THE MUSKRAT. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The present bulletin discusses the habits, economic relations, and 

 value of the muskrat, or musquash {Fiber zihethiens) . While this 

 animal does considerable damage in some places, its harmlessness 

 throughout most of its range and its increasing value as a fur and 

 food animal justify its protection generally. Its wide distribution, 

 prolific breeding, and hardiness, together with the fact that the areas 

 it inhabits are not available for agriculture, make it a resource whose 

 value may be greatly increased by careful husbanding. 



GROWTH OF THE USE OF FURS. 



The wearing of fur garments is as old as human history, but furs 

 were slow in gaining favor in the temperate and Avarmer parts of 

 Europe. Even in the middle ages their use was greatly restricted 

 by sumptuary laws, which, on the plea of restraining extravagance, 

 permitted the common people to wear only the inferior kinds. In 

 several European countries sable was reserved for the nobility and 

 ermine for the sole use of the royal families. Later, judges were 

 allowed to w^ear ermine as officers and representatives of the king, 

 and this concession was afterwards extended to all attendants on the 

 court and servants of the royal family. The subsequent use of this 

 fur by the nobility and clergy and finally by merchants and wealthy 

 citizens are matters of history. 



Royalty and nobility having approved the wearing of animal skins 

 in temperate countries, the use of furs spread rapidly when once the 

 restraining laws were repealed. The opening up of the interior of 

 North America to trade brought largely increased supplies, until the 

 number of fur-producing mammals slaughtered yearly became 

 enormous. So great has been the demand for certain furs that the 

 animals which furnish them have been hunted almost to extinction. 

 Other important fur bearers are still found in large numbers, but 

 each year trappers are obliged to go farther and farther in search of 

 them. While the fur supply of the world is in no immediate danger 

 of failure, present conditions are unfavorable to its indefinite con- 

 tinuance. 



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