Opportunity and 'Rat Ranching.
The annual catch of North American raw furs has a monetary value of
approximately twenty-five million dollars. The number of pelts
required to reach such a figure must necessarily be very large.
Trapping is done, more or less, by many people, in many walks of
life, who follow the sport for both profit and pleasure; from the
professional pelt hunter, down to the farmer's boy, who during the
winter indulges in trapping as a side line, tending his traps between
chores.
The fur business is and always has been an important cog in American
industry. It furnishes employment for thousands, from the trapper to
the buyer, manufacturer and retailer; but there is now a cloud of
depression threatening on the horizon of the industry. Fur-bearing
animals, which at one time roamed our prairies, streams and
woodlands, in seemingly unlimited numbers, are now rapidly becoming
very scarce, where a few years previous they were very plentiful. The
beaver and several other species of fur bearers are already
threatened with extinction and are doomed to follow in the wake of
the passenger pigeon and bison, unless something extremely radical is
done in the way of game preservation in comparison to present-day
methods. What has brought about this rapid diminution in the ranks of
fur-bearing animals? It is the rapid advance of civilization which
deprives the fur bearers of their natural haunts. It is the inventive
genius of Americans, who, with highly efficient traps, guns,
especially prepared poisons, smoke-torpedoes and other ingenious
devices, contribute to deplete the ranks of the animals; the numerous
fur houses throughout the country, flooding the mails with their
propaganda urging everyone to trap. We can hardly scan the columns of
a paper or magazine during the fur months but what our gaze will fall
upon an alluring display of raw fur advertisements. These
announcements are continually calling for unlimited quantities of raw
furs; they are ever urging men and boys to push their trapping
operations to the utmost. These concerns are giving free advice to
beginners; they offer free instructions in the art of trapping the
fur bearers. All this has had but one result: The fabulous prices
paid for raw furs and the extensive advertising in recent years have
kindled a crusade on our fur bearers which has developed a crisis.
When trapping is carried on to the extreme folly of taking the
animals which should be left for breeding, then our natural supply of
"wild fur" shall cease to be perpetual.
And that is just what is taking place, in spite of the legislation
passed in favor of the fur bearers--in spite of the laws which have
been enacted for their protection by the various states and
territories. In the light of this fact, the question arises: Where
are the millions of pelts to come from that the world needs each
year? The time is not far off when the demand will exceed the supply.
How can we keep an industry alive that can use millions of dollars'
worth of raw furs annually, thus furnishing employment for thousands
of people? There is only one remedy, and that is--fur farming.
Fur farming is by no means a new idea. Farsighted men experimented
with fur bearers early in the seventies. Many people advance the
theory that the animals will not breed or thrive in captivity; but
this argument is not sound; we need only remember that all our
domestic animals were wild creatures at one time.
True, fur farming, like any other business, has its drawbacks; but
these impediments are rapidly conquered by the persistent and
energetic study and scientific research of enthusiastic men, who are
devotedly interested in the welfare of the animals, and the evolution
of the industry to a higher and better standard. In any case, the
injury is not beyond the remedy. For example, some of the early
pioneers in the business felt very much dejected when they discovered
that the animals did not fur properly in captivity. This was later
found to be due to crowded and improper quarters, improper drainage
and the lack of shade about the enclosures. This has been remedied to
the extent that ranch raised fur now excels the "wild" in quality and
beauty. This testimony is verified by the fact that the sum of $3,800
was paid for the pelt of a single "ranch bred" silver fox; a sum that
has never been realized for the pelt of a wild fox of like variety.
Cannibalism among the animals was another evil fur farmers had to
contend with. This was traced to be due to the feeding of improper
foods, and especially underfeeding.
Abortion must also be guarded against. During pregnancy strangers
must be kept away from the ranch, because during this period females
become very suspicious of them and are nervous and restless, often
injuring themselves when thus excited. This trouble is most common
among animals which were procured in the wilds. Each succeeding
generation of ranch raised stock becomes more and more domesticated;
consequently the keeper finds it much easier to win their confidence.
Practically all the failures in fur farming are due to the lack of
experience of the people thus engaged; their failure to take the
proper interest in the animals, so they may understand them and their
requirements.
There are now numerous fur farms located throughout the northern part
of the United States and Canada. These establishments propagate and
improve the breed of fox, skunk, muskrat, raccoon, mink and opossum.
Fox ranching is the leading branch of this industry. There are many
ranches which specialize in high grade foxes, such as black, silver,
cross and red. Prince Edward Island is the center of this industry;
the most valuable foxes in the world are ranched here, being the
result of careful and selective breeding. John A. Lea, of Summerside,
P. E. Island, is recognized as one of America's leading authorities
on the question. He is a man of wide experience and knows the animals
like a mother knows her flock. In his "Facts About Foxes" Mr. Lea
says:
(a) "Fox ranching is an industry begun in P. E. Island in the 80's.
(b) "Raising domesticated silver foxes is now an established success.
(c) "Since 1909 millions of dollars have been paid in fox dividends.
(d) "The domesticated silver fox is tame and easily cared for.
(e) "Foxes will eat anything the ordinary dog will eat.
(f) "The average litter is from three to four pups.
(g) "The total annual increase is about 100 per cent.
(h) "It is possible to breed up or improve any kind of foxes.
(i) "The foxes now ranched on P. E. Island are valued at $6,000,000.
(j) "These foxes earned $2,500,000 for their owners in 1920.
(k) "The average profit to the fox rancher is about 40 per cent annually."
The above facts show that fox ranching Is not a dream, but an
established success, paying large dividends on the capital invested.
This is also true about fur farming in general. There are many cases
on record showing the wonderful results obtained by men who
experimented with skunk, mink and muskrats.
Especially Is this true of the muskrat. I shall endeavor to set forth
here the possibilities 'rat ranching offers to those of small means.
In the large salt water marshes along the Atlantic coast and
Chesapeake Bay, 'rat ranching has been carried on systematically for
many years. This marsh land which was at one time considered
practically valueless is now yielding large returns annually. The
animals are protected from possible poachers by the authorities and
land owners. They are trapped only when the fur is at its best. The
owners see to it that enough animals are left for breeding. Wicomico,
Dorchester and Sommersett Counties (Maryland) compose the center of
this industry. The value of the catch in any one of these counties
runs Into thousands of dollars yearly. And It must be remembered that
this is from land which at one time sold from state or government at
thirty cents an acre.
The following are extracts from a letter by a well known manufacturer
of game traps, who owns a large muskrat preserve In Maryland. I shall
put down these statements, not to encourage anyone to go there, as
the ground is well occupied and trappers are numerous, but merely to
serve as an Illustration of what can be done with the numerous
swamps, ponds and small lakes scattered throughout the rest of the
United States and Canada, and which are now considered practically
worthless:
"Good muskrat marsh in Maryland, where the writer's place is located.
Is selling now for from twenty to thirty dollars an acre... As a
general proposition the owners lease their marshes to the trappers
for a certain part of the catch, which has up to the present time
been anywhere from one-half to two-thirds to the owners... The
marshes never dry up, because they are only a very few feet above sea
level and a great many of them are overflowed at times by extremely
high tides... My 'rats are in an open marsh and I do not furnish them
any feed, or look after them in any way, except to try to keep the
dogs and foxes out of It and to catch the hawks, owls and eagles that
prey on them. The marsh furnishes plenty of natural feed, and the
only thing that is necessary to do is simply to keep their enemies
away and they take very good care of themselves... There are a great
many natural marshes along the east coast of the country, in New
Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia especially, these marshes
have been inhabited by muskrats probably since their creation."
Now then, from the above statements we can readily conceive that the
raising of muskrats is the simplest form of fur farming, requiring
very little capital to get started. For these reasons: First, it does
not necessitate the construction of expensive pens and enclosures;
second, animals need not be fed--the food supply is natural; third, a
keeper is not required--the animals take care of themselves.
As prospective 'rat ranchers, our first duty would be the selection
of the proper site for the ranch. This would naturally be in the form
of a lake, marsh or pond. Many farmers have such a body of water on
their land; these vary in size from a few acres to several hundred.
Those who contemplate raising 'rats, but do not own a proper site,
could easily buy one at a reasonable figure, as most people consider
such property of little value. Before buying a pond or marsh which
you are not familiar with, investigate whether it has any inlets,
such as springs and small streams. A marsh or small lake which is
likely to dry up during a drought is not to be considered, as the
'rats would then be forced to leave it. Some of these waters have no
visible means of support, yet they hold the same level of water year
after year. This seems to be due to the nature of their location or
else they are fed by inner springs. When in doubt about a certain
marsh or lake, better talk with several neighbors who are familiar
with it, before buying; they may, from observation, be able to give
you reliable information about the water supply.
Many lakes and ponds which are possessed of an inlet and outlet are
often burdened with a very high level of water, and then again at
other times not enough. This water could be held to a normal level by
putting a dam across the outlet. This dam, however, would need
protection against the burrowing mania of the muskrats, as they would
soon have it looking like a sponge; the only difference would be,
that the sponge holds water, while the dam would not. Such a dam
could be amply protected with a solid covering of rocks. These should
average in size anywhere from a baseball to a man's head, and should
cover the dam to a depth of about two feet. This layer of rocks
should also extend along the bottom of the stream on both sides of
the dam to a distance of about twenty feet. The building of such a
structure would require some hard labor and time, but would well pay
for itself where the ranch in question is large enough to warrant its
construction.
Following the selection of the proper site, our next consideration
would be the food supply. Most lakes, marshes and ponds are naturally
conducive to wild rice, flag and water lily growth. These aquatic
plants are the mainstay of the muskrat's food supply; they also
represent the material of which they construct their houses.
Should the prospective 'rat ranch be devoid of such vegetation, as is
sometimes the case, the owner should at once take steps to encourage
its growth by Introducing some flags and water lilies. These should
be planted in about one foot of water and one yard apart. It is
advisable to plant them along the shore, in several patches of two or
three rows each, and numbering about fifty plants to the patch. These
plants, when once started, will multiply very rapidly and spread into
deeper water. The best time to do this work of transplanting is in
the spring, just before the plants start sprouting. During the summer
green grass is eaten by muskrats with great relish; therefore, mixed
grass seed should be sown liberally wherever the banks are barren.
The seed of wild rice should also be sown in the fall of the year,
shortly after it is gathered. Wild rice will grow in deeper water
than flags, and all that is necessary to start it is to scatter the
seed in a depth of several feet of water. It is good policy to sow
some wild rice every fall, even when the supply of food is ample, as
'rats are very fond of the myriads of young tender sprouts which
shoot up in the spring. In waters where the food supply must be
developed, it is advisable to keep muskrats away for at least one
year, because their presence would greatly hamper its progress.
When the food supply has been well established, we are ready to stock
up our ranch. The 'rats can be purchased or procured by trapping. As
a general rule, 'rats will already be found at home in a prospective
ranch, which boasts of plenty of water and food; they find such a
place by force of instinct, though the nearest stream may be fifty
miles away.
We need pay no further attention to them, except to destroy their
enemies, which in this case are, chiefly, the birds of prey.
Sometimes these pirates of the air will establish headquarters at
some muskrat marsh, and remain for weeks at a time. Selecting some
lofty perch from which they can scan every angle of their acquired
domain, they will often remain perfectly motionless, for hours at a
time, only to hurl themselves upon the unwary muskrat as it makes its
appearance on the water.
These intruders must be caught--but how? Occasionally we may be able
to "check" up on one of them, with our old scattergun; but this is
the exception to the rule, as these birds are far too wary to be
approached in the open. Therefore we must resort to steel traps for
their destruction. This is not as difficult as it would seem at first
thought. Knowing their habit of alighting on the highest point of
vantage while awaiting their prey, we proceed to set up poles in our
marsh, which are about eight inches in diameter at the top. On the
tops of these poles we conceal our traps (preferably jump traps), by
covering them with water-soaked chaff or leaves. Pegs are driven into
the sides of the poles, upon which we ascend when tending the traps.
These poles need not be very high when they are set up in the open;
eight or ten feet above the water would be sufficient, when there are
no higher objects near. The erection of one such pole would suffice
for every ten acres of territory.
The animals must also be protected against poaching and free
trapping. It is a good idea to post signs of warning against
trespassing on the premises. There should not be much trouble on this
point, however, because people, as a whole, respect the property and
rights of their fellow men.
When the animals are thus protected, they will increase very rapidly.
A marsh or pond which is covered with a mixed growth of aquatic
vegetation will naturally support a greater number of muskrats than a
deep water lake where such vegetation can only be found along the
shores.
Good marsh land has been known to produce an average of one hundred
'rats per acre annually, and in some instances even more, but such a
yield is above the ordinary. Statistics show the average yield of
'rat pelts to be about fifteen per acre yearly. This number of
animals can be safely trapped without fear of encroaching upon the
necessary quota of animals required as breeders. Of course there are
some waters that produce a much larger yield per acre, and these must
be trapped accordingly. In a marsh or lake of low banks the 'rats are
compelled to build houses. The owners of such a ranch can closely
estimate the number of animals present by counting the houses and
then multiplying the result by four.
Though the muskrat will tolerate more crowding than other fur-bearing
animals, the owner should prevent overcrowding, otherwise some of
them would leave for parts less crowded. Some raisers, while
gathering their annual crop of fur, make it a point to trap only
two-thirds of their grounds, and when this is exhausted of muskrats
they quit. This method assures the owner sufficient breeding stock
for the next crop, and at the same time prevents crowding the
animals.
'Rat ranching is a business which does not require much money or
effort to build up, and when once established there is very little to
do, except to trap the muskrats during the proper season. The best
time, in fact the most profitable time to do this, is in the early
spring, when pelts are strictly prime and the fur is at its best.
Judging from the ever-increasing popularity of muskrat fur and the
consequent rise in value, "rat ranching" can certainly be considered
a profitable undertaking. Let us, for example, take into
consideration a fifty-acre marsh, producing the low average of
fifteen 'rats per acre. This would represent an annual crop of about
seven hundred and fifty pelts. To trap this number of animals would
require about thirty days. For eleven months out of the year, the
owner would be free to take up any line of endeavor he may choose to
follow. Considering the small amount of capital and time required for
the establishment and upkeep of such a "vivarium," is there any other
form of farming or stock raising more profitable? We venture the
answer without fear of contradiction--there is absolutely not.