Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-01-20
The Skunk.Skin Harvest.

WHILE strolling along the streets of
indianapolis the other day NeaOs re-
porter, in dusty, cobwebby window,
saw piece of cardboard four or five
inches square, on which was written,
s'Pure skunk oil and coon OIL" A
moth-eaten, weather-beaten coon skin
hung above the door which the reporter
entered, following his nose, which i'm
mediately put itself on the defensive.
'What do people buy skunk oil forP''
said the proprietor, in his answer re-
peating the question. s'Why, they buy
it for rheumatism, and, say, it never
fails to cure. The reporter desired to
see some pure skunk oil, having heard
there were many worthless limitations
abroad, and was shown pint flask of
oily liquid of the color of inseed oil.
He applied his fingers to the cork, and
his nose rose in apprehension. The
fluid had no more and no worse odor
than lard oil, and the alarmed organ
came down again. awe sell to all sorts
of people, white, black and yellow, the
richest and the poorest" the proprietor
continued. 'sThis oil we get from the
skin-that's as much of the skunk as
get-and the yield is usually about four
ounces to the skin. Sometimes we get
half pint, and sometimes, though sell
dom, as much as a pint to pair.
There is not more than one skin in a
thousand that'l yield a pint of skunk
oil. The animal is thin in flesh in sum-
mer, but very fat in winter. Skunk
hides last year, the best quality, were
worth from $1.75 to $500 each. They
will not be worth much more than half
as much this year. handled 10000
skunk skins last year, nearly all of
which were caught in Indiana. The
trail Indiana. There are few
skins have been worth as much as
$3.50, but they'll never see
that price again-not very soon, at
least.'' elbow are the skins classed?"
"Wel, first comes the A No. 1 star
skunk has star-shaped white spot on
the top of the head, and no more white
about him. The next quality, 81 rs, we
call the short Stripe This has white
stripe running from the white star along
each side of the head down the neck to
the shoulder. The next is the marrow
stripe This has narrow white streak
that runs along each side of the back.
bone (Which has black stripe) to the
root of the tail. This sort of skin
brought 40 cents. The fourth grade has
a broad white stripe on each side, the
entire length Of the body, three inches
or more in width, and is worth only 90"
Is there any any danger of the skunk
crop in this State being exhausted?"
sNone at all. A skunk will have from
three to seven young at a litter-usually
about five. I've been a fur buyer for
forty-two years, and there are more
skunks in this State than ever there was
There is prejudice against the animal,
which makes it necessary to sell the fur,
to ladies who wear it, under several pref
ty aliases, among which are fitch and
American sable Besides being made
into muffs and trimmings, skunk-skins
are extensively used in making fine car
riage robes.'' MIR. Lewark said there
hadn't been skunk in the house for
months, the trade only continuing dur
ing the winter, but the mephitic odor,
like scent of the roses round the shat
tered vase, chung lovingly about the
place during the entire year.