The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-02-06

gray.haired little man, q oog Of no particu-
lar breed and less beauty, save in the ami
able wag of his tail, and box strapped
across the little mans back-thesa three
items filled the bill Of rat-catching con-
Germ that slowly coursed its way down Co.
lumbia avenue on Saturday.
He had followed rat-catching for many
years, the old man said-how many he didn't
then recall-and he had been successful in
his work. In the stables at Seventh aud
Washington avenue he had cleaned out BIT
rats in one day. 1t was common occur
renee for him to get seventy-fve out of a
house, aud often he had captured over u
hundred in stores. Grain stores are espe.
cially prolific of rats. The box containing
ferrets and the dog that trotted so demure,
ly, behind were important adjuncts Of the
business.
There were four ferrets in the box
These he had owned several years, having
obtained them from the captain of schoon-
or sailing between this country and Liver
pool. A peep into an opening made for
ventilation satisfied the reporter as to what
kind of "varmiut" ferret is. He has a
long body, which is thin and supple, as
though boneless. The neck is long, and
tapers down to head with very sharp
snout. The eyes are small and red, hence
the expression, GAS red as ferrets eyes. u
The owner said that these had become SO
we'll domesticated that they could be han,
died without fear.
"How do 1 go to work ?" Well, 1 exam
inc house, carefully ascertaining where
the rat holes are. Thou over all but twU u
these place net with small meshes. The
ferret is put into hole, and that is imme
diately covered with net then station
myself with the dog at the only hole left
open. [ am armed with club, which takes
heavy part in the business should the rat:
bscome too numerous for the dog. 1t is
hardly moro than five minutes before a ra,
bounccs out of the uncovered hole, and the
dog receives him in his mouth. The fer
ret, after having been through the house
works out himself, and leaves hardly any
rats behind.
"I never use the same ferret twice in
succession" he explained, "and that is tho
reason l carry four of them. They become
tired, and, if used too often, stop to rest
and, therefore. time is lost"
He did not know what became of the
rats, as he never took them himself i
seemed remarkable, but rat, had never beer
known to turn on ferret, the rat seeming
to recognize the ferret as his enemy and al
ways getting out of the way just as fast a
possible. Contests in close quarters hetweer
a rat and ferret had invariably resulted in
victory for the ferret, for with all the MIN
blcness of the rat, the ferret is the most &C
tive and takes the rodent by the throat.be
fore he is aware of such near approach.
While the old man talked he thrust hi
hand in the box and among his pets with
out the slightest fear of being bitten by
them, and said to the reporter that in hi:
own room h /, gave the little yellow coatet
fellows perfect freedom. "It is not" h,
stated, "an unusual occurrence for persons
to have them about the house, aut
is matter of some surprise to him tha
such was not more frequently the rule, a
it was q certain preventive against rats ant
mice. The ferret is fond of blood, and i
is this thirst that gives him such an excel
lent zest in the hunt for rats. If any on,
should sHp pnlsa dpnbo nbbosssss1Fs ss of lars arg,
number They are we'll known for thei
fecundity, producing as many as two litter
in one year. Thoy eat raw meat, and tn,
fresher it is the better they like it, having
an excellent relish for the taste of blood
So strong is this developed in them thai
care has to be taken not to let them gel
among chickens, for they would kill and
suck the blood from dozen chickens in Q
night"
The little old man, who gives this infor
nation, has been able to make comforta
BILE living by 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 jealousy between
these members of.that household -Ihil
Record.