FARMING MUSKRAT FOR FUR 95 



bing should be continued until the skin becomes dry, when it will 

 be found to be soft and pliable." 



Some facts on farm returns : Near the Toledo Hunt Club, 

 5000 acres of marsh were left undisturbed for two years. In 1904, 

 they were trapped for the benefit of the Club ; 5000 were taken 

 in January and sold at 25^ each. The meat sold to canners at $1 

 a dozen. Returns to-day at present prices, each reader can figure 

 for himself. 



Muskrat trapping in Maryland is confined to January 1 to 

 March 15. Trappers have cleared on very small leaseholds from 

 $500 to $900. Seven years ago, one marsh was bought for #2700. 

 It is yearly yielding 30 to 50% interest on a 50-50 lease. Another 

 investor bought 40 acres for #150. It has yielded from $60 to 

 $100 a year. These figures were carefully investigated and com- 

 pared by D. E. Lantz of the Department of Agriculture in 1910. 

 What the returns are in the same areas to-day, it would be hard 

 to give; for the trapper, himself, always answers, "Poor, very 

 poor." 



The full-grown muskrat is from 8 to 10 inches long, chubby 

 and round, with a 6- to 10-inch slimy tail. He has in spring a pun- 

 gent odor. His skin should be stretched inside out and for trade 

 must be cut almost square. In the old days, the boy's sport was to 

 go punting in the marshes and spear the muskrat by night. To-day, 

 the nests are raided and the little rodents clubbed and shot. With 

 values going up, the wastefulness of this method will have to be 

 changed to protect the young and the litters ; for don't forget that 

 once three nations growled at one another in threats of war over 

 the Alaska seal ; and the catch of the little muskrat is to-day many 

 times more valuable to the fur trade than the best catch of seal 

 ever was. 



Owning and renting muskrat marshes can hardly be called fur 

 farming; and yet if the muskrat marshes are protected not only 

 by a closed season, when the fur is not prime, but by a state war- 

 den, who will do for them what Alaska game wardens are doing 



