44 DEPARTMENTAL REPOETS. 



liopetlial i1 would not altraci inucli a11(Mi1ion. It was, however, t>-ivcn 

 wide eirculation by the i^i-ess, and was re[)rinted a number of times, 

 and in consequence nearly 150 letters of inquiry were received during 

 the year in regard to tlie supposed new and profitable industry. Mis- 

 led by the statements regaixling the rapid increase of skunks, and 

 the high prices paid for their skins, many persons seriously considered 

 the experiment of starting skunk farms. F'or several years a list has 

 been kept of such farms reported in various parts of the country, but 

 so far as can l)e learned most of them have been abandoned after a 

 year or two, and it is impossible to say how many are now in existence. 

 Raising fur-beai'ing animals for profit is not a new idea. Skunk 

 farms, minkeries, and fox farms have been started in a number of 

 localities, but the industry apparently has never advanced beyond the 

 experimental stage, except perhaps in the case of the fox farms estab- 

 lished on certain islands on the coast of Alaska during the last few 

 years. The species raised on these islands is the Arctic or blue fox 

 ( Vulpes lagopus), an aninml whose fur is of considerable value, and 

 which can be raised in large numbers at slight ex])ense. Inquiries 

 are occasionally received as to the feasibility of raising these animals 

 or the silver-gray fox in the Northern States, but little hope of success 

 can be extended to such ventures. Minks and skunks breed readilj^ 

 in captivity, but the low price of skins makes the margin of profit 

 rather small. Last season the highest market prices for prime black 

 skunk skins from the Northern States ranged from ^l.fio to $1.75 each 

 (the average price for high-grade skins being about $1.45), but white 

 skins sold as low as 15 to 20 cents apiece. While there is a steady 

 market for a considerable numljer of skins, the present demand can 

 readily be supplied by skins of wild animals, and oidy the finest black 

 skins from the Northern States command the highest prices. Skins 

 which have much white, or which are obtained in the Southern States, 

 usually bring less than a dollar each, a price which leaves little margin 

 for profit after paying the expenses of raising the animals in captivity. 



PUBLICATIONS. 



The publications of the year include two bulletins, Nos. 12 and V.\;^ 

 four numbers of "North American Fauna, Nos. 1(5, - 17, 18,' and 1!);' 

 one article in the Yearbook of the Department for 189!) ; the Report of 

 the Division for 18'J0; and reprints of Bulletins No. 10, on "Life zones 

 and crop zones;" No. 11, on " Geographic distribution of cereals;" and 

 Farmers' Bulletin No. 54. Bulletin No. 12, on "Legislation for the 

 protection of birds other than game birds," by T. S. Palmer, consists 

 of a general discussion of the various topics pertaining to State and 

 federal legislation on the subject of bird protection, and a digest of 

 the laws now in force. Although 3,50( » copies of this bulletin were pub- 

 lished, the edition soon became exhausted and a reprint was rendered 

 necessary. Bulletin No. 13, on the "Food of the bobolink, blackbirds, 

 and grackles," by F. E. L. Beal, contains the results of an examina- 

 tion of more than 4,800 stomachs. The group of bii-ds whose relation 

 to the farmer and horticulturist is here shown is of great economic 

 importance, owing to the number and size of its individuals and their 

 wide distribution. The well-known ravages of the bobolink in the rice 

 fields of the South, of the red-winged blackbird in the grainfields of the 



' Still in press. 



^Mentioned in the report for 1899, but not distributed until October. 



