Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-11-29
THE DEADLY FOE or RATS.
A Fierce Little Army that the Owner
would mot Sell for $4,000.

a E1erce A1ttle army t1ar the owner
would mot Sell for $4,000.
II am fond Of rats, mice, moles,
reaches, flies, feas, moths, ants, scor-
pions, and like verInin, because have
studied their habits and ways nearly all
my life,p said little man in spectacles
to New York Sun reporter. He sat at
his desk in small shop in 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 sharp muzzle and pair Of bright
little eyes rising above the mass and
looking inteRtly at the little man who
wrote at the desk.
There was le, many years ago"
continued the little man, wheeling around
in his chair, "when vermin were more
or less obnoxious to me, but began to
study their habits and natures, and in a
short time I became so much interested
in them that all dislike disappeared. 1
went into the business of destroying
them about 1850, and since that have
had my hands full make contracts to
rid houses, hotels, and institutions Of
rats for so much year. My charges
vary considerably. For a good-siz7d city
residence 1 remove all rats and keep them
away for year for $50"
:" How do you do itln
'eWith thee little beauties Y said the
little man, turning atfectionately toward
the pen. AS he did 50 the ferrets wrig-
gled out Of the cosy tangle in which they
had lain and bounded upward with their
fore paws in the air and their heads
thrown back, exhibiting 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 quick
ness amazing.
81 have thousand Of them, " said the
rat-catcher, ''and l wouldn't sell the lot
for $50, O0O- I have trained them all so
that they obey me unhesitatingly. When
I wish to clear house Of rats take some
Of my ferrets-ive or six or ten-and slip
them into the rat holes. 1 leave them
there all night, and whistle for them on
the following day They come right to
me, and I take them home. No rat can
escape ferret. The rats run from fer
rets like mad, but it is useless. Where
ever rat goes ferret can 60. The
ferret catches arat and then eats him
flesh, bones, hair, tail, everything.
Ferrets cannot live without rats for any
length of time feed mine hair, feath-
ers, and fur regularly twice a week"
/" Where do you get your ferrets2"
''I breed them. Different breeds can
be crossed as easily as with dogs"
He took bit Of raw meat in big pair
Of iron nippers, and held it at height Of
about four feet over the den of ferrets.
Every one of the little creatures bounded
fercely for the meat He raised it as
they jumped, and only half dozen Of
the best jumpers succeeded in fastening
their Jaws omit. Toshow how tenaciously
the ferrets held their grip, the rat catcher
swung the meat around his head and
slammed the ferrets against the sides of
the pen, but they could not be shaken
from their hold. Then he selected one,
seized it by the back of the neck, and
tore it loose from the meat.
" This one, he said, holding it aloft,
K is new breed. It is a cross between
the American mink and the Fitch ferret,
and can stand the climate better than the
uncrossed breed. Ferrets require eonsid-
erable care, but I avoid any contagious
diseases by very simple plan"
What is it?n
" As soon as ferret gets the least bit
off | shoot it and throw it away. It is q
wise plan, for the rest are never troubled Y