SKUNK 105 



skin, as: No. 1 with no stripes or very short ones; No. 2, with more 

 white hair, and No. 3 when the white hair extends the full length of 

 the body. The white part is cut off the pelts and only the black fur 

 is used so that there is a larger area of good fur on No. 1 pelts than on 

 the whiter ones. 



It is probable that the rapid advance in price of skunk in 1912 

 and 1913 will give an impetus to the skimk-raising industry. If the 

 present high prices — $8.00 to $12.00 for finest black northern — con- 

 tinue, there is a large profit to be made in skunk-farming. 



Skunks can be kept in captivity under conditions similar to those 

 recommended for mink. On account, however, of the lower value of 

 the pelts and the less vicious and even harmless nature of the animal, 

 it is better to allow them a large run together. The males will not 

 injure the females, but the females will kill the males after mating if 

 they are kept enclosed with them. The females might be kept in pens, 

 before littering and while rearing the young. The young are weaned 

 when from 5 to 7 weeks old. 



Skunks should have a considerable area to roam over in order that 

 they may secure varied food and exercise. Well insulated nests about 

 a cubic foot in size should be used so that the young may not be chilled 

 in very cold weather or heated in very warm weather. Nests should 

 be constructed in a bush. The outside fence can be effectively built 

 with galvanized roofing 4 feet wide, set one foot into the groimd. It 

 is better to shut out all strange sights by a fence, especially during the 

 breeding season. 



The methods used in skunk-raising are completely outlined in 

 the following extracts from letters written to the Hunter-Trader-Trap- 

 per Magazine by Mr. Brae: 



Skunk-raising 



"Skunk-raising is a failure if on a small scale, while on a large 

 scale it would be a paying business, giving from 50 to 100 per cent 

 profit. I will give you my experience on a small scale. The first season, 

 I had 12 females and 3 males, all black; the average litter of young 

 was from 3 to 6; the average grade, about 85 per cent black, the 

 balance being Nos. 2, 3 and 4. 



" Naturally, skunks live in holes in the ground, rocks, trees, stumps, 

 etc. Their food consists of mice, birds, bugs, crickets, grasshoppers, 

 bees, wasps, yellow jackets, angle worms, seeds, berries, ground roots 

 and bark. My pen was 14 feet by 36 feet, and 4 feet high with J-inch 

 mesh wire floor and 1-inch mesh wire top and covering. I had a num- 

 ber of boxes for harbours. My pen is secure against escape but entirely 

 too small for the purpose intended. 



