, 1880-02-05
The Rat Catcher.

the alma0le WaS Oh his Iai, euu Il" IVA
strained across the little mans back
these three items flied the bill Of a rat
catching concern that slowly coursed
its way down Columbia avenue on Sat.
urday.
lie had followed rat catching for
many wears, the old man said-how
many he didn't then recall--and he had
bopn successful in his work. At the
stables Oh Seventh and Washington
avenue he had cleaned out 3l7 rats IN
one day. 1t was common occurrence
for him to get IS out of house, and
often he had captured over hundred in
stores. Grain stores are especial y pro-
life OF rats. The box containing ferrets
and the dog that trotted so demurely
behind were important adjuncts of the
business
There were four ferrets in the box
These he had owned for several years,
having obtained them from the captain
of schooner sailing between this coun-
try and Liverpool. A peep into the
opening made for ventilation satisfied
the reporter as to what kind of "var-
mint" a ferret is He has long body,
which is thin and supple, as though
boneless. The, neck is long and tapers
down 70 a head with very sharp
snout. The eyes are small and red,
hence the expression, GAS red as q
ferret's eyes" The owner, said that
these had becomerso well ,domesticated
that they could be handled without fear,
"How do 60 to work 2 Well, / ex-
anime a house, carefully ascert, lining
VIII, re the rat holes are Then, over all
but two Of these / place u net with
| small meshes. The ferret is put into
hole, and that is Immediately covered
with net. then station myself with
the dog at the only hole left
open. am armed with a club,
| which takes q heavy part in the bust
ness should the rats become too numer.
GUS for the dog. 1t is hardly ever more
than five minutes before rat beunces
out Of the uncovered hole and the dog
receives him in his mouth. d The ferret,
after having been through the house,
works out himself, and leaves hardly
any rats behind" - va '1' 3 20 - e..
II never used the same ferret twice
in succession" he explained, "and that
is the reason / carry -four Of, them.
They become tired, and if used too
often stop to rest, and therefore time is
lost" t.."...'ts''
He did not know what became of the
rats, as he never took them himself. 1t
seemed remarkable, but a rat had never
been known to turn on q ferret, the, rat
seeming to recognize the ferret as his
enemy, andGalways going out Of the way
just as fast as possible. Contests, in
close quarters between a rat and ferret
had invariably resulted in victory FOR
Ithe ferret, for, with all the nimbleness
of the rat, the ferret is the most acGive
and takes,the rodent by the throat be-,
fore he is aware Of such near approach.
While the old man talked he thrust
his hands In the box and among his pets
without the slightest fear of being bitten
by them, and said to the reporter thatin
his own room he gave the little yellow.
coated fellows perfect freedom. SIT is
not" he said, can, unusual Occurrences
for persons to have them about the
house, and it was matter of some sur
prise that such was not more q, fire.
quently the rule, as it was q certain pre-
ventive, against rats and mice g, The
ferret is fond Of blood, and it is. this
thirst that gives him such an excellent
zest in the hunt for rats If any. one
should own male and female, it is not
long before they are the pcssessors OF
large number. They are well known
for their fecundity, producing as many
as two litters in one year. They eat
raw meat, and the fresher it is the bet
ter they like it, having an excellent rel
ish for the taste Of blood. So strong is
this developed in them that care has to
be taken not to let them get among
chickens, for they would kill and suck
the blood from dozen chickens in a
night" "',n,,. ..... ,., .,......,,.., V
The little old man who gives this in,
formation has been able to make COM.
Portable living following the calling OF q
rat catcher, and when not otherwise
employed it keeps him busy dividing his
attention as equally as possible between
the dog and ferretS, for there is intense
ipnlnnsu bet unnn thnsn man, hnra cf thnt