As long as people are bandying about ferret historical trivia, I thought I'd
add a few cents worth.
 
Yes, it is true that Queen Victoria had ferrets.  I am seen a picture
(although I can't remember where) of her with an albino ferret in her arms.
I have also read in the same account that she used to breed albinos and give
them as gifts to visiting dignataries.  Other royalty who were fond of
ferrets included Louis 14th.  Dr.  Hoffman has a Victorian era cloth
depicting a young woman with a white ferret.  BTW: During that period only
albinos were considered "pets" and owned primarily by the wealthy.  The
common sable ferret was referred to as a "kitchen ferret" and treated more
as a tool than a companion.
 
Someone mentioned the term "FYZNYG" (only spelled differently).  This is an
Olde English term and was usually applied only to working animals.
"Business" was used to describe breeding or show animals and the term
evolved later.  Some think it is a commentary on the frenetic "busy-ness"
common to all ferrets.  BTW: we refer to our group as a Fyznyg because they
are definately working animals.  They put on shows and travel to help
educate.  I tell people that they are professional ferrets because that's
how they earn their livlihood.
 
It is very likely that the first domestic animal introduced to America by
the Europeans was a ferret.  This is because it was quite common on long sea
voyages to take along one or more ferrets as opposed to cats.  Ferrets are
smaller, lower maintenance, and much better mousers because they can follow
the critters into places a cat cannot.  Such a part of maritime tradition is
the ferret that it was the mascot of the Continental navy during the
American Revolution.
 
Another notable ferret owner was Theodore Rosevelt who is said to have kept
two ferrets and a young kangaroo while in the White House.  These animals
were aquired from a local humane society.
 
Just a quick note on NYC.  There is no law or ordinance on the books in NYC
which prohibits the keeping of ferrets.  The so called "ban" is due to one
individual's interpretation of a rule which prohibits wild or dangerous
animals.  This does not mean that NYC officials won't act as if ferrets were
illegal.  But in the interest of accuracy it should be said that NYC is a
FUFZ (Ferret Unfriendly Zone) and not a FFZ.
[Posted in FML issue 1416]