3 



of a flock of barn yard fowls, keep any record of the 

 loss of poultry or eggs which are destroyed in the 

 course of a year by any of the wild animals which it is 

 well established subsist in part, at least, on young or 

 old poultry and eggs. However, through the aid ot 

 circulars and postal cards making inquiries as to prob- 

 able money loss annually sustained from the visits of 

 foxes, minks, weasels, wildcats, rats, certain species 

 of hawks and owls, crows, etc., it is learned that the 

 yearly loss in Pennsylvania is probably about 

 1750,000. 



This sum is a large one, and, perhaps, to a person who 

 has given little thought and attention to the matter. 

 it will appear to be excessive. Such, however, judging 

 from the answers received at this office, does not ap- 

 pear to be the case, as may be seen by consulting the 

 replies of farmers and jjoulterers, which are given in 

 full on succeeding pages of this work. Well informed 

 gentlemen, who are thoroughly familiar with the poul- 

 try business, and the losses effected by the depredations 

 of the various animals commonly included under the 

 caption "Enemies of Domestic Fowls," claim that the 

 average loss yearly to each individual farmer and 

 poultry-raiser throughout Pennsylvania, through the 

 depredations of the many species of birds, mammals 

 etc., which kill poultry or destroy their eggs, is fully 

 five dollars. 



If there are, as it is claimed, 275,000 poultry raisers 

 in this State and they each sustain an annual loss of 

 five dollars, the aggregate loss would be $1,375,000. 



No doubt, there are hundreds, yes. thousands, of 

 farmers and other persons who are engaged in rearing 

 poultry who, individually, and perhaps yearly, suffer a 

 much greater loss than five dollars, as can readily 

 be seen by consulting reports made to this Department 



