The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-28
THE USES or RATS.
A Chance 10 Make a Gigantic Fortune
A WnrA Tn the WISE.

It Is in Pa1is-t that home Of the utilization
of everything that the rat IS turned to the
greatest number of uses. He furnishes en-
ployrnent for ON army Of hunters who pursue
his skin. In the great abattoirs of the city
rats exist by the million. One proprietor,
ON becoming nearly driven from his prem
ises by the rodents, threw Il dead horse in
u walled inelosure, and then stopped up NIL
means Of escape, SO that the rats attracted
by the bait could not get out In one night
$3.50 rats were caught In the trap and killed by
men armed with clubs; In o single month
We notice this case mainly in connection with
d curious utilization of rats, wherein dead
animals Of all kinds are placed where they
can get them, as afl easy way OF disposing Oh
the refuse flesh and securing the valuable
bones. A regular pound, surrounded by IL
massive stone wall is provided for this pur-
pose by the city authorities OF Paris, and 1t is
the regular morning work OF those In charge
to remove the beautifully polished, skeletons
OF course, when thus pampered. the rats
multiply amazingly, and, therefore, once in %
while grand battue is necessary TO reduce
their number. The way in which this is con.
Quoted is curious. Horizontal holes are bored
| all around, in and at the foot OF the inelosing
walls, the depth and diameter being respect
| lively the length and thickness Of rats body
| Upon the morning OF the battue, men armef
with. tin pans, kettles, drums and other art
| cles for producing horrible noises, rush in O
dayhreak. The astonished rats precipitateli
| rush for the nearest openings, which are thos
in the walls. But these, while large enoughf
| contain their bodies, will not accommodate
| their tails. and the walls are soon ornameutef
| with vista OF those anatoncally superb
members, whishing about like live icfcles.
Then arrives the rat collector seientistin his
way-who, with admirable dexterty. seizee
| the pendent tall jerks forth the owner and
| deposits him in bag worn over the left
shoulder. The privilege Of catching the
rats is farrned out by the authorities, and u
profitable business it is. The rats are sleek
and fat, and fetch high prices for their fur,
skins and fesh-the latter doubtless appear
ing in the restaurant where one may have
'sdinner for one frame with wine, and bread at
discretion" Rat flesh is not bad eating, at
least so say those who have tried it, our
knowledge in the matter being limited. 1T
Is delicate, white, firm, tastes like chicken,
and i'm China the soup made from it is con-
sidered to be equal to our we'll known OK
tail. In the Celestial Kingdom rats are worth
80 per dozen.
The credit OF suggesting the most extensive
utilization Of rats fs due to T. l.. Sinnnonds,
who has lately printed an admirable work on
, these and other undeveloped sources Of profit.
Mr. SimmOnds suggests that u profitable
venture might be made from Kurrachee TO
Canton and Hong Kong Of saited rats. About
100000 could be cured and packed aboard ~
riosity we quote Mr.. Sinmonds' estimate Of
profits: 100000 rats at six cents per dozen,
$35, 1000; salting,, curing, etc.. so per cent,
$2t 900, total cost $4,000: and 100000 rats
sold at 80 per dozen, al ,6GG,6e6 eG; shows @
profit of 81, ,6i0,666 66. There, now IS q chance
for somebody to become q millionaire. Who
, will try it2