76 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 
and capturing more wild ones. They also admitted that they would 
not again use board floors for mink, but would have pens enclosing 
alarger area of ground. From these facts, it may readily be concluded 
that there were considerable difficulties of some kind. 
The mink appears to thrive on any kind of food that a cat would 
thrive on. At the Centreville ranch, fish and fish offal were the prin- 
cipal diet, and were fed in large quantities, though, as stated below, no 
more than they will eat should be fed to them. Milk, eggs, bread, fish 
and meat are staples. The English sparrow is a great favourite for 
mink food and frogs and live eels are also fed. A mink will frequently 
eat food with avidity when it is thrown into the water, whereas it 
might refuse to eat it if placed in its feeding trough. 
A study of the literature available leads to the conclusion 
Hada that it will be possible to rear mink in secluded wooded 
areas on the banks of a stream or pond. The method 
adopted at Lac Chaud is sure to be, at least, partially successful and 
may prove to be profitable. The cost of building a mink-proof fence 
in the water is high, compared with the cost of building on land. Fo 
this reason a site on an island is not considered as good as a site on a 
pond; for the whole pond or lake can be enclosed with a land fence. 
Thus a small lake, a dam, or a stream can be utilized for a ranch of 
any of the above-mentioned types. A shed could be built on the banks 
of a stream and the pens extended outside the walls of the building 
across the stream. The pens need not be wider than 3 or 4 feet nor 
longer than 5 or 6 feet inside the building, but should be twice as 
long outside. To prevent burrowing the outside walls should be sunk 
in the ground about 18 inches, except where in the water. If the 
natural method of ranching is used, two water areas would be neces- 
sary to provide two fenced areas. 
It is advisable to double fence a mink ranch, similarly to a fox 
ranch, in order to prevent their escape and to keep off intruders, es- 
pecially dogs and other wild animals, the smell or sight of which seems 
to inspire the mink with great fear. 
In the natural method of ranching, the sexes seek each other out, 
but, when one animal is placed in each pen, the keeper has to be very 
watchful during the latter part of February and up to the middle of 
March. The male mink can be admitted through chutes and has to 
be withdrawn at once if the two begin to quarrel. If no quarreling 
occurs, the male is not withdrawn for two days. Mating usually 
takes place within two weeks, and constant watchfulness has to be exer- 
cised to prevent fights when the male is admitted at the wrong time. 
