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raising of sheep, cattle or hogs, the difference being 
that it is ten times as profitable. 
To successfully raise muskrats one must have a 
spring-fed marshy swamp with an outlet which can 
be dammed, so that a uniform water level may be 
maintained. The depth of the water and musk, or 
floating bog, must be sufficient so that it will not 
freeze to the bottom in the most severe Winter, the 
result of which would be cutting off of the food sup- 
ply and the starvation of the animals, unless arti- 
fically fed. The swamp lands must abound in the 
natural foods of the muskrat, such as cat-tails, bul- 
rushes, duck millet, three-blade grass, wild rice, 
wapato and wild celery. The location must also 
have high dry ground surrounding the swamp on 
which fences are built. Proper fencing is of im- 
portance. A crop of root vegetables, such as car- 
rots, parsnips and sugar beets, should be planted, 
stored in root cellars and fed during the Winter 
months, by using feeding houses. On ranches where 
the muskrats are in the habit of using the feeding 
houses, the rancher has the opportunity of scientifi- 
cally feeding during the breeding season, which re- 
sults in a larger number of young litters. Another 
decided advantage of feeding houses is the ability 
to easily catch the animals. Trap doors are over 
the entrances; by closing them when one wishes to 
make a catch the muskrat cannot escape. This 
enables the rancher to market only prime pelts, 
which command the highest prices. 
If a muskrat farm is ideally located, properly 
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fenced and well planted with natural foods, it is 
bound to be a money-maker. It is a never-failing 
crop, unaffected by hot, cold, wet or dry weather. 
Muskrats are hardy and immune from diseases. 
They multiply rapidly, being the most prolific of 
fur bearers. U.S. Government Bulletin 869 states 
that from actual observation one female produced 
thirty-three young in one breeding season. An in- 
teresting experiment has recently been concluded in 
Manitoba. A pair of muskrats were put into a pen 
and in nine months they and their progeny increased 
to the astounding total of 138. 
It has conclusively been proved that the young 
female born in the Spring will produce the same Fall. 
We have had increases of a second litter in the Fall 
from a female born in the Spring; this, however, is 
unusual. The next Spring she has the average 
litter, which is eight or ten young. 
—Courtesy American Field. 
WHAT OTHERS SAY— 
Wis. Aquatic Nurseries, May 13, 1939 
Oshkosh, Wis. 
Gentlemen : 
You may be interested that the planting we made of your 
materials last year was very successful. 
Thanking you for your very courteous services, I am 
Yours truly, 
ROBERT OGDEN 
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