20 



At the age of from five to seven months the mink are worth from 

 five to eiglit dollars each for their skins. 



Not long since we had the pleasure of examining the 



MiNKERY OF Mr. Hknry Ressigue, of Verona, Oneida County, N. Y. 



Mr. Ressigue commenced the raising of mink in the spring of 1867, 

 having caught a female mink with young. 



Since that time he has raised over a hundred. He sells them for 

 breeding at thirty dollars a pair, including box, and they can be for- 

 warded by express to any part of the country. 



The "pen " in which he keeps them consists of an open yard, sixty 

 feet square, surrounded by a common board fence, six feet high, the 

 cap-board projecting inward sixteen inches to prevent his stock from 

 climbing out. 



The following is the manner of preparing a yard for a single pair, 

 the size to be twelve by fourteen feet : Having marked off the ground 

 to be occupied, a trench, eight inches deep and fifteen inches wide, is 

 dug around the plot. Flat boards are laid on the bottom of the 

 trench so as to entirely cover it, and posts are set outside the trench. 

 The first board of the fence is nailed base-board style, on the inner 

 side of the posts, with the edge on the flat board at the bottom 

 of the trench. The trench may now be filled with dirt, and the 

 fence completed, boarding up and down. The cap-board should be 

 thoroughly stayed outside and top. More yard room can be added as 

 needed. 



To prevent the mink from escaping by the stream, where it enters 

 or leaves the yard, place a goodly quantity of stones about the size of 

 hen and goose eggs at the inlet and outlet of the stream. 



Food. 

 Mr. Ressigue states that he has not expended twenty-five dollars in 

 the purchase of food in five years. Any refuse of fresh meat is just 

 what they want, and is equally as good as that which would cost more. 

 Fresh fish is also a good food, and seems to be well relished by the 

 mink. 



Rearing and Feeding the Young. 

 Leaving male and female together from March 1st to 20tli. 

 Then separate, placing the male in an adjoining yard. 

 The young should be allowed to remain with the mother. 

 Build a small house in the yard and furnish it with plenty of straw. 



