PROFIT FEOM THE MUSKRAT 89 



a fire or in the sun, and not exposed to rain. 

 Formerly many of these skins were dressed at 

 home, but the process is complicated and diffi- 

 cult. 



Cultivation of muskrats. In view of the real 

 value, continuous demand, growing difficulty of 

 obtaining prime pelts and consequent steady 

 enhancement of price, it has occurred to many 

 persons that the rearing of muskrats in pro- 

 tected marshes and under favoring conditions 

 would be profitable. Some of the experiments 

 already tried in this direction have succeeded 

 well, but they are in reality little jnore than a 

 cooperative protection of certain extensive 

 haunts against over-trapping as well as 

 against poaching. Large tracts of marshes at 

 the western end of Lake Erie, controlled by 

 sporting clubs, are thus governed and yield a 

 substantial revenue under wise management. 



In this way a new value has been given to 

 extensive areas of marsh, liable to tidal over- 

 flow, along the western margin of Chesapeake 

 Bay, where landowners now lease the trapping 

 privilege, and trappers and owners unite to 

 protect the marshes from poaching. The owner 



