324 Department of Conservation of Louisiana 



As yet there has been no cooperative selling of the pelts 

 taken by the members of associations, leasing companies or 

 by large landowners, but the subject is being seriously con- 

 sidered as a means of securing better prices and cutting out 

 middlemen's profits. 



The 'rat ranching idea is taking strong root in the 

 minds of the trapping fraternity and now efforts are being 

 made by those with foresight to secure tracts of land they 

 can work year after year, in the open season for securing 

 pelts, and in the close season so that they may build up the 

 food and other conditions on their areas. Many trappers 

 have purchased small tracts of land which they work 

 themselves. 



While it may be generally stated that all of the muskrat 

 land in the state has been taken up, there is plenty of op- 

 portunity for the practical trapper to sublease tracts and 

 conduct his own ranch and thus provide for himself a 

 steady income. What has been done for the 'rat ranches 

 can also be done for many of the other sections of the 

 state where raccoons, opossums, minks, skunks, otters and 

 such upland fur-bearers have a natural habitat in the 

 swamps of cypress, tupelo, and hardwoods still remaining 

 in the state. 



Control Methods of Breeding 



Complete Control 



Cement-lined cages or breeding pens approximately 

 6x10 feet and wholly covered with wire netting have been 

 advocated for limited area or so-called "backyard" breed- 

 ing pens for muskrats. Such pens are no doubt practicable, 

 but very and excessively expensive. The Mount Forest Fur 

 Farm method appears much superior. It has been worked 

 out by several breeders in different sections of the country. 

 If one buck is placed among four or five females, greater 

 success will attend breeding and reproduction, but the use 

 of the buck solely for stud purposes, as practiced by the 

 Mount Forest Fur Farm, is undoubtedly the correct pro- 

 cedure for mating. Space should be reserved in such a 



