Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-12-06
ONE THOUSAND RAT CATCHERs.
A Fierce Army that tn Owner would
Not Sell for $4,000.

New York Sun
II am fond of rats, mice, mOles,
reaches, flies, feas, moths, ants, cor-
pions, and like vermin, because have
studied their habits and ways nearly
all my life" said little man in spec
tacles the other day. He sat at his
desk in a small shop in a busy street
down town, writing busily. At his
side was a pen about five feet long,
two feet wide, and three feet deep. In
it were twenty or thirty ferrets coiled
together in an undulating mass of fur,
with here and there a sharp muzzle
and a pair of bright little eyes rising
above the mass and looking intently
at the little man who wrote at the
desk.
There was time, many years ago, "
continued the little man, wheeling
around in his chair, when vermin
were more or less obnoxious to me,
but I began to study their habits and
natures and in a short time [ became
so much interested in them that all
dislike disappeared. [ went into the
business of destroying them about
1850, and since that J. have had my
hands full. [ make contracts to rid
houses, hotels, and institutions of rats
for so much a year. My charges vary
considerably. For a good-sized city
residence [ remove all rats and keep
them away for year for $50"
How do you do it?"
'With these little beauties, said the
little man, turning affectionately
toward the pen. Ashe did SO the ferrets
wriggled out of the coy tangles in
which they had lain and bounded up
ward with their fore paws in the air
and their heads thrown back. exhibit
ing JOY at every jump. They were
pretty little creatures, about as large
in girth as an average rat, but almost
twice the length. Their heads were
rat shaped, their four claws very sharp,
and their activity and quiekness amaz-
ing.
Il have a thousand of them" said
the rat-catcher, and | wouldn't sell the
lot for $4,000. I have trained them
fall SO chat they obey me unhesitating-
ly. When wish to clear a house of
rats I take some of my ferrets-five
or SIX or ten and ship thensintos the
rat holes. I leave them there all
night, and whistle for them on
following sH day. -91-2 They, : Sc come
right to- me, and T. take them
home. Z No rat can escape a ferret.
The rats run from ferrets like mad,
butsit is useless. Wherever a rat goes
ferret can go The ferret catches "a
rat and then eats 41imAffesh, bones,
hair, TAIL every ling.z Fserrets cannot
| live without rats for any length of
time. I feed mine hair, feathers. and
fur regularly twice a week. 45l5l!i'lii
r. Where do you get your ferretsa''A
| aot II breed them. I Different. breeds
can be crossed as easily as with dogs. 81
10 This ene;;n he said, holding it aloft,
SIS a new breed H is cross between
the American mink and the Fitch fer
ret, aud can stand ahe climate Better
than. the uncrossed breed. Ferrets re-
qairea considerable care, but I avoid
any eonta gious diseases by a very sim
fple plan.1 = ~ I-7s- A7sii ls;l' .
| f5s'What is 7ep' I'd sIs1eHpe 7s.T 81
7cn"'As3 soon as a ferret gets the least
bit off, shoot It and throw it away.
It IS a wise plan, for the rest are never
| troubled shtc E-<5Is l'4s{'3 ..s.1 eng / t55
Handsome is as handsome dozes. .
remarked Deacon Dewgood as he saw
tthe belle Of the town nodding In
cd a1z.1 s.o1z .bete7a s79i5Ics lzlB1S;
is a:agna y1s4ilior .E!sa Z .a%s4hlos =