MOV 19 191? 



THE MUSKRAT AS A FUR REARER, 



WITH NOTES ON ITS USE AS FOOD. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 



Page. 



Importance of the muskrat 



Description 



Classification and distribution 



General habits 



Injury to crops 



Injury to tidal meadows 



Injury to dams and embankments 

 Injury to fish 



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 5 

 8 

 9 

 0 

 10 



The muskrat as food 10 



Muskrat furs — 11 



Muskrat farming 16 



Destroying muskrats 18 



Protecting property from muskrats 19 



Enemies of the muskrat 19 



Protective laws 19 



IMPORTANCE OF THE MUSKRAT. 



THE fur resources of the United States have diminished steadily 

 during the last half century, and present conditions indicate a 

 "still further shrinkage of the supply. The decrease has been in 

 quantity of the better pelts and not in total value of the annual 

 catch. The large increase in value is accounted for by the advancing 

 prices and by the large output of furs that formerly were neglected. 

 The muskrat has been one of the chief factors in maintaining a high 

 total value fpr our annual fur production and in commercial impor- 

 tance now heads the list of fur bearers of the United States. 



Beavers, otters, martens, and fishers have disappeared from much 

 of their former range, and even minks, raccoons, and skunks have 

 become scarce in some localities. Muskrats, on the contrary, have 

 not diminished in numbers, except in places where marshes have been 

 drained. These animals multiply much more rapidly than the other 

 fur bearers named, and because of their aquatic retreats and general 

 habits are better fitted to maintain their numbers under reasonable 

 protection. The present bulletin is designed to show their economic 

 importance and to encourage further legislation tending to conserve 

 an important resource. The harmful activities of muskrats are by 

 no means forgotten, and methods for destroying the animals when 

 they become noxious are presented. 



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