22 



FARMERS ' BULLETIN 587. 



The skin is left with the fur side turned in and dried on a stretcher 

 made of a thin board sharpened to a point and of the shape and 

 dimension^ shown in figure 8. If the tail has been split open, the 

 board should be long enough to permit the tail to be spread out and 

 tacked fast. Several tacks are also needed to hold 

 the rear end of the skin in good shape while drying. 



Stretchers made of heavy galvanized wire (fig. 9) 

 have many advantages over wooden ones and are 

 now extensively used by trappers. 



After the skin is on the stretcher all fat and flesh 

 adhering to the pelt should be scraped off, and the 

 drying should be done in the shade of a shed or tent 

 where the air circulates freely — never by a fire nor 

 in the sun. When thoroughly dry, it should be re- 

 moved from the stretcher, when it is ready for market 

 (fig. 10). 



SUMMARY. 



Skunks are among the most useful of the native 

 mammals and are most efficient helps to the farmer 

 and orchardist in their warfare against insect and 

 rodent pests. 



Occasionally an individual skunk learns to prey 

 upon poultry, and if the evidences of its depreda- 

 tions are unmistakable the animal should be de- 

 stroyed. This may easily be done either by trap 

 or poison. 



As a source of fur, skunks are an important asset 

 to the country. They bring to the trappers of the 

 United States about $3,000,000 annually. 



In view of their usefulness and fur value these animals should be 

 protected everywhere by a close season of at least nine months, but 

 the right of farmers to destroy predatory skunks should be reserved. 



The propagation of skunks for their fur promises to develop into 

 an important industry. It is at least a matter of sufficient impor- 

 tance to warrant the most careful investigation, and experiments in 

 breeding the animals should be generally encouraged. 



Fig. 10.— Skunk 

 skin stretched 

 and ready for 

 market. 



O 



WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT 1'KINTIXG OFFICE : 1914 



