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diff --git a/42888-0.txt b/42888-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..07155c4 --- /dev/null +++ b/42888-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2203 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42888 *** + +Transcriber's Note: + + Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have + been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. + + Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by =equal + signs=. + + Page 034: "are built par-to keep out the rain". A line of text + might be missing. + + + + + FUR FARMING + FOR PROFIT + + With Especial Reference to Skunk Raising + + [Illustration: Skunk] + + Price $1.00 + + The LAYMON FUR FARM CO., Spencer, Ind. + + + + + LIVE + MINK + WANTED + + ALSO MINK PELTS + GINSENG YELLOWROOT ETC. + + + Highest market price + paid for A1 Live Mink and + Mink fur. Write your dealer for + quotations, then write us. We + pay express charges and remit + same day goods are received. + + + WILLIAM WEDDLE + SPENCER, IND. + + + + + FUR FARMING + FOR PROFIT + + With Especial Reference + to Skunk Raising + + By + H. B. Laymon + Proprietor of the Laymon Skunk Farm + + 1913 + The Laymon Fur Farm Co. + Spencer, Indiana + + + + + Copyrighted 1913 + By + H. B. LAYMON + + + PRESS OF THE EPITOMIST PUB. CO. + SPENCER, INDIANA + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + page + + Introduction 5 + + Frontispiece 8 + + Chapter I 9 + General Character of the Skunk--Skunk a Clean Animal-- + Grading. + + Chapter II 19 + Fur Farming--Supply and Demand--Opinions--A Bright + Future for Fur Farmers. + + Chapter III 26 + Enclosures--Dens--Food--Care--Breeding. + + Chapter IV 39 + Trapping--Skinning--Shipping--How to Handle Skunk + without Being Scented. + + Chapter V 51 + Habits of the Skunk--Breeding--Size of Litters--Ideas + of Trappers and Farmers. + + Chapter VI 58 + Miscellaneous Information--Removing the Scent Sacs-- + Laws Relating to Skunk Raising--Dye Markings--How + to Ship Live Skunk. + + Chapter VII 72 + Questions and Answers on Many Subjects. + + + + + [Illustration: Breeding Range, Constructed of Galvanized Iron.] + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +"I came from a family of hunters and farmers." This reminds me of a +quaint saying I heard when I was a boy. We were talking about hogs at +the time. A young girl overhearing our conversation, remonstrated with +us because we appeared to have some of the habits of hogs wrong. We +asked her how she knew we were wrong in our diagnosis of the hog? And +she answered: + +"Well, I guess I ought to know, I was brought up among hogs, lived among +them all my life!" + +This is my case exactly, I have been brought up among skunk. I have made +a study of skunk, and I think I know skunk. I know this much well: + +Years ago the thought struck me that there ought to be money in raising +skunk for fur and breeding purposes. To prove the right or wrong of +this, I started to raise skunk. I captured a female and her litter, +later got a star buck, and with this beginning I have succeeded in +establishing one of the largest and most successful skunk farms in +America, and I am proud of it. + +I do not mean to imply by this that I think I know "it all" about skunk. +Far be it from that. But what I know has been learned by diligent study +and the best of all "practical experience." My farm was not a success +from the start. It took a few years for me to learn the "how of things," +but I am glad to say that things are looking bright for yours truly. I +firmly believe a few years more will see me independently rich, and from +an old piece of land which would be practically worthless for any other +use. + +My motive for writing this book is to benefit my fellow man. Hundreds of +people have written me for information about skunk. It would be +impossible for me to courteously answer one-tenth the mail I get in a +personal way. It struck me, inasmuch as there was no book on the market +devoted to the skunk that by compiling this information in readable form +I would be accomplishing a certain amount of good. + +I feel this, too, if I had had the help in the first place--the +information contained in this book--I would be worth twice as much more +and saved myself years of trouble and much financial loss. I was the +pioneer, and was blazing the way for others to make success. + +To all those who are desirous of trying the raising of fur-bearers for +profit we say: read this book carefully--study it,--and then if you feel +that you can make it a paying business, make a small enclosure and try a +half dozen animals. By the end of a year or two, you will know whether +you are going to like it; whether you can make a success of it or not, +and will have acquired a lot of very necessary knowledge regarding the +animals, that could not have been obtained in any other way. You will +know then whether to go ahead or not, and if the former, you will also +know how. + +While the U. S. Government is actively engaged in raising elk, buffalo, +deer and other animals including fur-bearers, few bulletins are issued +which give any direct valuable information on skunk. Government +officials (the kid-glove kind) stick up their nose at the lowly skunk, +and without reason. The skunk is a clean animal, easily domesticated, +and known to be one of the most valuable animals to have around the +farm. Only recently has this been thoroughly demonstrated. Such +information as could be obtained from government sources has been +incorporated in this book. + +I have had no hesitancy in utilizing the information from other sources +also. Chief among them has been the Hunter-Trader-Trapper Magazine +published by A. R. Harding Pub. Co., of Columbus, Ohio, also his book on +"Fur Farming" and such catalogues and guides as Andersch Bros. and +others fur firms issue to their trade. + +I differ with them when experience has taught me that my way of raising +skunk is easier or more profitable, and I agree with them on many +general principles. I have incorporated in this book also the experience +of many other farmers and trappers. I have found many helpful hints in +their letters which have been very valuable to me. And for what +knowledge I have gained from them, I hereby acknowledge my indebtedness. +"May they live long and prosper." + + H. B. LAYMON. +Spencer, Ind., July 10, 1913. + + + + + [Illustration: Laymon Handling an "Unaltered" Skunk.] + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +General Character of The Skunk. + + +The skunk is a little understood animal. By this we mean, that ordinary +people, other than naturalists or scientists, little understand the +habits and value of skunk. By some the skunk is classed as a reptile or +varmint, and on account of its odor, is detested. Other animals throw +scent, notably the mink and muskrat, of course not to the extent that +the skunk does. + +It is on account of this scent, that skunks are detested. We have +animals on our farm which have never thrown a grain. And are yet in +their wild state. They do not easily become frightened, hence have no +use for their means of protection. That's the only time they use it, and +seldom when fighting among themselves. + +To make a success out of anything, it is admitted one must know the +thing. To be a successful farmer one must know what to raise and how. So +with raising of skunk, one must understand skunk, just as one +understands horses, cows, sheep or poultry. And skunk, when properly +understood can be raised in captivity at a great profit. 500,000 skins +were shipped to London last year, besides the skins which were used here +in domestic manufacture. + +It is surprising to note the change in conditions, due largely to the +enlightenment of the rural population to the benefits of the skunk, also +to the rapid increase and value of their pelts. Many skunk farms are in +existence, the owners making a business of raising these animals for +their pelts. While this may be a queer business, nevertheless it is +perfectly legitimate, and as far as known, profitable. A ready sale of +the pelts is to be had, and the skins from these domesticated animals +generally bring higher average prices, being well handled and killed at +a time when the fur is at its best. The domestic animal like cultivated +fruits, are larger and in every way more valuable than the wild animal. + +The skunk is found in nearly all the states and territories of the Union +and climate and geographical conditions are responsible for the great +variation in size and color of its pelage. There are very few +fur-bearing animals as plentiful, and especially in the civilized +sections, that bring such a handsome income to the farmer as does the +skunk. As noted, the chief difference in character, besides the size of +the animal itself, lies in the color of its fur. + +The body is 16 to 22 inches long, its tail from root to farthest point +of fur, 12 to 16 inches, the latter being covered with hair, the color +of which varies, depending upon the color of the fur on the body. For +instance, the fur on the tail of a black or short striped skunk is black +or nearly all black, (first grade) while that of the broad or narrow +striped skunk is interspersed with black and white hairs. While the skin +of the animal is very valuable, the tail is rarely used, though +manufacturers of late years have consumed the hair in the manufacture of +brushes and similar purposes. The legs are short and close to the body, +the paw is naked and the five toes on each foot are closely grown +together like that of the badger. The foot is well adapted to digging, +but they dig very little in the tame state. The toes are not webbed; the +head is small, with short, rounded ears and rather long, projecting +nose, with two small piercing eyes. + + +The Skunk a Clean Animal. + +The skunk in general appearance is always neat and clean, and in walking +seemingly takes special pride, like the peacock, as when promenading, +its tail is erect and its back peculiarly curved. Very few animals are +as harmless as this creature and were it not for the peculiar odor which +it distributes when in danger, it would be more hunted and probably +eradicated in sections. Its principal weapon, as heretofore noted, is a +peculiar secretion and fluid possessing a very disagreeable odor. This +fluid is of a pale yellow color and is discharged by the animal when in +danger, in thin-like streams and with such accuracy and aim as to strike +any object within 6 to 12 feet. The fluid is secreted in two annal +glands from which by the contraction of the sub-caudal muscles and by +uplifting of the tail it is discharged in the form as stated above. +These sacs are now removed with very little trouble by farmers, and +without endangering the fur or breeding qualities of the animal, or +ill-effect to the operator. + +The removal of the scent sac has a tendency to increase the size of the +animal ultimately. We believe, too, that it requires less food to +sustain life, consequently it is considered a profitable operation to +perform. It is certain that the altered animal becomes more easily +domesticated. + +Learn to remove the scent sacs and thus avoid all complaints of +neighbors and any personal inconvenience. If you learn to do this you +can sell your striped skunks for pets or curiosities and in this way get +good prices though the skins would be of small value. + +The animal is carnivorous, nocturnal, not entirely terrestrial, as +occasionally he is known to climb trees, perhaps not of choice but +rather compulsion, being forced to this fancied secure position by the +hunter or his dog. Consequently his arboreal, like his amphibious +habits, are rather undeserved credentials. The theory that the animal +climbs the trees in search of food and birds, is discredited. The animal +is beneficial in many ways to the farmer, and his eradication from any +farming community should be prevented, and laws prohibiting the wanton +destruction encouraged. + +The contrast in size of the animal and the important variation in the +color of its pelage, due to climatic and geographical differences, +cannot be denied. The breeding and inter-breeding of the different +colored furred species is the principal explanation why the young of a +litter are so much unlike in color. The color usually dominates to the +black. It is proven that 50% of the young of a white female will breed +blacks if the male is black. To breed stars, the male and female should +be all black, if possible. 90% of such young will be black, and it is +possible to raise to maturity 90% of such litters. It is our experience +that the female at rutting time will cohabit with more than one male +like a dog or rather like a cat which it more generally resembles. + +The predominating color of the fur of all species is black and white +with the exception of the Texas skunk, which due to a peculiar soil, is +of reddish cast. Some of the animals have a clear coat of fur, others +are all black excepting a small white star, but the majority have two +stripes, some terminating at the center of body, on others the stripe +continuing from the forehead over the body, terminating at the tail. + +This carnivorous and nocturnal animal is unlike most every other animal +possessing these habits. He can be seen in the early morning returning +to his haunts, and once in a while in the middle of the day; at no time +is he in a hurry, or will he discommode himself by getting out of your +sight or especially away from your path. His mode of locomotion is slow, +and rarely will he be found away from his haunt a greater distance than +one or two miles. His abode is usually in a hollow log, under some old +barn or granary, or in a hole on the sunny side of some hill. He enjoys +a sun bath, probably more than does the bear or the badger. His meal is +made up by free consumption of worms, bugs, grasshoppers, mice, birds +and eggs. In some sections he is known to be quite a vegetarian, +consuming as he does, roots, berries, vegetables, and fruits. +Occasionally frequents the hen-roost, not only for eggs, but for the hen +as well. The young like bread and milk, while we feed the old hominy +hearts mixed with water and milk. + +The animal passes the winter season in a state of incomplete +hibernation, and at regular intervals he will arise, come out of his +abode and expose his body to the sun, and judging from the effluvium, +empty its distended pouches, but the stench thus caused, soon ceases, +which is not the case when it is spurted under irritation or in +self-defense. Dr. Coues states "that the animal uses this secretion in +the relation of its perpetuation of the species, though overshadowed by +its exaggeration into a powerfully effective means of preservation of +the individual, is evidently the same as in other species of Mustelidae, +each one of which has its own emanation to bring the sexes together, not +only by simply indicating their whereabouts, but by serving as a +positive attraction." + +In the case of the skunk, it would seem that the strong scent has +actually tended to result in a more gregarious mode of life than is +usual in this family of mammals; and it is certain, at any rate, that +the occupancy by one animal of a permanent winter abode serves to +attract others to the same retreat. Burrows are sometimes found to +contain as many as a dozen individuals, not members of one family, but +various adult animals drawn together. One other effect of the possession +of such unique powers is seen not so much in mode of life as in the +actual disposition of the creature. Its heedless familarity, its +temerity in pushing into places which other animals instinctively avoid +as dangerous, and its indisposition to seek safety by hasty retreat, are +evident results of its confidence in the extraordinary means of defense +with which it is provided. + +In the domesticated state they do not use the scent only under extreme +agitation. Dogs create this excitement, man seldom, even when handling +them. When held by the tail, they are really unable to throw the scent. + + +The White Skunk. + +The animal that has a clear, white-furred pelt is very sparingly found, +in fact so seldom, that many consider it a freak of nature and not a +distinct species. + +Personally we do not find it pays to raise white skunk, save as pets, or +the females for breeding purposes. We dispose of them before they have +become an expense to us. It is the wise man who can judge when to kill +and when to keep. + + +The Black Skunk. + +The animal that has a black coat of fur is found in many states, those +of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Eastern +Canada, are better furred, and in consequence command better prices than +those coming from the central states. The black skunk is also found in +Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, Virginia, North Carolina and +South Carolina, in fact in every locality excepting in the northwestern +states, also northwestern parts of Canada. The animal cohabits with the +other species, and there is no apparent rule governing the breeding and +inter-breeding and the probable coloration of the offspring. Somewhat +disregarding the color of the parents, the litter contains black, white, +short, narrow and broad striped youngsters. But 90% will "take after" +full black parents. If you use Star bucks you can reasonably expect Star +stock. The fur of the black skunk, especially the eastern variety, is +soft, wavy, and of a deep lustrous black. Those animals that have only a +small white furred star at the forehead are commercially called "black +skunk." + +Great care should be taken in selecting the male breeders to avoid +in-breeding. A skunk matures, or its fur becomes prime and salable in +six months. The female brings forth young in a year. The life of a skunk +is from five to seven years. + + +Short Striped Skunk. + +This animal inhabits the same section as the black skunk, the only +difference between them is that the small white star of the former +develops into prongs or two distinct white-furred stripes, starting at +the forehead and terminating at or about the shoulders or center of +body. Quite often the forehead is entirely covered with white fur, and +immediately beginning at the top of head the white hair continues in two +prongs, each varying in width from three-eighths to three-fourths of an +inch. Should the white stripes continue clear across the body and +terminate at the nail, such skins cannot be classed as short striped but +are known as long, narrow or broad stripe. + +Short striped skins are second in value, the price being about one-third +less than that of the black skins. The white stripes are of no value to +the manufacturer, and for that reason the skin that has the greatest +amount of black fur is worth more and the value lessened by the increase +of the white stripe. The fur of the tail is black with intermingled +white hairs. The disagreeable odor is removed by the dresser (tanner) +and by the time the skin reaches the manufacturer, it is cleansed from +all impurities and ready to be made into garments. + + +Narrow Striped Skunk. + +This animal inhabits nearly every state and territory of the Union and +greater part of Canada, and is the true American skunk. His coat of fur +is black, excepting two white stripes beginning at the forehead and +terminating at the tail. The width of these stripes varies somewhat, +depending upon the size of the animal, usually three-eighths to +three-fourths of an inch. There is always a goodly portion of black fur +between these stripes. The white stripes are narrow and close together, +but widen apart at center of back, and again narrowing when close to the +root of tail. The largest animals of the skunk family come under the +long or narrow striped species. + + +Broad Striped Skunk. + +This animal is found in common with the previous species, and its +difference is only in the width of the white stripe which is wider, and +the quantity of black fur on the skin is lessened, thereby diminishing +the value of the skin. There is no apparent iron-clad rule, or a +dividing line between, or just where and when a skin should be called +broad stripe and not a narrow striped skin. This naturally must be left +largely to the judgment and discretion of the buyer or the manufacturer, +who, in grading, seeks an average more than any particular dividing +line. The tail is covered with hairs with occasionally interspersed +black hairs. + + +One Striped Skunk. + +This animal has a long, horizontal white stripe extending from forehead, +continuing over the body, terminating at root of the tail; the latter is +covered with white fur and is probably more bushy in proportion to its +size, than the other northwestern species. The skin is of no great +value. The fur is rather coarse and the skins undesirable. + + +From the above description it will be noted that the value of the pelt +lies principally in the quantity of black fur; diminishing by the +increase of white and increasing by the lessening of the white fur. + +It may be of interest to note that skunk fur after it is manufactured is +not sold as "skunk," but is a good substitute for many different kinds +of fur which has a higher value placed upon it. + +Of late years the white stripes that are cut out of the skins are being +used in the manufacture of spurious tails which are dyed to imitate the +natural tail of mink, marten, etc. At other times these white pieces are +sold in connection with other fur scraps or cuttings to hat +manufacturers. Only those skins that are prime in leather and full +furred, command good prices. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +Fur Farming--Supply and Demand. + + +From the dawn of history in this country the fur trade has been an +important branch of commerce and had much to do with the rapid advance +of discovery and exploration in the early days. But the extensive +trapping operations since that time have sadly depleted the ranks of all +species of fur-bearing animals and some of the most valuable are rapidly +nearing extinction. This is especially true of the central and eastern +portions of the United States, and the time is approaching when the ever +increasing demand for furs must be met by some way other than trapping +the wild animals--but how? Fur farming appears to offer the only +solution to the problem. + +The raising of fur-bearing animals is still in its infancy, but many +experiments have been tried out from time to time, and it is a proven +fact that if it is undertaken and carried out in an intelligent manner, +the industry is bound to be successful; and why not? All of our domestic +animals and fowls were wild creatures at one time. + +There are practically no new and unexplored regions to trap and even in +faraway Siberia, which we are taught to believe a land of wilderness and +a fine fur-producing country, reports say that fur-bearers are becoming +scarcer each year. The regions which have not yet been explored by the +white men, have for many years been trapped by the savage inhabitants. +Fur traders push into all accessible districts, and the trappers also, +sometimes bring their goods hundreds of miles in order to trade with the +white people. South America produces some furs, but the catch is not +heavy, perhaps because there is not much trapping done there. But the +furs from the more distant regions are, as a rule, of the more valuable +kinds, and cannot supply the demand of the great middle class of people, +the largest consumers. Such furs cannot take the place of those of the +muskrat, skunk, raccoon and oppossum, for these furs are usually made up +to imitate the more expensive kinds. But as the supply decreases the +demand increases at an equal rate. + +The skunk, mink and muskrat do well in settled sections. There is always +a cash market for raw furs and since the discovery of America, raw furs +have been an important article of commerce. An industry paying the +hunter and trapper probably $15,000,000 yearly is one that should +receive attention. The demand for furs is increasing as the population +of the world is becoming more and more. Again furs are being put to more +uses than ever. While the demand for furs is increasing, what of the +supply? The day, perhaps is not far in the distance when the demand will +call for two or three times as many furs as today. Where are they to +come from, if not from fur farming? + +A well known fur dealer in Minneapolis sizes up the situation in a +nut-shell: + + "Under proper conditions, with intelligent care, raising fur animals + can be made to pay. The raiser starting on a small scale and + increasing as their knowledge increases. Most all successful business + is built up by starting small." + +Conda J. Ham, in the Hunter-Trader-Trapper Magazine, says: + + "Did you ever stop to seriously think where your furs and your fur + coats would come from twenty or thirty years from now? At the rate + fur-bearing animals are being killed off at the present time, there + would not be fur enough thirty years from now to properly clothe the + nobility of the old world, to say nothing of our American women who + must have their new furs each season, and the others who must have at + least one or two sets during a lifetime. The fur industry is + admittedly fast dying a violent death. Some other remedy than those + already prescribed must be discovered. We still have sections of the + country where the same wild state of nature exists that could have + been found three hundred years ago. We still have plenty of + fur-bearing animals to keep alive their species if proper conditions + prevailed. Therefore, it would seem that the problem to solve is, how + can these conditions be best secured. + + "Mr. Norman A. Wood, expert taxidermist in the University of + Michigan's museum, the man most familiar with the animal life within + the state and one of the greatest authorities on animal life in the + whole Northwest, declares the fur industry can be saved only through + the medium of great fur farms. His study of the situation has + convinced him that the commercial growing of fur is coming to be one + of the great industries of America. + + "In various parts of the country such farms are to be found, and the + profit derived from them has been sufficient to prove the success of + the venture. Skunk farms have been started in various parts of the + United States within the past few years and are proving paying + enterprises. + + "It is no vague dream that prompts one to speak of fur farming. The + signs of the times point that way, indisputably. Every year the price + of raw furs bounds up to hitherto unknown levels, the demand is + constantly increasing almost as fast as the supply diminishes, and + with it having been demonstrated that fur-bearing animals can be + raised, men are not going to let such chances slip by." + +A. R. Harding, editorially in the same magazine says, speaking of fur +farming: + + "The business surely looks like a "gold mine" at present prices of fur + and breeding stock. Even should prices be reduced by one-half or more + the business bids to continue very profitable. + + "While scores, perhaps hundreds, will make good with the more valuable + foxes--black-silver, cross--thousands will find that profits may not + be so great (neither is the expense to get started) with the common + red fox, skunk, mink, marten, coon, oppossum and muskrat, yet the + raising of these animals is not apt to influence values. The world + needs millions of these skins each year, and the market is not so + limited as with the high priced furs. Looks like a great future for + the raiser of these animals. There is no denying the fact that the + supply of wild fur bearers is gradually becoming less, not only in + America, but throughout the entire world, while the demand for furs is + constantly increasing." + +Here is a bright future to "Fur Farming." The person who knows something +of the habits of the animal or animals that they expect to raise, will +be the successful one. The same applies to fur farming. The farmer who +has given attention to fur-bearing animals are the ones most apt to be +successful. A good many attempts were made at raising skunks, a number +of years ago, most of which were failures. Some entered the business on +a large scale, knowing nothing of the animals, and of course failed; +others "penned up" a few skunks and as they were not properly cared for, +failure was the result. + +The advanced price for skunk skins in recent years, has caused a revival +in their raising. This time, an entirely different class of people are +taking up the work, and they are going to succeed. Why? Because they +know something of the animal and are going at the business in a calm and +business-like way. + + [Illustration: One of Laymon's Stars.] + +People are not investing their all in a business without realizing the +possibility of success or failure. More is known of the Skunk today. It +is not the feared animal that it was yesterday. The day is not far +distant when it will take its rightful place among fur-bearers and its +hides sold for what they really are. There is hardly a more finer fur +than skunk and it should not be necessary to hide its identity under a +substitute name. + +The fur farmer, should the market be low for certain animals, can keep +over. Nine times in ten, this is the time to raise as many as possible, +for by another season, that particular article is likely to be in +demand. To illustrate: In the winter of 1908-09, No. 1 skunks from +northern and eastern sections were worth $2.00, while the following +winter the same skins were bringing just twice this figure. If the skunk +raisers who sold off their stock at low prices because the prospect was +not bright, had gone ahead they would have had a heavy crop of fur to +market at high prices by January, 1910. + +Some reports from those who have experimented in a small way at raising +fur animals is to the effect that they do not fur properly. This is true +in regard to skunk, when kept in a box or a small enclosure for weeks +and fed largely on meat. They must have contact with earth and be +allowed to forage for food. + +Skunk breed only once a year, unless the first litter are killed or die, +when another is sometimes born, and it might be said, such is frequently +the case. + +One thing is important, and that is, get the animals accustomed to their +keeper as soon as possible. The old will be wild for some time, but the +young soon become tame. Skunk are easily tamed, even children have +safely handled them. + +A man who has been in the fur farming industry for years, in response to +the inquiry, "Will the business pay?" says: "Yes, it will pay the right +man big dividends on the capital invested." The right man is one who has +natural aptitude for this sort of work, and who is "cut out" for fur +farming. If he has a liking for this sort of work, he will study the +nature and requirements of the animals and attend carefully to their +every want. + +Fur farming as an industry is only in its infancy, in fact, not begun. +The future looks bright to those who engage in the business in a +business way. To those who expect to make a fortune at the business in a +year or two, we predict failure, but to all who are willing to go at the +industry intelligently, building a substantial enclosure, paying the +same careful attention to the feed and care of their fur animals that +they would to other "stock," to get the best results, far more than +ordinary profits should result. + +Under ordinary circumstances skunk can be raised to maturity at a cost +of about 25c. The cheapest skin on the market will bring at least a +dollar, from that to live skunk at $15. Average profit will be over 400%. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +Enclosures, Dens, Food and Care. + + +The enclosure for a fur farm is one of the most important things for a +beginner to consider, for if it is not properly constructed, his labor +is in vain. We have heard of parties going to a great expense to procure +the animals and construct a fence to hold them, and because the fence +was not built on right lines, the animals escaped. This was unnecessary +had the netting or galvanized iron fencing extended about 18 inches +below the surface. Skunk seldom dig over a foot into the ground. + +The proper size of an enclosure depends on the number and kinds of +animals you intend to start with. For 10 skunks or less and their +offspring the first year we suggest an enclosure measuring 3 rods wide +by 4 rods long or 12 square rods. This will even answer for a much +larger number, but we do not believe in crowding. For 20 skunks and the +first year's young the enclosure should measure about 4 rods in width by +5 in length. + +You can successfully raise a hundred skunk on a single acre of ground. + +After you have decided on this business the first thing is to find the +proper location and make a suitable enclosure. There should be a spring +on, or a small stream crossing the ground to be inclosed, but at the +same time the ground must not be wet; in fact, it should be of rather +dry nature, so that there will not be too much dampness in the dens. +That is the picture of an ideal skunkery. + +But running water is not absolutely necessary so long as the animals are +furnished clear water for drinking purposes. There should be banks of +earth for the animals to den in and the ground should have a gradual +slope so that it will drain readily. If it is of a sandy nature it will +be all the better. Some who have tried skunk farming have located the +yards on a shore of a small lake or pond and have included a portion of +the pond in the enclosure. This is a good idea and it will not be +necessary to extend the fence very deep into the water, as the skunk is +not a water animal and will not dive under; however, where the fence +crosses a stream of running water the fence should reach to the bed of +the stream as the water will fall considerably during dry weather. Where +running water is not to be had a basin of water should be provided for +bathing purposes. They bathe about once a week. This is a habit little +known by the amateur fur farmer. + +The enclosures should be large as possible. When the animals are +inclosed in small yards or pens they become infested with fleas, ticks, +etc., and they do not do well. By sprinkling the animals with poultry +powder usually used to destroy lice, and allowing the animal to den in +soft soil these parasites can be easily eradicated. Such small enclosures +will answer for a short time but as soon as possible they should be +placed in a large roomy yard. + +To enclose a certain amount of ground with the smallest number of rods +of fencing possible, the plat or ground to be enclosed should be in a +square. While the cost of enclosing an oblong piece of ground would be a +few dollars more than if square, this should not stand in the way if the +oblong piece of ground would make a better home for your fur-bearing +animals. If one only desires to experiment with a few animals and has +the material on hand, he may make a fence of boards, but it should not +be depended on for long. Where stones are set up edgewise or cement +used, it is rather expensive and as galvanized wire lasts well either in +the ground, where not exposed to the air, or being galvanized, it stands +the elements well, it seems to meet the requirements of the fur farmer +for fencing or enclosure purposes. There should be some trees, or at +least shade, no matter what animals you are experimenting with. + +For fencing material, galvanized wire netting of one-inch mesh is +generally used for the breeding yards, and 1½-inch for the outside +fence, as the young animals will escape through a two-inch mesh. The +outside fence should be seven feet in height. Under ordinary conditions +the skunk would not escape over a four-foot fence, but there is danger +in winter from drifting snow, and dogs and other animals must be kept +out at all times; therefore, the fence should be of the height mentioned +and it must be turned in at the top or a sheet of tin placed along the +edge to prevent the animals from climbing out. + +Some skunk raisers simply place flat stones on top of the ground at the +foot of the fence to prevent the animals from digging out, and some say +that one of the most satisfactory ways is to place small mesh wire +netting flat on the ground at the foot of the fence, inside, of course, +and cover lightly with dirt. They claim that this is a very good way to +prevent skunks from escaping by digging, but on the whole we think that +the method of sinking the netting or galvanized iron about 18 inches +below the surface is best. + + [Illustration: Fence of poultry netting, covered with sheet tin, + showing foundation.] + +The persons who expect to make "fur farming" a business, can begin in a +small way and same need not interfere with other work to a great extent. +Year after year, as they learn more of the business, they can enlarge +the grounds. Farmers and others who from experience know much of the +animals, will no doubt be the most successful from the start. The ox, +horse and sheep were wild at one time, but they have become domesticated. +Why not the same with the fur-bearers? This is exactly what should be +done. Skunks especially, are very easily domesticated. When the raiser +learns this and furnishes an enclosure with dens and food similar to +that which they get when in their wild state, they will be on the road +to success. + + [Illustration: Fence of Netting, Showing Support and turned in top.] + +On the Laymon farm we have been experimenting with galvanized iron or +tin fencing, and we prefer it to wire netting. The animals appear more +contented when they cannot see other and wider fields. This is +especially true during the breeding season. This fencing is a better +protection against dogs and prowling animals also on the outside. + +In the case of galvanized iron fencing, we find that the fence need not +be over five feet, with 3 or 4 strands of barbed wire to keep out dogs +and prowling animals. The animals do not see out, nor prowlers in and +hence the skunk are less liable to become excitable. + +The interior of the enclosure should be divided into compartments, using +netting or galvanized tin for the fences but they need not be so high. +The largest compartment would be for the females and there should be a +smaller one for the males, also one for the young animals after they +have become large enough to take care of themselves. Some also make +small yards in which to place the females, two or three together, after +the young animals are born. The most of those who have tried skunk +breeding, however, have not found this necessary, but there should +always be a separate enclosure for the males. When the number of animals +increases it will be necessary to have a few small breeding yards, large +enough for ten or twelve animals. One need not, however, make such an +elaborate enclosure in the start but can enlarge it as needed, adding +more compartments. + + [Illustration: Breeding Range Constructed of Galvanized Iron.] + +In each compartment a number of dens should be made by digging a trench +and covering afterwards. While the animals will dig dens if necessary, +they prefer even while in a wild state to use dens already made. Boxes, +barrels or pens with board floors should not be used. Some of the +successful ones claim that this has a tendency to cause a thick pelt and +thin fur and say that it is absolutely necessary that they have natural +dens in the ground. The dens should be made quite deep so that there +will be no danger from frost in winter and in all cases there should be +plenty of straw or leaves for bedding purposes. Where the land is flat +it seems wise to throw up a few mounds of earth so that the animal may +dig into the soil. A hole can be started in a bank with a post-hole +auger and the animal will finish it, seldom burrowing more than a foot +further into the earth. + +No matter what style of den is used it should be so constructed that +there is no danger of it getting damp. Banks of earth of a kind which do +not absorb and retain water make good places in which to dig dens, and +it is easy to incline the entrance so that water from rain or melting +snow cannot drain into the passage. The entrance should be made large +enough so that the animals can pass in and out easily, for if the +passage is small there is danger that the fur will be injured. There +should also be plenty of dens, so that if one becomes damp or infested +with vermin, the occupants can take up their quarters elsewhere. + +On the Laymon farm we have several different kinds. The breeding pens +are built par-to keep out the rain. After we have once ascertained that +the young have arrived we do not disturb the female for several days, +save to see that she has plenty to eat and drink. Females are quite +devoted to her young. The entrance is of wood and in some cases tiling. +The opening should be large to avoid rubbing the fur. + +The summer dens are of natural earth formed or dug into earth, built +around straw or wood, with tile entrance. + +The winter dens are large, built like a well with a cave-like entrance. +These things are necessary only where skunk are raised on a large scale. +As far as possible, we do not allow the fur of the animal to come in +contact with rough surfaces other than earth. We only allow one female +in a brood pen at one time, and use galvanized iron fencing between the +pens. Females will steal one another's young when given the chance +causing the young animals to starve to death, and we don't give them the +chance. + +The skunks are perfectly cleanly about the dens and always deposit their +droppings in one corner, or outside. They seldom discharge their scent +and unless he were to see it, one might pass close by a skunk "ranch" +and never know it. + + +Feeding. + +Skunks should have plenty of food especially during the summer and they +should be fed at regular intervals, giving just enough for a meal each +time. It is advisable to give a mixed diet, partly animal and partly +vegetable. They will eat almost all kinds of flesh and fish, table +scraps, fruits, especially if very ripe, melons, sweet potatoes, berries, +etc. One of the most satisfactory foods is bread and milk, but it is +considered too expensive by some people. However, it should be given +occasionally. They will eat carrion, but such food should not be given, +for it is likely to cause disease. In the fall especially, when they are +laying on fat for winter, they should have plenty of food. In winter +they do not require so much. It is a lack of meat food that causes them +to eat their young and one should feed well during the spring and autumn. + +Skunks feed largely on insects, grubs, etc., and if they have range +enough will supply themselves with the greater portion. They are fond of +eggs, either fresh or spoiled, and should be given a feed of this kind +occasionally if possible. They also have a fondness for poultry. + +The matter of providing sufficient food is not as difficult as it would +appear at first glance. If the farm is located near a large town, +butchers, hotel and restaurant keepers will generally save table scraps, +stale bread, etc., on request, if one will make a regular habit of +calling for it. This is why it seems desirable to establish a skunkery +close to or in a city. Even in the country the neighbors will help out. +The farmers will be only too glad to have you take the dead stock, +poultry, etc., thus saving them the time and labor of otherwise +disposing of it. + +As before stated, the Laymon Skunkery is an ideal farm. We have a large +range of gully land through which runs a natural spring, and is covered +with a dense underbrush. The skunk run wild here, male and female +breeders after the regular rutting season is over. We feed them only +once a day, at evening, and that mostly hominy hearts mixed with water +and milk. Just now, June 23rd, they are as fat as prime porkers and in +excellent condition. We are experimenting on cutting out all meat for at +least five days each week. We maintain that 25c will cover the expense +of raising a skunk to maturity. They are wild for mulberries and +"roasting ears." Enjoy ripe apples and roots. Relish clover, and like +cats get crazy over fish, and there is no doubt about them liking "cat +meat," and the flesh of rabbits, fresh or tainted. + + +Breeding. + +The mating season comes late in February and in March and the young +animals make their appearance in May, the period of gestation being +about nine weeks. The young are born hairless or furless, and remain +blind from 4 to 5 weeks. The mother will wean her young at from 7 to 9 +weeks of age. Care should be taken to note the symptoms, as when the +young refuse to be weaned, the mother is likely to injure them. They are +fully matured in six months, and their hides become prime and ready for +market. They breed when a year old and live about 7 years. + +After weaning the young should be allowed to run wild in a pen where +there are other young animals. But not with the old males until such a +time as they are able to protect themselves. + +One male animal will easily serve eight or ten females and he should be +left in their company a number of days. After that he should be removed +and to make certain, another male should be installed for a few days. +Two males should never be allowed in an inclosed pen with the females at +one time or they will fight and one or both may be seriously injured. +They seem to know enough to keep out of each other's way on the range. + +We believe, however, that to allow the males and females to run wild (if +the range is large enough) has a tendency to create larger litters. We +believe that the females cohabit with more than one male at rutting time +and that additional young are created at each service. We know that our +litters are larger in number than is ordinarily supposed, ranging from +six to ten, whereas when served by one as above, the litters averaged +from four to eight. + +Great care should be exercised in the selection of the males for +breeding stock. Only the large and healthy animals of good color should +be used and all others should be killed and their skins marketed, or the +live altered animals sold for pets, while they are in good condition. +Never allow a breeder to die of old age. Sell the pelts early and use +young stock for the purpose. + +While the animals do not always breed strictly true to color, the white +markings may be greatly reduced and the general stock improved by +selected breeding. One should, each year secure fresh breeding stock +from other localities and related animals should not be allowed to breed +together or in a few years the result will be disastrous. One can not be +too careful in this respect for it is very important. + +After the mating season the female should be separated, placed in small +enclosures and they should be well fed or otherwise they may kill and +eat the young. They should be allowed to remain in these small +enclosures until the young animals are large enough to take care of +themselves, when they should be separated and the females may again be +placed in the large enclosure. + +From the commencement of the breeding season until late in the fall the +animals require a larger amount of food than during the winter and +especially during the breeding season and while the mother is still +nursing the young they will require plenty of nourishing food. They +require fresh drinking water at all times and the enclosures should be +so arranged that each compartment will be supplied. + +As before stated one should use care in selecting animals for breeding +purposes as it is in this way that the quality of the fur will be +improved and the business made to be a profitable one. If you wish to +increase the number of animals do not be tempted for the sake of the +higher prices realized for the finer skins to kill off animals that +should be kept for breeding. + +On the whole, one should study the habits of the animals on every +opportunity and attend to their wants. If one will give the proper +attention to the animals and take an interest in them there is no reason +why he should not succeed. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +Trapping, Skinning, Shipping. + + +The skunk belongs to the weasel family, and is nocturnal in its habits, +but unlike other fur-bearing animals of the weasel family, lacks +alertness. It is exceedingly slow in locomotion compared with other +animals, and naturally falls an easy prey to the average hunter or +trapper. + +The only drawback and reason why this animal was not extensively hunted +or trapped and the skin marketed twenty or thirty years ago, was the +danger of being sprayed with their peculiar essence. The fur is fine and +eagerly sought after, especially the black furred skins, which bring +high prices. As many as 500,000 skunk skins are marketed in a year. + +The skins are generally divided into four or five distinct grades, and +each grade is then assorted accordingly to quality and size. Skunks +should not be killed for the pelt out of season, but this is true of all +animals, where the furred skin has a market value. The open season for +Minnesota, Dakotas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Montana and northern sections, is +from November 1st to February 15th, varying somewhat upon the weather. +South or middle states the season opens somewhat earlier, and naturally +closes on approach of warm weather. The fur of the skunk is the first of +all fur bearing animals to become prime, and is also first to suffer the +loss of its lustre and primeness. + + +How to Kill Without Being Scented. + +There are many ways and methods in common use for capturing and killing +this animal, but probably the best is the use of steel traps, though a +long stick is equally as good, providing the one who holds it +comprehends his business and uses same advantageously. The author has +known two lads to kill and skin forty skunks in a day. Of course, great +care must be exercised to kill the animal without receiving a discharge +of the perfume. A six to eight foot long stick, one and a half to two +inches in diameter is the proper weapon and instrument to use in killing +skunks. A smart blow on the back about one to two inches beyond the tail +will readily fell the animal. This blow will paralyze and benumb the +muscles and nerves employed by the animal to distribute its obnoxious +fluid. An additional blow is necessary, and the latter should be given +on top of the head. + + +Steel Traps. + +Steel traps are used with good effect. They should be set just before +the hole and be covered with loose bits of dirt, leaves or other +vegetation. Some prefer to use bait, the latter can be a beef head, a +chicken, or, in fact, any chunk of old meat or carcass. Drag same in +various ways and drop in a conspicuous place or in center of a nest of +traps. The trap should be attached to a clog, or loose bushes, never +attach two traps to the same article. Skunks often spring traps set for +mink, wolf and other animals, but seldom devour or even touch a victim +should they come upon same while making their nocturnal visits. + + +A Box Trap. + + [Illustration: Box Trap for Catching small Animals Alive.] + +The usual bait for skunk is birds, bits of meat, pieces of chicken and +rabbit, whether old or fresh. A good method and trap is to bury a large +dry-good box; see that the top is even with the surface of the earth, +place light brushes, hay or straw across the opening, upon which +sprinkle a little loose earth. Some prefer to make an artificial opening +in top of box after same is buried, into which the skunk will descend, +rather fall in, but cannot get out. Some strong smelling bait should be +placed in the box, which is to attract the animal from a distance. As +many as eight skunks have been caught during one night by the use of +this style of box trap. This seems to prove that skunk do not make a +noise when caught. + + +A Barrel Trap. + + [Illustration: Barrel Trap. If Set on the Slope of a Hill, Will Capture + More Than one Animal.] + +Another method is the so-called barrel trap. A sugar, vinegar or whisky +barrel will answer. Remove the head and securely fasten the bait on +inside of bottom of barrel. Place the barrel in a slanting position, +open part toward the earth, and arrange by balancing the barrel in such +a way that when the skunk enters by crawling up in a barrel, being +attracted there by the bait, the barrel with the skunk will tip over and +Mr. Skunk fall on his nose inside of the barrel and be a captive. This +is a good and cheap trap and the victim cannot get out, though only one +animal can be caught at one time. Some trappers dig the skunk out, +others dig until they reach the cavity in which they usually have their +nests and are found huddled up together in a bunch. If found in such a +position it is an easy matter to suffocate them, thus obliterating all +possible chances of the animals distributing their obnoxious perfume. +All that is necessary after one sees the animals is to cover them up +with soft dirt, which should be lightly tamped every two inches of +filling and continued until about fifteen to eighteen inches is securely +tamped. In about fifteen to twenty minutes the trapper can uncover the +den by removing the earth, and he will find the animals suffocated. +After all, it is poor policy to suffocate whole dens of skunk. They +should be caught alive. + +It is unnecessary, but we recommend for the trapper, (new beginners) or +hunters, to remove the perfume containers (glands) before skinning as +one is likely to cut into the bags and distribute the perfume, but if +removed all danger of coming in contact with the liquid weapon is of the +past. + +Skunks, when located in holes, can be smoked out or suffocated, either +with common smoke or vapors arising from burning sulphur. To locate the +distance of digging, insert a long switch or telegraph wire into the +hole. The author has personally seen trappers dig down for a short +distance and then reach after the animals with their hands, and sure +enough they succeed in bringing the animals, one by one, from their den. +Strange as it seems no perfume was discharged. This is probably due to +the fact that the other trapper assisted by knocking them senseless +immediately after their heads appeared through the hole. A piece of +¾-inch round iron, about twelve inches in length, was used. Trappers +relate and claim that it is a positive fact that the skunk will refrain +from biting or discharging perfume while in their holes. + + [Illustration: A Battery of Brooding Dens on the Laymon Farm.] + +Deadfalls, figure four and other home-made traps can be employed, though +the animal must be skinned promptly, and often the fur becomes damaged +from the instrument itself or by long delay and exposure to the weather. +There are many other methods and ways to capture and kill this animal, +but by the foregoing any one contemplating to trap or hunt will have the +essential knowledge. + +The rifle can be used whenever possible, but the use of the shotgun is +detrimental to the skin, and its use should be prevented when the +question of its fur is taken into consideration. The animal should not +be entirely eradicated from any particular locality, as the skunk is +more beneficial than harmful to the farms, and again, the killing of +skunks out of season is entirely absurd and uncalled for, the animal +being harmless. The meat while not generally consumed, can be used, +though when fried, it is dry and tough, resembling bull meat in that +respect. The fat is used for medicinal purposes. Skunk oil is highly +recommended for sore throat, croup, etc. + + +Killing, Skinning and Stretching. + +When "killing time" comes, care should be taken to not frighten the +animals left for breeding purposes more than is absolutely necessary. +All animals that are tame enough should be driven into a separate +enclosure and out of sight of the others before being killed. Perhaps as +good a method of killing as any is to use a good club, striking on the +hips just over the region of the scent sac. Skunk should be killed +without the enclosure becoming strongly scented. A pole several feet +long with a strong loop on the end can be slipped over their tails. The +animal can now be lifted clear off the ground and carried wherever the +killing is desired. Drowning is not recommended, as it takes the fur +hours to dry and is therefore extra work. Some even claim that the +water spoils the luster of the fur to a certain extent. + +Skunk do not leave their dens during severe weather, so that it is +advisable to begin selecting those that are to be killed days and even +weeks in advance of the time decided upon. These should be placed in an +enclosure or pen by themselves so that the remaining ones will not be +disturbed. Animals selected need not be operated upon, though the scent +sac should be removed before skinning. + +The animals that are to be kept for breeding purposes need not be fed so +heavily during the winter months or after those that were intended for +market have been killed. Of course in the spring after the females have +young, they must be fed heavily. + +Some raisers as soon as the young are weaned, select those that are to +be killed the coming winter, keeping them separate from the breeding +stock so that they can be fed properly. That is a great saving of food, +as those for market should be fed much more than the breeders at this +season--say during the months of September, October and November. + + +Two Methods of Skinning. + +There are two distinct methods of skinning fur-bearing animals, and +skins are known as "cased" or "open" skins, according to the method of +removing the pelt. Open skins are those removed by ripping the skin down +the belly and are stretched out flat. Cased skins are those drawn off +the body from the tail to the head, by ripping the skin on the backs of +the hind legs. + +The skunk skins should be cased. Cut off the front feet with a knife or +hatchet, cut around the hind feet and rip down the back of the hind +legs, using care when cutting and skinning around the scent glands. +Split the tail about one-third of its length on the under side, and skin +it that far by using the knife; then strip it from the bone by means of +a split stick. Grasp the stick with your right hand, palm up, and with +the tail between the second and third fingers, tail pointing up; hold +the carcass by placing the left hand on the hind quarters; close your +right hand and give a steady pull upwards and the skin will be stripped +from the tail quickly and easily. Now draw the skin downward, off the +body, to the shoulders. Here two thin muscles will insist on hanging +fast to the skin; put your finger under them and tear them loose. You +can now get hold of the front legs, and strip the skin from them. Strip +the skin on down to the head, then feel for the base of the ears and +cut them off close to the head. Skin on to the eyes; here you must use +the knife again, but use care not to enlarge the eye aperture. Cut the +skin loose about the mouth and the end of the nose, but don't cut the +nose off the skin. The pelt now resembles a small, narrow sack, with fur +side in. Before you lay it down, turn it with the fur side out and thus +keep the skin clean until you are ready to flesh and stretch it. + + +Skins Should be Fleshed. + +The skin of any animal should be fleshed and stretched as soon as +possible after it is removed from the carcass. If the weather is +somewhat warm and the skin remains uncleaned and unstretched a day or +two, it may start to taint. + +For fleshing cased skins I use two boards, one about three inches wide +and three feet long for small skins, and the other five inches wide and +four feet long for larger ones. These fleshing boards must be perfectly +smooth and flat. They should not be beveled towards the edge like a +stretching board, but should have the edges slightly rounded. + +Before fleshing a cased skin be sure that there are no burrs or other +foreign substances in the fur, for such would cause you to cut the skin, +then draw the pelt on the board, fur side in. Now with the base of the +board resting on the floor and the nose against your chest, shove the +fat and flesh from the skin with the knife or hatchet, from the head to +the tail. The instrument should be held at an angle of about 40 degrees. +Don't try to flesh on the edge of the board or you will injure the skin. +Turn the skin occasionally until you are all the way around and the pelt +is perfectly clean of flesh and fat. The thin sheet of muscle found on +the back of the skunk should not be removed, but the loose rolls behind +the shoulders should be removed down to a point where it appears to be +firmly attached to the skin. Don't scrape away at a skin of any kind +until nothing remains but the scarf skin and the fur. There is such a +thing as overdoing it, and one should remember that he is only to remove +the loose parts, which are not a part of the skin. Skunk, oppossum, and +muskrats are the skins which are the most likely to be overdone, and the +skunk in particular. + + +Stretching Important. + +After the skins are fleshed they are ready for stretching. I advise the +use of the three-piece board. To use the three-piece board, turn the +skin with the flesh side out and insert the two main pieces of the +board, the flat edges together; draw the skin down to its full extent +and fasten the hind legs with two nails to each. Be sure that the skin +is on the board squarely, the back on one side, and the belly on the +other, then insert the wedge between the two pieces of the board. Put +the wedge in firmly, but don't drive it in with a hammer, for there is +such a thing as over-stretching a skin. Then draw the back down and +fasten it with two nails near the root of the tail. Then turn the board +over, and stretch the other side, fastening it also with two nails. Now +fasten all the edges by placing the nails 1½ or 2 inches apart, +keeping the legs one-half on each side of the board. See that the nose +of the skin does not slip over the end of the board and fasten the skin +of the lower jaw with two nails. The tail of the skunk must be stretched +out flat as far as it is split. Now take your jackknife and make a little +incision in the tip of the tail of all animals except the otter. This is +to allow the air to circulate and let the moisture drain out. If the +weather is very warm, put a little salt in the tail to keep it from +tainting. The loss of the tail will detract heavily from the value of +the skin, and in case the bone has broken off, as happens sometimes, the +tail should be opened on the under side and the bone removed. After the +tail is attended to, loop a string around the nails in the lower jaw and +hang the pelt in a cool, dry, airy place to cure. Be sure that it swings +free, and does not rest against the other skins. + +A few remarks about packing furs for shipment may not come amiss. Never +ship furs until they are perfectly dry for they may taint in shipping. +It is not necessary, however, for the tails to be perfectly dry. Make +the skins up into a nice, neat package and sew it in a burlap. Don't +roll skins; pack them flat. It is best to wrap them in paper before +placing them in the package. Always put a card, bearing your name and +address, inside of the package to help identify them, in case the +outside tag gets torn off. Put two shipping tags on each package and +fill them out with your name and address in the place reserved for it. +When you give them into the hands of the express company, give their +true value, as near as you can, and be sure that the agent marks the +valuation on the receipt. Then in case they are lost, you can hold the +express company responsible. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +Habits of The Skunk. + + +Skunks are found in all parts of the United States, with the exception +of the mountainous district of the West. They occur again to the west of +the mountain ranges and also are found in most parts of Southern Canada. +They are found in the prairie country and in the hilly and mountainous +districts of the East, and are at home in the "wilds" as well as in the +thickly settled districts, however, they seem to thrive best in the +farming sections and especially if the country is of a hilly nature. +Their dens are located along the gravelly hillsides, quite often under +the roots of trees and stumps but in the prairie they den along the +washouts and creek banks. In thickly settled sections they frequently +make their home under houses and outbuildings, showing practically no +fear of man and often appropriate the den of the woodchuck. + +They are nocturnal animals and as a rule do not wander far from the den +but in the fall they travel farther, looking for a good den in which to +spend the winter. Again, in early spring during the mating season, the +males travel considerably. While they are not a hibernating animal, they +stay in their dens during cold weather, also when the snow is loose and +deep, but are sure to be out on the first nice night. + +The mating season of this animal is in February and early March and the +young are born mostly in May, although some will be born in April. There +are usually from four to ten young in a litter but occasionally there +will be a larger number. + +The value of a skunk skin depends mainly on its size and markings, they +being graded by the buyers entirely by the amount of black fur, +providing, of course, that the skin is prime and well handled. + +Being slow moving animals, they can not catch the more active animals +and birds as do the other members of the weasel family and their food +consists mainly of mice, insects and grubs, also of the eggs and young +of such birds as nest on the ground. They are very fond of poultry and +frequently visit the poultry houses, killing the young birds. They also +feed on carrion. When they can get it they will eat almost any kind of +animal food. Even in the wild state the skunk is not, strictly speaking, +a carnivorous animal as they will eat and in fact are fond of sweet corn +when in a milky state, also sweet potatoes, melons and wild fruits. It +appears that if the male skunk is not separated from the female at +breeding time, the female will kill the male, presumably to protect her +young. And on the other hand the male will kill and eat the young if +given the chance. + +Robert B. Phillips relates the following in H-T-T: + + "I wish to relate an experience with the lowly skunk. I found some + skunk signs near an old cave large enough for a small boy to creep in. + I set one trap near the main entrance and another one about fifteen + feet away both fastened to clogs. (I wish to state before I go farther + that the cave has a sickening sulphur smell and in the winter time, no + matter how deep the snow is elsewhere, you will not find any for about + three feet around the mouth of the cave.) Well I visited the traps the + next morning and upon arriving at the cave I saw two skunks about + twenty feet from the hole. One was eating at the hind quarters of the + other. Of course I thought they were both in my traps, but when about + forty feet away the victorious skunk saw me and started climbing an + embankment below the cave and I noticed he did not have a toe pincher + clinging to him. The skunk was only two feet from his dwelling when I + made a quick shot with a twenty two rifle. Of course I missed so I + knew he was gone for the time being. I went to the other one and found + him breathing his last. He had his entire tail, scent glands and the + meat all eaten off the bones at the junction of the hind legs and the + base of the backbone. In fact the hole in the body was so large that a + full sized baseball could be put into the abdomen and the skunk still + had a little life in him yet. Neither of them had thrown their scent. + + "Two days later I caught the other one, the largest male skunk I ever + caught. When I went there he was leisurely eating a rabbit he had + evidently caught. This happened in the beginning of December and both + were male skunks. + + "I know of another case where skunks turned Cannibalistic. This + happened to some young trappers who were in the habit of catching the + skunks in September and early October and keeping them until they were + prime. They had eight or nine in an old spring wagon. One morning he + went out to see them and found they had killed and eaten one of their + own number. There are a few of those fellows around here. They are + afraid another fellow might catch one or two of them. + + "One time I caught a skunk and I got quite near it kept on digging in + the leaves and every once in a while it would unearth a bug or insect + which it would promptly devour. Some people have an idea that a skunk + does nothing but steal chickens. This he does sometimes, but he makes + up for that by catching cut worms and other insects which spoil + thousands of dollars worth of crops annually. I have opened their + stomachs already and found centipedes and angle worms and lots of + beetles in them. Skunk also loves mice." + + +Breeding. + +Earl Williamson says: + + "I see in the H-T-T where persons have found skunk dens with nearly + all female skunks. My experience has been that in every den there is + one male and two or more females; twenty-two being the highest I have + ever heard of being taken from one den. The females and male den up + early while the rest travel around in nice weather and stay in any + hole in bad weather." + + Says a Nebraska trapper: "I have seen from 2 to 12 skunk in one den, + but never more than 1 male with a den of females. The males of a + litter seem to be forced to leave, only one remaining. The males so + treated den themselves individually at a distance from the herd of + females, returning in the spring. I have never known them to use their + odor in a fight among themselves, neither have I known them to make a + noise other than patting on the ground with their front feet." + +J. M. Bray writes of Skunk Handling: + + "Norris Johnson, John K. Hallman and myself went into the ring and + started the performance by taking a pair each of live skunks by the + tails and holding them while the pictures were taken. Some of the + onlookers thought that was wonderful the way we handled those skunks. + Now, right here is where I want to say that you can do it just as well + as I can, if it is necessary for you to handle them. Go to them with a + quiet, but firm step; take a good hold on their tails and you can + carry them anywhere you want to. I have had a number of inquiries + whether my skunks were odorless. I will say they are not and it is not + necessary to make them odorless. If you use them gently you can have + them around for a year and no one would know that you had them. Some + ask, will black skunks breed all black, or will some breed back into + lower grades? It is a known fact that all animals will breed back + sometimes, but by having black you will breed black. But I find by + having black bucks and by having short stripe females (and no threes + or fours) your breed will be from fifty to seventy-five per cent + black, or No. 1. + + "Some have asked me what to feed them. Skunks will eat anything that a + cat or dog will eat, also various fruits, such as apples, pears, + persimmons, sweet corn or field corn (so long as the grains are soft). + Where you have a number you will have to figure on the feed. Skim milk + and stale bread, butchers' scraps, meat from dead animals, dead + chickens or anything of that nature, but it will be necessary to vary + their feed occasionally. + + "If you start with a pair or so for an experiment you do not need such + a large enclosure, but if you want to make a business of it, then I + would advise you not to be afraid to spend a few dollars on your pen + and the larger the lot the larger the pen. Don't crowd them or you + will be the loser." + +Skunk have no means of defense other than their scent, but this is +sufficient in many cases and the majority of people will give them a +wide berth. This scent is only used when alarmed or frightened and in +captivity there is no trouble whatever from this source as they soon +learn that there is no occasion for alarm and become quite tame. + + +CULLED FROM CORRESPONDENCE. + + "While trapping this last season I caught a skunk each night for three + nights in succession at the same den and the three brought $12.00 + which I thought was pretty good for three skunks out of the same den. + I have caught as high as eight skunks in one day."--Lee Guthrie. + + "Skunks can be raised as easily as house cats, providing you have an + enclosure where they cannot dig out or climb over. For every hundred + old skunks, you should have an acre of ground enclosed. + + "I experimented for three years on a small scale. The first year I had + one male and three females. They brought forth fifteen young. One + died, plus four old ones, leaving eighteen--eleven females and seven + males. Five of the young graded as No. 2, balance star black. + + "The second year I started with twelve females and two males, bringing + forth forty-three young, plus fourteen old ones, total fifty-seven, + less three, which died, leaving a balance of fifty-four. I took out + seventeen males and five No. 2 females, leaving a balance of + thirty-two black ones."--I. M. Bray. + + "When cold weather comes the female dens up and with very few + exceptions does not stir until mating season which is in February. + Trappers will tell you that fully 90 per cent of the November, + December and January catch are males. After February 10, when the + running season is on the catch is largely females. At this season a + skunk tracked to its den and dug out has often resulted in as many as + eight or ten. These are mostly females."--H-T-T. + + "In regard to the habits of skunk in the Elkhorn River District, + Nebraska, will say they usually den in old badger holes, cleaning them + out in the fall, sometimes making a cavity in them 2x3 feet by 18 + inches high, preferring hilltops, bluffs and slough banks as + situations. Sometimes they dig dens themselves, seldom going over 1 + foot below the surface. The cavity is bedded 6 inches deep and the + hole about half filled with dry grass."--Nebraskan. + + "Farm readers, please don't kill the skunk during the summer when his + hide is worthless, because he got a chicken or two, but wait and take + his hide in the winter. It will more than pay for the chicken if you + really must rid your back woods of him, why not take him with box + traps and start a fur farm?"--Peerless Bum. + + "John M. McCrary asks if we have ever heard a skunk make a noise. I + can answer that by saying positively yes. I have two male skunks + together in a pen and we have been awakened every night about 10 + o'clock by their hideous squeals. They seem to be very congenial + during the daytime," says Harold Pugh. + + Probably the sound you think so hideous is sweet music to the skunks. + However, it may be their war cry. If you would watch them and study + their habits, especially at night, you might make some valuable + contributions to our knowledge of skunk habits. + + "Why don't all of you fellows start a fur farm? It will be the most + paying business in the country pretty soon."--Albert C. Hancock. + + "The natural habits of the skunk is to live in holes in the ground, + rocks, trees, stumps, etc. Their food consists of mice, birds, bugs, + crickets, grasshoppers, bees, wasps, yellow jackets, angle worms, + seeds, berries, ground roots and barks."--Bureau of Agriculture. + +Beyond all doubt the skunk has been given more consideration by raisers +of fur-bearers than any other animal, with the exception of the fox. +There are many who have tried raising these animals with more or less +success and where the experimenters have used good judgment and have +given the subject all of the attention it deserves, they have been +reasonably successful. Most of these people have started in on a small +scale, having perhaps only a dozen or two of skunks to start with; in +fact nowhere has the business been carried on as extensively as some +newspaper articles would lead one to believe; the majority of these +parties having at the most only two or three hundred animals. + +It is the smaller experimenters, in other words those who have begun on +a small scale, who have been most successful. They are for the most part +farmers who had even before venturing into the business a fair knowledge +of the nature and habits of the skunk and therefore were more qualified +for making the business a successful one. Farmers naturally take an +interest in all nature and are most likely to give the proper amount of +attention to the animals, also learn their habits readily and act +accordingly and these qualities are absolutely necessary for the +successful raising of all fur-bearing animals. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +Miscellaneous Information. + + +The most successful stock breeders are those who make a special study of +their animals and take a great interest in them and those who do not are +almost certain to fail and really deserve failure. If so much care is +necessary in breeding domestic animals, how much more important the care +in handling the wild creatures, knowing so little of them as the average +man does. But even handicapped by lack of knowledge the experimenters +have been fairly successful from the start if they were right men for +the business. Without exception they all report that the animals breed +well in captivity and are easily kept; in a short time becoming quite +tame and losing their fear of man. + +The skunk is an animal which is despised and feared by many people +because of its readiness to make use of its powerful scent, the only +means of defense with which nature has provided it, but it is only when +frightened that it uses this scent and once they have become tame and +learn that they will not be harmed they are practically harmless. We +will say, however, to those who are afraid of the scent, do not attempt +to raise skunks, but devote your time to some other calling for which +you are more fitted. But if you want to make clean money, raise skunk. + + +Removing the Scent Sacs. + +It is true that the scent glands may be removed from the young animals +and we can see no reason why this should have any effect on their +breeding. + +The operation is easily performed and if done when the skunks are very +young, about the time they first open their eyes, they are seldom harmed +by it. The operator should provide himself with an old bag, and seated +on a low bench with the bag between his knees should place the animal in +the bag, leaving only the hind quarters uncovered. With a small, sharp +knife make a ¼ or 3/8-inch incision over the gland, and with an awl +lift up on the gland, which at that age will be about the size of a +cranberry, at the same time pressing down gently on the surrounding +tissue with the flat side of the knife. The gland will lift up readily. +Then holding it with the awl, cut it through the center, allowing the +remaining half to return to place. The reason the entire gland is not +removed is that it is firmly united to the rectum and the animal is +likely to be seriously injured if one attempts to remove the entire +gland. All of the scent, and only half of the gland is necessary. +Following is a more detail description of the operation of removing the +scent sac: + + +Description of The Scent Glands of The Skunk. + +The annal glands which are possessed also by other members of the weasel +family are developed in the skunk to such a wonderful degree as to +constitute an effective means of defense. They are not related in any +way to the genito-urinary system either in location or function. They +are the same in both sexes. + + [Illustration: Laymon and Assistant Removing the Scent Sac.] + +The scent fluid which is the special secretion of these glands is +contained in two sacs located beneath the skin, one on each side of the +vent. Each sac is embedded in a powerful, gizzard-like, muscular +envelope the contraction of which discharges the scent fluid. Fig. 1 and +Fig. 2 show general location and form. + +Within the rectum just beyond the sphincter muscle which ordinarily +keeps the vent closed are two papillae from which the scent is +discharged. Each papilla is connected with one of the scent sacs by a +discharge duct. + +Ordinarily the discharge papillae are not visible but when the skunk +discharges the scent fluid the tail is raised and doubled close along +the back, the vent is relaxed and turned outward to such an extent that +the pappillae becomes external and from them the scent is discharged and +directed with remarkable accuracy. + +The skunk takes great care not to get any of the scent on its tail or +fur and the slightly skunky odor which fur garments sometimes have is +usually the result of carelessness in killing or skinning the animal. To +kill without scent the backbone should be broken by a quick blow or the +skunk should be drowned. + +When held by the tail with head hanging down and with tail and backbone +in a straight line the skunk cannot control the muscles which evolve the +rectum and discharge the scent. Care must be taken that the skunk does +not twist or climb upward. It should be held low to keep its interest +centered on the ground which it will strive to reach. + + +Directions for Removing the Scent Sacs From Live Skunks +Without the Escape of Any of the Scent Fluid. + + [Illustration: FIG. 1, X-RAY OF SCENT SYSTEM.] + +This operation is simple and may be readily learned by anyone who will +follow these instructions carefully. No anaesthetic is needed. + +1. The beginner should dress in old clothes or overalls and as a +precaution should wear goggles to protect the eyes in case of accident. +An old hat or a paper sack worn as a cap will protect the hair. With +these safeguards the learner feels perfectly at ease and therefore the +chance of accident is much lessened while acquiring proficiency. + +2. A heavy plank supported on two wooden buckets makes a good +operating table. Straddling this plank the operator and his assistant +sit facing each other. + +3. The proper instruments are as follows: + + 1 nickel plated scalpel (knife). + 1 nickel plated tenaculum (hook). + 1 nickel plated sound probe (probe). + 1 pair nickel plated special extracting forceps. + 1 pair nickel plated automatic clamping forceps. + 2 pair goggles (worn only by beginners as safeguard). + +4. Several pieces of clean white cloth about three inches square +should be provided. + +5. The instruments should be boiled about ten minutes in clear water +to insure cleanliness. During the operation they should be kept in a +saucer containing a five per cent solution of carbolic acid which may be +placed on a box within easy reach of the operator's right hand. + +6. The operator first takes his seat and spreads a gunny-sack or +burlap across the plank just in front of him. + +7. The assistant then brings the skunk carrying it by the tail with +his right hand. His left hand should grasp the nape of the neck to help +keep the head down for the back-bone and tail must at all times be kept +in a straight line. + +8. The assistant now, by means of his hold on the nape of the neck +brings the skunk into a horizontal position (keeping the backbone and +tail in a straight line) and lays it belly downward on the gunny-sack +with head toward the operator. + + [Illustration: FIG. 2, SECTIONAL VIEW OF SCENT SYSTEM. + + A--Scent Sac H--Original Incision + B--Muscular Envelope I--Rectum + C--Discharge Duct K--Sphincter Muscle Encircling Vent + D--Discharge Papilla L--Scent Sac Pushing Through Incision + E--Vent + F--Wall of Rectum + G--Cut to Sever Duct] + +9. The operator wraps the gunny-sack snugly about the skunk while the +assistant releases his hold on the nape of the neck. + +10. The assistant now immediately places the forefinger of his left +hand with light pressure over the vent, while the operator proceeds to +turn the skunk on its back keeping the gunny-sack wrapped firmly about +the animal. + +11. Now only the tail and butt of the skunk are exposed to view. The +gunny-sack covers all four feet and head so there can be no scratching +or biting. + +12. The operator brings his knees together over the plank and thereby +holds the skunk. This enables him to have both hands free. + +13. The operator now relieves the assistant by placing the fore-finger +of his own left hand over the vent. With the thumb of the same hand he +locates the scent gland just to the right of the vent. The gland is +easily recognized as feeling hard and round like a marble beneath the +skin abreast of the vent, neither forward nor backward from the vent. + +14. Having the thumb and fore-finger about an inch and a quarter apart +the operator now squeezes the gland tight enough to draw the skin firmly +over it. His right hand is free. + +15. With a piece of cloth dipped in the carbolic solution he moistens +the fur and skin held between his thumb and finger. + +16. With the scalpel, starting at least three-eights of an inch from +the vent so as not to injure the sphincter muscle which encircles the +vent, the operator makes an incision through the skin about five-eighths +of an inch long directly over the center of the scent gland and in a +straight line with the vent, as shown at H in Fig. 1. + +17. The incision is now carefully deepened until the firm, gizzard-like +envelope in which the sac lies is reached. The beginner is likely to +mistake this firm, muscular envelope for the sac itself because the +envelope is lighter in color than the tissues previously cut. + +18. He now proceeds more gradually to cut through the muscular +envelope as shown at H in Fig. 2, taking light strokes with the scalpel +and cutting only a slight depth each time. + +19. If the muscular envelope cannot be held firmly enough by the +pressure of thumb and finger so the knife will cut well the muscle may +be hooked with the tenaculum and thus held by the assistant while the +operator cuts. + +20. Soon a small white bead appears in the bottom of the incision as +shown at L in Fig. 2. There is no mistaking this as it is the white sac +itself pushing through a very small opening which has been made through +the envelope. + +21. This opening is now carefully increased by turning the dull side +of the scalpel toward the protruding sac and cutting away from it, first +on one side and then on the other. + +22. The sac keeps pushing outward more and more until it is about the +size of a pea. The cutting is then stopped. + +23. Now by means of the extracting forceps the sac is gradually lifted +by raising it a little on one side and then on the other. The object is +to work the sac through the small opening without tearing it by too +violent a pull and without lacerating it by gripping too hard with the +forceps. The proper way is to grasp lightly and pull gently here and +there at its base. + +24. When half the sac has been worked through the opening the sac +suddenly pops up out of the gizzard-like envelope. + +25. The sac is now lifted carefully by the extracting forceps to see +that it is all clear and attached only by the discharge duct. + +26. If any slight muscular tissue is found clinging to the sac it may +be torn away with the sound or tenaculum or carefully cut with the +scalpel. + +27. The duct, which alone holds the sac, is now clamped in the +automatic forceps as near the sac as feasible as shown in Fig. 3. + +28. The assistant now holds these forceps and thus supports the sac so +the operator can see the duct clearly. + +29. The operator then carefully examines the duct preparatory to +cutting it. He must be very sure not to cut it too close to the rectum +or he will cut a round hole in the rectal wall because even a slight +pull on the duct draws the discharge papilla outward and brings with it +the wall of the rectum wrapped about the papilla so as to look like a +continuation of the duct. See C, Figs 1, 2, 3. + +30. By feeling carefully with the sound or the dull side of the +scalpel the end of the papilla nearest the sac is readily discerned by +its firmness or hardness. + +31. The duct is now severed with the scalpel at a point a little way +from the papilla as shown at G in Fig. 3. + +32. The sac is now held free in the clamping forceps and not a +particle of the scent fluid has escaped. + +33. The operator then proceeds in the same manner to locate and remove +the second sac. + + [Illustration: FIG. 3. SAC COMPLETELY WITHDRAWN. + + A--Scent sac F--Wall of Rectum + B--Muscular Envelope G--Cut to Sever Duct + C--Discharge Duct H--Incision to Expose Sac + D--Discharge Papilla I--Rectum + E--Vent (Rectum) J--Tail] + +34. The incisions should be wiped out with a piece of cloth with +carbolic solution and never need any further attention. In a few days +not even the scars can be found. + +35. The operation is performed most easily when the animal is not too +old or fat. Any time from one-third to two-thirds growth is a good age +for this work. + +36. With a little practice the complete operation of removing both +scent sacs should not take over five minutes or skunks may be handled at +rate of ten or twelve per hour. + +The removing of the scent sac has increased the value of No. Four skunk. +Many are sold as pets, and others used for advertising purposes. We do +not go to the trouble of removing the sac on animals we know we are +going to kill soon. There is no danger of scenting when the skunk is +carried suspended by the tail. + +Those who have failed in skunk raising were for the most part people who +knew nothing regarding the habits of the animal and its care when in +captivity. They were men with capital, who began on a large scale +expecting to make a fortune in a short time, but in this they were +mistaken, for many of them lost all that they invested. These parties +have had trouble from the older animals killing and eating the young, +also depradations of owls, but mainly from the first reason. It is our +opinion that this cannibalistic tendency is caused by improper feeding, +as those parties who have used care in that respect have had no trouble +=whatever=. + +To those who are thinking of embarking in the business of skunk farming, +we would say--start on a small scale with only a small number of +animals, say two dozen females and six males. Give them every possible +attention and study them under all conditions. Do not expect to make a +fortune in a short time. + + +Laws Affecting Fur Farming. + +One of the most frequent questions that we are called upon to answer is +"Will the laws of this state allow of keeping fur-bearing animals in +captivity?" This question has caused considerable trouble, for in states +where fur-bearers are protected a part of the year, it is usually +considered unlawful to have the live animals in possession during closed +season, but not always so. + +Only one state, namely New York, has laws making it a misdemeanor to +have protected fur-bearing animals in possession during closed season. +In that state it surely would be unlawful to raise skunks, for the law, +after giving the open season on these animals says: "They shall not be +possessed or killed at any other time." It is our opinion that the +fur-farmer would not get into any trouble with the law, in any state +other than New York, if he would kill the captive animals only during +the open season for the said animals, since the game laws of no other +state say that you may not have the animals in possession. Still there +are fur farms in the state of New York. + +You are obliged to comply with rules and regulations of the Conservation +Commission of New York. You should write to this commission at Albany, +New York, and get their instructions and permission. Fur farming laws +and game laws covering this subject are confused and unsatisfactory. Fur +farmers are likely to find that much depends on the disposition of local +game protectors, and should get in touch with them and with the state +authorities, especially a state like New York. + + +Dye Markings to Denote Sex--Toe Clipping to Denote Age. + +We have installed what we consider a very handy system of skunk labeling +on our farm. For instance we mark the male skunk with a red mark +perpendicularly across the white markings in the head. If he is +"altered," this mark becomes a cross. With the female it is +blue mark--if "altered," the mark becomes a cross. To denote the age we +simply clip a claw each year at a certain time. The unclipped animal is +less than a year old. We seldom keep them over five years as breeders. +Usually sell the pelts during the fourth year. The system seems to work +out very satisfactory. + + +A Simple Fur Press. + +Take a box with a bottom the size you wish the bottom of your bale of +furs to be and turn it bottom side up on the floor near the wall. Then +spread a piece of burlap over it large enough to hang over the edges a +little all the way around. Then lay on a piece of heavy brown paper +about the size of the burlap. Then lay on your furs in a flat, square +pile, the same shape as the top of the box. It is a good plan to brush +the hair all out straight and smooth as you lay them on. Lay them on +until you have them thick enough so that when pressed down they will be +as thick as you want your bale. Then lay on another piece of paper and +burlap about the size of the ones on the bottom. + +Then lay some short pieces of board crosswise under your lever. Then +nail a cleat to the wall the same distance from the floor that the top +of your bale will be when pressed. Then take a piece of good solid board +or anything handy that may be used as a lever and lay across the top of +the bale, catching one end under the cleat on the wall and pry it down +and weight it or have some one hold it for you while you fold the edges +of the paper together smoothly and the burlap in the same way, folding +the corners in neatly. Now you can sew these edges together with some +good stout cord and release your lever, tie on your shipping tags and +you will have a neat secure bundle, all ready for shipment. The bundle +may be strengthened by putting a good stout cord around it lengthwise +and crosswise twice. This makes something to get hold of when handling +it.--L. Dewey. + + +Live Skunks Can be Shipped by Express. + +Skunk skins or live skunk will not be carried by parcels post. Live +skunk in the past have been transported by the express companies usually +at regular merchandise rates, and the occasional shipment of these +animals when well caged and protected did not arouse any great comment. + +Owing to damage incurred, on April 1, 1913, the express companies took +concerted action and passed a joint and official amendment with the +concurrence of the Interstate Commerce Commission, reading as follows: +"SKUNKS--Refuse." This made it impossible to ship live skunks by express +after that date. There was naturally a protest to the express companies +by skunk breeders, and by those accustomed to shipping live skunks. The +express companies finally agreed, however, to accept for shipment skunks +from which the oval glands had been removed. The ruling on skunks was +therefore with the approval of the Interstate Commerce Commission +changed to read, effective May 20, 1913, as follows: "Skunks--Refuse, +unless scent sacs are removed." + +All the express companies concur in this ruling, even the Canadian +Companies. This means that shipments can be made between all points in +the United States or Canada. The removal of the scent sacs is easiest at +the age of five weeks, although it can be done at any time. It does not +seem to injure the skunks in any way or to interfere with their breeding. + +In shipping skunks from the United States to Canada there is no duty, +but, in shipping from Canada to the United States the duty is 20% of the +invoice price. + +At the time of shipment, write a letter to the fur company, that you are +shipping to, advising them of the shipment, and telling how you are +sending the furs, and just how many and what kind of furs you are +sending. If you follow these instructions, you will seldom have any +cause for complaint. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +Questions and Answers. + + +As we are asked certain questions so often we are pleased to give below +answers to those most frequently received: + +"=What is The Best Way For Me to Start Raising Skunks for Fur?=" Start +with a few and increase the number as you can care for them. Dig out or +capture a couple of litters this spring. Mate the males of one litter +with the females of the other litter. There are usually eight to ten +young in a litter. The old skunks mate about March 1st and the young are +born about May 1st. Never inbreed; that is, do not mate related animals. +Furs are becoming scarcer and prices are continually advancing. Those +who start early in this industry will make the most money. + +"=How Can I Breed For Black Skunks?=" Each year save your largest and +blackest skunks to breed from. Market the skins of all the rest when +prime. Be always on the lookout for blacker specimens, especially males. +You can mate one black male to four or five females and even if the +females are not entirely black there will be a good percentage of black +among the young. + +"=What Should I Feed Skunks?=" Skunks in confinement will eat meat of +any kind, bread, milk, whether sweet or sour, many sweet fruits, green +corn and some other vegetables. Table leavings from hotels, waste from +slaughter-houses, dead farm stock or dead chickens are all eaten readily +and take the place of the beetles, grubs and mice which the skunk lives +on when free. Do not give decayed food. Supply fresh water regularly. + +"=I Live in Town; Can I keep Skunks Without The Scent Disturbing My +Neighbors?=" Yes. You can remove the scent sacs from your animals. This +is very easy to do and the skunks do not mind it at all. They do not +lose a meal. After the scent sacs are removed they can never scent +again. Your neighbors will not know you are raising skunks unless you +tell them. + +"=How Long Does it Take to Remove The Scent Sacs?=" With a little +practice you can remove the scent sacs and make a skunk forever +scentless in four or five minutes, or at the rate of 75 to 100 skunks +per day. + +"=Does Any of The Scent Fluid Escape When Removing The Scent Sacs?=" Not +with our method. With proper instruments you can remove the scent sacs +completely without spilling a drop of the scent fluid. + +"=How Can a Skunk Be Tamed?=" The skunk is naturally gentle and not much +afraid of people. When the scent sacs have been removed from a young +skunk it will be found at once quite tame and may be carried about in +your arms like a kitten. If it is handled frequently it will grow up +very tame, will come when called and will eat from the hand. + +"=Are The Scent Sacs The Same in Both Sexes?=" Yes, they are the same in +both sexes. They open into the rectum and are not related in any way to +the reproductive or urinary systems. The scent fluid is not the urine as +many people imagine. + +"=What Do You Pay For Black Skunks?=" We pay from $5 to $15 each for +grade AAA according to time of year, locality and size. The scent sacs +must be removed. We pay express charges on all skunks which we buy. If +you have any choice specimens you wish to sell write us full description +and we will gladly make you quotation. We want 500 skunk now. + +"=What is The Best Age For Removing The Scent Sacs?=" This work can be +done at any age easily unless the skunk is very fat. We strongly +recommend that you begin on young skunks in the spring, any time after +the eyes are open. The young skunks are easily weaned. They readily take +milk or bread and milk and do not need the mother. Do not let them run +with old skunk. + +"=What Kind of Fencing Do I Need For Skunks?=" Poultry netting 2 to 3 +feet in the ground and 6 feet above ground makes the cheapest fence. To +prevent climbing out make at the top an over-hang of netting 12 or 18 +inches wide or place a strip of tin about 18 inches wide on the inside +of the fence near the top to make it smooth and slippery. The netting +should be 1½-inch mesh for the main yard (for adults) and 1-inch mesh +for the breeding pens. The best fencing is made from galvanized tin or +galvanized iron, in our opinion. Read chapter on "Enclosures." + +"=How do you grade Skunk?=" Personally I think the eastern assortment +best; which is as follows: + +"Eastern Assortment. The average size, ordinary color of fur, prime or +unprime pelt is considered, then graded to No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4 +grade. On skunk for illustration: the short shoulder stripe is graded as +No. 1 when prime and full size, the object of this assortment is as few +grades as possible, prices quoted will not permit of as high quotations +as firms quoting Western Assortment, but will figure equally as much if +not more, in dollars and cents." + +The Western Assortment is as follows: + +"Western Assortment. Each pelt is graded to its individual value, first +color, then size, primeness, etc., as high as thirty grades are used; +skunk for instance is graded for black, short narrow and broad, then as +to size and shade and color, etc., each commanding a different value. A +firm using this assortment can quote most any price if they desire and +have their goods just as cheap, if not cheaper, than those using eastern +assortment only." + +"=Where can I sell skunk grease and what does it sell at?=" There is a +small demand for animal oils and grease, but the markets shift from +point to point. You will have to get in touch with these markets through +drug stores and doctors who know addresses of chemists and dealers in +drugs. There are many by-products of the trap line which trappers should +study, to see if they could not work them into commercial lines. Animal +oils are one of these by-products. I think that skunk oil, under a fancy +name, scented with a little musk or perfume, would find ready sale for +chapped hands, sunburn, etc. These oils are usually wasted now. There +is an opening for a dealer in animal oils if he knows the users. + +"=When is the best time to trap Skunk?=" In cold weather, when +fur-bearers den up and hibernate, trappers smoke out more animals in one +day than they can take in traps in a month; besides, they get prime fur +worth the most money. Still we do not advocate this method. They should +be captured alive for breeding purposes. + +"=What do you consider a good scent for skunk?=" Anise oil, as a rule, +is best for skunks. Apples are good skunk bait and meats also are good. + +"=Can you tell me the best method of removing skunks from their dens?=" +It depends on the den. Dig 'em outs, who use shovels, or dynamite, or +crowbars, destroy the dens. There are bellows and smoke blowers for +smoking out the occupants of dens, and the makers would tell you the +best ways. However, as a sporting and financial proposition, you would +better get your skunks by straight trapping or snaring, instead of +killing off whole families as you would do raiding dens. When you track +a skunk to its hole, use the smoker, but don't hog the fur. Leave +breeding stock for another year. + +"=Is it advisable to flesh and scrape skunk hides down to white skin +before hanging up to dry? Can you tell me why dealers do not want fur +hides salted, say, salted slightly, and if any, what detriment it is to +them?=" The clean skin is best. All fat and flesh should be removed, +care being taken not to break into the skin, nor should the skin be +"worked" or drawn too much, in the process. Of course, skins may be +cleaned on the boards. The salt dries the skin and hardens it, making it +brittle and likely to crack. Its action on the skin is not neutralized, +as in the tanning processes by other chemicals. Even a little salt +changes the skin, absorbing the moisture and changing the chemical +constituents of the hide. The best way to preserve fur skins--salt is +simply to prevent decay--is to clean the skins carefully and stretch on +frames or boards, and hang them in a cool, dry, sheltered place where +rodents and insects cannot get them. Of course, pelts should not be left +too long on the stretchers--a few days--and too much care cannot be +taken of them. + +"=Does it spoil fur keeping it through the summer if kept moth proof and +in a cool place?=" Not if it is properly dried and protected from moths. +Some of my friends keep their late catches of fur in perfectly tight +paper bags, with tobacco, holding them over for the early winter or +before-the-London-sales prices. A big slump in the fur market is often +met this way on certain kinds of fur by trappers, but the fur must be +properly dried and carefully stored away from insects, mice, etc. + +"=Will it do to breed to the same male continually?=" We do not advise +it. Young stock from foreign pens should be constantly added to improve +the grade. In breeding should be avoided. + +"=How can live Skunks be shipped?=" If the scent sacs have been removed +you can ship a skunk by express in a box with wire netting over the +opening. If the distance is great, supply plenty of dog biscuit or dry +bread and a dish for milk. Mark on box, "Please give milk and water." If +the weather is cold make a nest of straw in one end of box. + +"=Can I make any money by removing the scent sacs from Skunks?=" Yes, +you should be able to sell the first skunk you operate on, even if +striped, for at least $5 to someone who would like it as a pet or as a +curiosity. A tame skunk will draw big crowds when placed in a store +window for advertising purposes. Amusement Parks are glad to get them. +Money can be made by selling tame skunks or by operating for other +people. + +"=What diseases are common to the skunk?=" They are practically a +diseaseless animal. True they are troubled with lice when kept too +closely confined and fed too much spoiled meat. Any common poultry +powder which will destroy poultry lice will destroy skunk lice. Change +dens and allow the animal to burrow in gravelly earth. Meat diet +sometimes causes scurvy. This can be avoided by feeding a variety of +foods. + +"=How do you prevent infection after removing the scent sac?=" First +wash the parts with a weak carbolic solution taking care not to allow +the solution to enter the rectum, or better still paint the glands with +iodine before operating. Rub over the incision a composition of +turpentine and lard. This will repel flies. + +"=What do you do with the young after weaning?=" We allow the female to +range, and also the young, but in separate pens. Do not make the mistake +of allowing the young ones to range with aged males until they are able +to protect themselves from injury. + + + + +INSTRUMENTS WITH WHICH TO REMOVE SCENT SACS + + +So many persons have written us to know if we handle instruments +suitable to perform the operation of removing the scent sac, that we +have consented to make a selection. + +The proper instruments are as follows: + + 1 nickel plated scalpel (knife). + 1 nickel plated tenaculum (hook). + 1 nickel plated sound probe (probe). + 1 pair nickel plated special extracting forceps. + 1 pair nickel plated automatic clamping forceps. + 2 pair goggles (worn only by beginners as safeguard + against scent fluid unexpectedly entering + the eyes). + +These tools are of a high grade of steel and nickel plated to guard +against rust. A very handy and desirable set of instruments. One set (as +above) packed securely in box, sent by prepaid parcels post for only +$3.00. The most satisfactory set of instruments on the market. Your +order solicited. + +=References: Exchange Bank of Spencer.= + +THE LAYMON FUR FARM CO. +SPENCER INDIANA + + + + + [Illustration: PEN OF WHITE RUNNERS AS BRED AND RAISED BY JOHN F. + CRANE, SPENCER, INDIANA. + + If you want to start right, with foundation stock, or eggs from as + good as there is in the country, write me--same prices at all times + for stock and eggs--134 acres devoted to raising poultry, fruit and + ponies--Breeder of White Indian Runners, Fawn and White Runners-- + White Wyandottes and Barred Rocks. Write me. + + JOHN F. CRANE, Box A1, SPENCER, IND.] + + + + +WANTED + +500 Live Skunk + +We are in the market for 500 AAA skunk, males and females for breeding +purposes. We pay as high as $15.00 for altered, unmaimed stars. Write us +what you have. + +We also handle skunk pelts, Eastern grading, and highest prices paid for +prime stock. Let your dealer quote, then you will understand how much +better we can do for you. + +Write first. We pay express charges. +Reference: Exchange Bank of Spencer. + + +The Laymon Fur Farm Co. +SPENCER INDIANA + + + + +What a big Money King says about +OPPORTUNITY + +"It isn't the want of opportunities, nowadays, for making a man wealthy, +but it is his =recognizing= an opportunity when he meets it in the +middle of the road in the middle of the day." + +He is right. Paste =that= fact on your memory now. I know from +experience. + +And if you are a business or professional man or woman, or working on a +salary and desire to increase your earning power with the least outlay +of capital and with the least effort, look this skunk proposition +squarely in the face. + +And look at it from the viewpoint of good common business sense. It is a +clean, legitimate proposition--a real money-making opportunity right "in +the middle of the road in the middle of the day." + +Why Not Start +a Skunk Farm? + +WE WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP YOU + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Fur Farming For Profit, by Hermon Basil Laymon + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42888 *** |