Newfoundland Pups, each | 10.00 " 15.00 | There are no established | |
| Greyhounds, English, " | 10.00 " 25.00 | prices for various | |
| Greyhounds, Italian, " | 10.00 " 30.00 | breeds of dogs. Age, | |
| Pomeranian or Spitz, " | 5.00 " 15.00 | purity of breed, color, | |
| Terriers, Scotch and Skye, each | 5.00 " 30.00 | and intelligence regulate | |
| Terriers, black and tan, each | 5.00 " 30.00 | market prices. |