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 

 a larger 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 

 for°Pens ' ^ 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. For 

 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 

 natm-al method of ranching is used, two water areas would be neces- 

 sary to provide two fenced areas. 



It is advisable to doiible 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. 



