290 Department of Conservation of Louisiana 



1918, which practically froze most of his muskrats to death, 

 he says. 



Game Warden LeCompte states that his reason for 

 claiming that artificial muskrat farming does not pay is 

 "due to the fact the muskrat has never yet shown a profit 

 by being" raised in captivity," and cites the Gibbs experi- 

 ment as a method which does not confine the animals and 

 that the success achieved was due to the ditching, whereby 

 it was possible to flood the area. In fairness to the Mary- 

 land official, it must be observed that in 1928 he modified 

 his statement somewhat by calling attention to Mr. Gibbs' 

 success in raising breeding stock in captivity. 



From experience in the Louisiana and Texas musk- 

 rat producing areas, it is the prediction that the Maryland 

 production can be increased from 3 to 10 times by proper 

 ranch cultivation methods. 



While the Maryland authorities do not believe that 

 muskrats can be succesfully raised for their commercial 

 pelts in limited enclosures, there are some evidences at 

 hand to the contrary. They can be "farmed" and a profit 

 realized from the sale of breeders, but this should be re- 

 membered : the smaller the farm the smaller the profits 

 and the more work entailed, although the success achieved 

 by the Mount Forest Muskrat Farm in Michigan indicates 

 that the farming of 'rats is possible on a commercial scale 

 if conducted intelligently. 



It is well to remember that the production of fur animals 

 in, captivity is a comparatively recent enterprise and for 

 that reason is not supported by exhaustive experimental 

 and research data that are enjoyed by similar industries. 

 Cartain phases of fur farming are still in an experimental 

 stage and until something definite is established showing 

 how a healthy profit can be realized from the sale of musk- 

 rats on a strictly pelting basis, it must remain, as it is today, 

 a debatable question. Whether or not certain species of fur 

 animals should be farmed depends on pelt values, for it 

 should never be forgotten that the sole purpose of growing 

 fur animals, in captivity or out of it, is to sell the pelts, 



