ANNUAL REPORT 

 JULY 1, 1971 thru JUNE 30, 1972 

 REGISTRATION OF MINK FARMS 

 DENNIS J. FLYNN, SUPERVISOR: 



Chapter 128, Section 8B states that each mink ranch shall be listed 

 with the Department of Agriculture on or before February first of each 

 year, and the premises and breeding records may be inspected by the 

 Commissioner of Agriculture or his agents at any reasonable time. The 

 fee for such listing shall be three dollars annually for which fee a 

 certificate shall be issued by the Department of Agriculture. 



The mink industry in Massachusetts, along with the rest of the 

 country, has suffered badly from foreign competition in recent years. 



The number of farms here in Massachusetts has dwindled to only 

 twenty-eight (28) farms registered for the 1971 - 72 season with a 

 total of 6,8/4 breeder mink reported on farms. 



The size of the farms vary from only a few to a high of 1600 

 breeders being kept on one farm. There has been a marked decrease also 

 in the number of mink per farm. Most of those mink ranchers that remain 

 in business have cut back on their production and are just holding on 

 for another season or two, anticipating a recovery to higher prices in 

 the future. 



There were some letters requesting information which I answered and 

 I also made a number of calls on farms throughout the year. These calls, 

 however, were made only to verify whether there were still in business or 

 not. 



Respectfully submitted. 



Dennis J. Flynn 

 Investigator of Mink Farms 



