It is possible that the fisher (Pekania pennanti) got its name from being mistakenly identified as the sea mink, which was also known as the fisher by fur traders.[1] The Abnaki Indians referred to it as the "mousebeysoo", which means "wet thing".[2] It was named "sea mink" because it was always found near the coast by fur traders, and subsequently the American mink was often referred to as the "wood mink".[13][3]