RODENTIA 289 



per cent increase in the number of licensed trappers each year, 800,000 

 skins were obtained in 1917, only 300,000 in 1918 and only 150,000 

 in 19 1 9. 51 It long ago became evident that the muskrat fur industry 

 was doomed unless some steps were taken for its preservation. Es- 

 pecially important was it to curtail the taking of skins during breeding 

 seasons and at seasons when they are of little value, which practices 

 were responsible for the fact that so many skins, even during the period 

 of inflated prices, sold for only a few cents each, thus greatly reducing 

 the average prices. Consequently, close seasons have been established 

 by law in most states. In 1925 muskrats were unprotected in only ten 

 states, protected throughout the year in two, with open seasons of 

 over 5 months in eight, over 3 months in fifteen, 3 months or less in 

 eleven. 52 



The value of muskrats is not confined to their furs. Their flesh is 

 used largely as food, and is sold in the markets of Baltimore, Washing- 

 ton, Wilmington, Philadelphia and perhaps other cities, under the name 

 "marsh rabbit," for which purpose they were selling in 1927 at $2.50 

 a dozen and the skins at $1.50 each. 53 As far back as 1907 one Phila- 

 delphia dealer sold 3000 carcasses a week during February. Several 

 publications give directions for preparing and cooking muskrat meat. 54 

 Inasmuch as the trappers must skin the animals anyhow in order to 

 sell the pelt, the sale of the meat adds considerable to their income 

 without much effort. 



Muskrats reproduce rapidly, having, according to various writers, 

 from 2 to 5 litters per annum, of from 5 to possibly 20 young to the 

 litter, 13 embryos having actually been taken from one female. 55 Their 

 fecundity and the facts that they thrive on waste swamp land and do 

 little or no damage, make muskrat farming profitable in suitable lo- 

 calities. 



Muskrats are largely herbivorous, eating stems and roots of water 

 plants, grasses, tules, cat-tails, garden vegetables, etc., but also eat 



61 Dearborn, The Maintenance of the fur supply, U. S. Biol. Surv. Circular No. 

 135, PP- 6-7, 1920. 



"Ashbrook, Trapping laws and the fur supply, Journ. Mammalogy, vi, 168-1/3, 

 1925- 



68 Ashbrook, Fur farming for profit, pp. 200, 218, 1928. 



"Johnson, Roosevelt Wild Life Bull., in, 303-304, 1925. Lantz, The muskrat, 

 Farmers' Bull, No. 306, pp. 22-24, 1910; No. 898, pp. 10-11, 1923. Arthur, The fur 

 animals of Louisiana, pp. 275-277, 1927. 



55 Lantz, Farmers' Bull. No. 396, 1910, citing Proc. U. S. Natl. Museum, xxvni, 

 738, 1905 ; No. 869, 1923. Johnson, Roosevelt Wild Life Bull., in, 227, 1925. Dixon, 

 Rodents and reclamation in the Imperial Valley, Journ. Mammalogy, in, 136-146, 

 1922 Arthur, The fur animals of Louisiana, pp. 290-352. 1927. 



