The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Fisher

FISHER, or PEKAN (Mustela pennanti), a fur-bearing animal, the largest of North American martens; also called pennants, black cat or black fox. In the fur market it is commonly called Canadian fisher and its pelt is valued at prices but little lower than the sable. The fisher has a range throughout the wooded regions of North America between the parallels 35° and 65°. It chooses locations which are near water, quite the opposite of its near relative, the pine marten, with which it battles fiercely. The animal has a body from two to three feet in length, with a tail about one foot long. In color it is black or very dark gray. It breeds in a hole high up in a tree, having from two to four young in the litter. See also Marten.