TRAPPING MOLES AND UTILIZING THEIR SKINS. 

 With Especial Reference to the Pacific Coast States. 



CONTKNTS. 



Moleskins in the trade. 

 American moleskins. . . 



Where to trap 



When to trap 



Mole traps 



How to set traps . . 



I'ago. 

 4 



-1 



Page. 



Skinning moles and handliTig the ])elts 10 



Stretching and drying 11 



Utilizing moleskins 12 



Tanning 12 



Matching skins 13 



Moleskin garments 13 



THE coinmoii ground mole, especially the animal found in the 

 Pacific Coast States (fig. 1), is so destructive in many locali- 

 ties that measures must frequently be taken looking toward its con- 

 trol. Until recently the mole has been 

 captured more with the aim of extermina- 

 ting a nuisance than of utilizing its skin. 

 In this w^ay a by-product of trapping fre- 

 quently has gone to waste when an industry 

 might have been developed or supported 

 which would have resulted in the produc- 

 tion of beautiful and valuable garments or 

 articles of adornment. 



To catch the mole requires the use of 

 specially designed traps, and to capture it 

 for its fur requires the use of a 'trap that 

 will not injure the pelt. It may be taken 

 as easily as any other small mammal and 

 the pelt secured may be made more than to 

 repay the trouble and time expended in rid- 

 ding a lawn, garden, or field of a nuisance. 



The purpose of this bulletin is to offer 

 suggestions on the practical means of solving the problem arising when 

 moles become troublesome, and at the same time to encourage the 

 development of a new industry in the utilization of moleskins. The 

 pubhcation deals largely with the moles of the Pacific Coast States, 

 especially Washington and Oregon, but the suggestions given apply, 

 with modifications, to all locations where moles are found. 



96652°— 17 -i 



Fig. l.—Mapof western United States, 

 the shaded portion being the section 

 to which this bulletin is especially- 

 adapted. Moles found in Washing- 

 ton and Oregon are larger and 

 darker than the southern forms, and 

 their fur is more valuable. 



