SUCCESSFUL MINK FARMING 289 



If it is desired to transfer this animal to any other cage, the 

 alley-way is opened all the way to the cage which it is desired 

 to have the mink enter, and the door is opened into thai cage. 



No other mink can enter the runway at that time and the ani 

 mal in the run-way can go only to the place intended. 



The advantage of this method of control is evidenl in breed- 

 ing, since exact records are kepi of the date of breeding, and 

 the pedigree of the animals bred. 



The docility of the animals, their evident lack of shyness and 

 the readiness with which they are induced to go in the direction 

 desired evidences the careful work of the owners. 



The houses, or rather sheds, used at Saluda are cement floored 

 and built much like ehiekenhouses. There are sky-lights but 

 Mr. Lambert believes that the more the animals are kepi in the 

 dark the better will be their fur. 



In one of the two houses there were twenty-six cages, and 

 twenty-four iu the other. A device for running water is being 

 installed that will doubtless be a convenience to the owners and 

 a comfort and pleasure to the minks. 



Up to the present time at the minkery, no animals have been 

 killed for the fur since it is desired to increase the stock for 

 supplying other "minkeries." 



The readiness with which such an industry might be devel- 

 oped, since the entire equipment requires only a part of an 

 ordinary city lot, and the fact that since in most towns running 

 water is as accessible as in the country, makes it a suitable in- 

 dustry for the city as well as the country. 



A "minkery" in your back yard or in your neighbor's, would 

 conduce to more neighborly feelings and sounder sleep of morn- 

 ings than a hen yard, especially if a couple of lusty roosters axe 

 included among the inmates. 



Former experiments in mink raising have failed on account 

 of ignorance of the real needs of these animals and of their 

 habits. They can not be allowed to run together as the nudes 

 fight fiercely and inbreeding would weaken the stock. The care 

 afforded each individual mink from the time its parents are se- 

 lected to the time it reaches maturity, results in producing large 

 animals with fur that is of a superior quality and that need be 

 taken only when the fur is prime. 



It is a beautiful sight to see these little sleek-bodied active 

 animals moving about the eage and coming to the wire un- 

 19 



