New-York tribune., 1868-02-04
BREEDING TIE MINI.
NEW METHOD OF SUPPLYING THE FUR TRADE
INTERESTING DESCRIPTION OF THE " MINK
EIY" AT CASADAGA, CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.

NEW METHOD OF SUPPLYING THE FUR TRADE
INTERESTING DESCRIPTION OF THE MINK
EIY" Al CAsADAGA, CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
From Montrcsl Paper
CAsADAGA, Chaut. Co, y. Y, Jan 2l.
] have Just availed myself of an opportunity
70 uf desire that should visit the Mnkery" 1t
this place concerning which few brief aragraphs have
foated through the newspapers and give To the readers
teTesting experiment undertaken by the Messrs Phillips
Woodcook IN breeding and demonstrating the mink L
found their peculiar institution curious as lad been
led expect and well worth an examination IL pos
sesses not only the interest which Latuasts would ihd
II IL nom tho eiial haoe oppe aious ioi ssu}
ing the habits OF singular and little known animal but 1t
represents Of the gnnngs OF branch or aai
mai propagation and domestic culture, wleh deshed'
have NJ doubt 10 ALL TO assume great Importance here
after When we consider on the one hand, how CON
siantly demand For the finer fns 10 increasing from
year 10 year while the supply stll more rapidly uinn-
shes. ms the animals furnishing such furs are eKtet-
minated in their Wild state by the ener0Achment Of civil
izaton upon their hauns see very we that the
OF domestic propagation not l. serious ana that
70 determine by experiment that they are Is 20 found
description O business which can hardly f to crow e
tensve and important II the wealthy society Of north
ern climates has no recourse but TO tne tapper ior rs
luxury ,of the Wild domain OF nature Is being % rapidly
narrowed both continents that the trapper Will ~ no
distant day, have his hunting field ln.ted 10 the polar
But here at this juncture. when the prospect OF
hausted fur trade begins be made pressing By
prices up the idea OF these gentlemen In this
region OF country who have under,aken WITH thoroughly
Yankee shrcWdness 10 propagate OF The most
valuable OF the furbearing animals the mink, ID state
% senrdome caon or eohnneDlent ara "a, iaet thaf
their experiment is so far promising thing bu' success
u results u iaet TO be announced as Que OF public inter
Messrs Philips & woodcoek, whose Mnkery" I have
visited, believe, the pioneers Of the business,
hut upon t Win some guidance from the experience o:
others who during late years have been essS the do
mcstcaOn of the mink. They commenced their under
taxing III December lsc6 with seven pairs Of spriAy
Kittens they call them. from which they expected
no increase the following Spring-ast year They wore
ageeaDly disappointed however by obtaining young
from six OF the females, altogether 10 the number OF &C.
Tie product WAS from one To seven each, showing ne
markabe variation II is said by those expert need lhat
the proficiency of the mink at the age AZ which this in
Is Tor hem in later periods Ia be1g from six
TO nue annually; that the original pairs may De
while young kittens OF last sprig Vii The
become fruitful Another year Therefore. l. kOy
10 multiply tie present stock OF the breeders several
Tho "Miulery" designed 10 accommodate loo minks
square, made by digging trench deep, laynga
plank t the bottom ard from the outer edge starting Tho
board 10 cap The ter, projecting lnwod egat o. ten
closure IL building IA by a, supplied with ruDiins
water, from which the mink catch iiyas n. that are
IL constructed with alley three fees wide aWund is
entire circumference Within are two rows o. cells four
feet deep and two and two and halt wide each having
a door ventilated ~ the top aud bottom WIN Nigr
screens ~ IL also The outer wall opposite c cc There
also NJ Tue irohi enitalce what me lnp'ios e' .s
auterOOm, four by feet which aust hc Lislcncd
within every time The building is entered - picssni
the escape Ot fhe imprisoned animals On cNtei
ing the main baH, vfich DE niiuks h-re Access
toCTlcn not rearing their younl. thoy prison.. very
mounted fhor rood, and the tenacty % hod s 10
releasing teir hold upon the food; Ihe h'5l Oh no
female s very peculiarly CONSTRUCTED q" ,ts .snve ..
straw. with lining Of her tuf ," hn! c"lpacted
together be With difficulty torn ~ ltc iAc iler.
tue leading 20 the nsst . round nptipS jas rtlCient
admit the daiu and s provided Win lc oIod cur
tain which cover, the entrance ana tAgCtudy hecles
hnt against nil INVASION when shs T. within. AbOu; the
middle OF march the ftmaios are paiat.G from tie
ma s rntl rhc young reared The essity 0i tLs
an rrrn the fact that fc male seems ncrtd brood
ne vouug almost rs much a. Tho d,L WllsL both
permitted 60 remain losetiiur'
Tho rvpcnse o feeding tho animals Is almost nominal,
bcng t Piled Isetty much chr'y rpnl TIRE usual oftal
of he farm yard, with occasional vuutcaucis ana gaiao
I'm GENERAL Thoy tbs food with equal avfty az er
ol l0sh caItagcs AID the softer bDre Jhs i..h aud
homes cntlc az tie W0odchuca ar. consumed Cf.a 70
nge llCa. NhlG the CXlensA OF keeping 81 thus mn al,
tie profitable we'd oi tho animal comparatively i'm
mense. II bos considered moderate estimate % claim
mink Win her InerfBst VIII uul t, ava ~
should Tale circulation hold c0ud when ihe ffoa-
cation 81 the iniiE ~ carried 10 la Scale the business
become one of The most profitable h.! fhc world
- lar ae The experience Of thgso gentlemen Win ne
uudone Scaed mink has not lccn ftsa tor a. tneir
shrnes cannot DC overcome and tcy have ncNcr pJtted
any INC! ease scn tne animals IN then wiz sstc Iney
have 10 DC taken when young and domer. ched
Cas3nagi, ie scene OF this novel eNpslin M ~ wtuy
village very p antly situated ulDn me shoic az taS
taga Lake, which u lhlee miles hong, Jbonnding with
sh, and us water. supplied entirely by springs. l isthe
very diVdlhg sdgr Of waters bewss Ihc great courses
)f the north aDd south. The town viii be- reached onc
rear hence pmhaby by the Duaktrk, Warren AMI PMS
)urgD kaiOad distant ten miles fonl DuEkrk. lt
ias population Of few hundred Ices some mauuinc-
ring has Two dry good stores two grurers ao' good
ishlng. rs many Bunal0nian can attest.