BUKEAU OF BIOLOGIC^Si SURVEY. 283 



pest to agriculture in that region. The fur value of these aninuils 

 having been established among fur dealers through the efforts of the 

 Biological Surve}', the price of their skins continues to advance. In 

 cooperation vith extension services and other agricultural agencies 

 in their territor}', demonstrations of methods for capturing the ani- 

 mals and preparing their pelts for market were continued. Success- 

 ful boys' and girls' clubs were organized to trap them and to co- 

 operate in selling the skins. As a result the members of the clubs 

 learned a valuable lesson in cooperative work, not only in ridding 

 fields of a pest, but also in marketing, the sale of the skins netting 

 them the substantial sum of more than $50,000. 



DOMESTIC RABBITS. 



The high cost of meat during the Avar and the scarcity of rabbit 

 skins for manufacturing felt hats and cheap grades of furs combined 

 in emphasizing the opportunity in this country for the profitable 

 production of rabbits. In Europe the growing of domestic rabbits 

 has long been an industry of considerable imi:)ortance conducted on 

 a small scale by numberless individuals, and it has already boon 

 abundantly proved that domestic rabbits do equall}' well in the 

 United States. Not onh' is their meat of excellent ciuality, but their 

 fur is of value also ; recently these furs have been manufactured on 

 a considerable scale, dyed and in their natural colors, and are fre- 

 quentl}^ most attractive in appearance. 



Under ordinary conditions the rearing of domestic rabbits will 

 give a quick and economical supply of meat, one that can be produced 

 cheaper than that of the domestic fowl ; while the skins of selected 

 stock are of suflicient value to render them an important part of the 

 returns. A growing interest has been shown in tlie bulletins and 

 other publicity from this bureau designed to encourage the growing 

 of these animals on farms and in back yards. National and State 

 rabbit breeders" associations are now well established ; clubs and as- 

 sociations are being organized and periodicals developed to increase 

 rabbit growing; and many boys' and girls' clubs have taken up the 

 enterprise. It is believed that through these methods a great in- 

 crease in the development of this young industry mnj be brought 

 about. 



With a view to fostering the production of these animals along- 

 practical lines investigations have been continued among the breeders 

 of the country and among those dealing in the skins and manufac- 

 turing the furs. An article on rabbit growiug to supplement the 

 meat supply was published in the Yearbook of the Department for 

 1018, and a bulletin is now in process of preparation to supersede the 

 Farmers' Bulletin (No. 496) on ''Raising Belgian Hares and Other 

 Rabbits." 



FUR-BEARING ANIMALS. 



Investigations concerning fur-bearing animals have been con- 

 tinued and the annual bulletin on laws relating to these animals Avas 

 issued. The animals noAv held at the experimental fur farm in 

 Essex County, N. Y., include minks, martens, fishers, skunks, rac- 

 coons, and rabbits. Experiments in inclosures for these animals, as 

 well as in feeding and Ijreeding them, and inA'estigations concerning 

 the parasites and diseases to which they are subject, are in progress. 



