342 



When a bag Is filled, the man throws It over his shoulder and 

 carries it down to the skinning- room. Here the animals are 

 sorted. The best marked are saved for breeding, one in ten 

 being a male. They will be kept in the building until all have 

 been dug out, when they are turned into the inclosure. Those 

 to be killed are taken outside and dispatched by a blow on 

 the head, and skinned as soon as dead. Only rarely do they 

 throw scent at this operation. The skins are hung up to dry 

 with the flesh side out. The building contained many Fox, 

 'Coon and Muskrat skins, besides hundreds of Skunk pelts. The 

 output of the ranch will be about 800 skins this year, as many . 

 live Skunks will be kept for the next year's breeding. Before 

 the carcasses are removed after skinning, the fat is cut off 

 and tried into oil. Good black skins are worth in the neigh- 

 borhood of $1.50 each." 



WHAT FARMERS, POULTERERS AND SPORTS- 

 MEN SAY ABOUT SKUNKS. 



ADAMS COUNTY. 



DR. C. E. GOLDS'BOROLTGH, Hunterstown: 



Polecats are an abomination; they kill chickens, rob hens' and 

 birds' nests, bee nests; but they are supposed also to destroy 

 much vermin. We have Skunks or Polecats very common. 

 Woodchucks or Groundhogs rare in lowlands, tolerably common 

 in highlands. Rabbit or Cottontail numerous everywhere. 

 Wildcats common in the mcixntains of the county; field or 

 meadow mice very common; Minks, Moles and Weasels com- 

 mon, Foxes common, Muskrats very common; Squirrels, Rac- 

 coon and Opossum common. 



ALLEGHENY COUNTY. 



JOHN NELSON, Talley Cavey: 



They will not let us get an egg if they can have thoir way; 

 have caught them in the act of stealing eggs of fowls. 



ARMSTRONG COUNTY. 



Dr. L. B. 9CHNATTERLY, Freeport: 



They are a great enemy to the farmers' poultry and very de- 

 structive to nests of Partridge (Quail) and Pheasant. Mr. 



