SUCCESSFUL MINK FARMING 287 



young animals have attained their adult size and do not seem 

 to grow aftei* they arc two years old. They may lay on flesh, 

 becoming heavier, but the bony framework docs not seem to 

 enlarge. Male minks born during one year will breed the fol- 

 lowing spring. 



Since the animals do not pair, but in their natural haunts are 

 accustomed to travel about, the males going long distances from 

 place to place during the breeding season; it has been noted 

 with interest that one male will serve several females, and it is 

 the custom usually to use the male not oftener than every other 

 day. 



The cry of the male is a short grunting snuffle. The female 

 gives a high pitched squealing cry. The offensive odor of the 

 scent glands, noticed when the hide is being removed from a 

 dead mink, was not noticeable about the pens, excepl at the 

 time when a pair were being bred. 



It is known that in its natural haunts the mink Avill accom- 

 modate itself to almost any hole that is dry. In the cages small 

 boxes about eight inches square and a foot and a half long, hav- 

 ing a circular opening about four inches in diameter at one end. 

 and partly filled with grass, afford a suitable substitute for 

 their natural homes. It is known that minks will sometimes 

 climb into trees if closely pursued by dogs, and their ability to 

 run about on various surfaces was noticed in the cages, where 

 they Avere exceedingly agile and very noisy. They seemed to 

 enjoy pushing their water pans about, apparently for the pur- 

 pose of hearing the clatter, and when one approached the front 

 of the cage, the animals in many instances climbed up on the 

 quarter inch wire mesh, showing almost the agility of squirrels. 



The food supplied to these captive minks is doubtless much 

 the same as is procured by the wild animals. They enjoy fish. 

 crayfish, musk rats, and rabbits above other foods, and also eat 

 mice, wild birds, poultry and beef steak. A mixture of corn 

 meal mush with a little tallow, has been successfully U-^\ to 

 minks in captivity, and they also -will eat bread and milk. Tt is 

 found that salted food if continuously fed is fatal. On one oc- 

 casion when some salted fish were i'ed. fourteen or fifteen young 

 died as a result of eating them. The full grown mink will 

 readily go into the water and capture a fish twelve inches Ion-' 

 or more, and eventually devour the bones and all. It is a 



