The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1885-12-19
FERRErs As RAT.oATCHERs.
How the Lively LstGle Animals ARE
Trained e XIII Hsdenss

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mustn't depend on cats. They are too
slow and old fashioned for this kind of
work, and like everything else that is
antiquated, they are bound to go.
What has taken the place Of the cat2
Why, the ferret to be sure. II is the
only sure-pop remedy for these pests. A
few years ago ferrets were only used for
amusement in rat bats and things of
that sort, but now ferret raising has be-
come regular business, which is grow
ing ali the time, Last year over 2, 600
ferrets were sold in this city, and this
year / am raising over 5000 myself, and
several fanciers are devoting much time
and attention to improving the breed. y
''Do they require special training9"
Bless your soul, of course they do.
In the first place they are probably the
stupideSt animals that were ever created.
The only thing about them that seems to
be common TO all is pluck, and an obsti-
macy Ike that Ct bulldog. When they
once get their teeth in the carcass of an
other animal, or even piece of meat,
you cannot make them let 60 without
almost killing them, so great is the
strength of their jaws and neck, which,
after half q minute or go produces stupe-
faction, and then their jaws will relax.
They will, of course, naturally fight rat
or any animal when they see it, but the
difficulty is to train them to hunt for
rats
"How is that done9'
1.-THE best way is by imitation. We
take young ferrets about six months
old as recruits, and put them with an
older ferret, which has been trained to
enter rat-holes without any coaxing
being required. The younger ones will
follow the example of the experienced
hunter, and when they have become
used to the sport they enjoy it and will
usually take to rat holes az duck to
water. 1t often takes a good many
weeks, however, to make them proficient
in the work, and sometimes we have to
give it up. Once in rat-hole they never
leave it until every rat has been driven
out or killed. The old animals which
have been carefully trained and have
shown exceptionally fine points are very
desirable for the purpose Of working in
the young ferrets, and are very valuable.
That animal in the cage" he continued,
pointing to q small-sized brown-striped
ferret, apparently differing in no respect
from the others in the room, sis one of
the finest rat-eatehers / ever had. |
would not take $50 for her. She is three
years old, and has an unlimited amount
of pluck, requiring no coaxing TO start
on forav Beside this her chief point
is her small size, which you will observe
in comparing her with the other ferrets
near by. This enables her to follow the
rats through the smallest crevices with
out difficulty, when larger ferret would
be obliged to give up the chase. She has
been in great many fights and the princl-
pal danger has been the possibility that
in a contest with number of large rats
she might be oYerpowered and killed,
for when o rat is cornered- he will show
as much fight as ferret. Her pluck has
always saved her, however. When she
is used for rat hunting, we always put u
larger animal with her for protection, for
two ferrets can get away with any mum
Der of rats without difficulty.
at sometimes takes several days, or a
week even, 10 clear the rats out Of a
building. The rats are smarter animals,
and can scent ferrets as soou as they
are brought into the house, and will
leave ii at once If there is any way Of
escape. II is therefore necessary to keep
the ferrets in the house some time, 81
that the rats gradually lose their fear
when they find they are not attacked,
aud will return to their old haunts. A
couple Of ferrets can clear the largest
warehouse Of rats in one night if they
can get at them. But even if they arc
not all killed the remainder will seldom
return to the house which has once been
ransacked by ferrets, for several months
ct least. Many owners Of large drygoods
houses keep ferrets in their cellars all the
time, in the same way as they would
keep a cat, which is q continual
protection against these destTuc-
live pests. In hunting rats
On board ship great care must be taken
OF the ferrets will be lost. The other
day | lost severa! valuable ferrets in
making such an experiment. The rats
collected in the bow of the vessel, and
when the ferrets attacked them they
went overheard in body, pouring in
stream out of one Of the hawseholes.
The ferrets went after them of course,
and were drowned. Put big rat iu q
room with ferret and he will always
back up in corner and defend himself
to the last. You can always bet on the
ferret though, for he is bound sooner or
later to fasten his teeth in the neck OF his
anita onist Where single ferret is
placed ia stall with large number Of
rats the latter will crowd together in
corner and try to hide under each other
] his makes it very easy work for the
ferret, but reverse the operation, and put
In solitary rat with three or -four fer
rets, and they will leave the rat entire
and fight with each other for the prize.
have known ferrets to kill each other
in fighting for the possession Of choice
morsel which neither is willing to share
with the other.
s'aow much will a trained ferret
bring2" ....
''The usual price is $15 pair, but, Of
course, the better trained animals VIII
bring higher prices. They are usually
sold In pairs because two will hunt bet
ter together than single one.
''Great care is to be used in handling
ferrets on account of their vicious habit
of biting everything that comes in their
way. The size Of the enemy makes no
difference, and they will hang on TO the
lip Of dog until they have been Literal
ly chawed to pieces. II they become
used TO person, however, who takes
care 81 them they will not bite him un-
less provoked by rough treatment"
In order to exhibit their strength and
teuacity Of grip, Mr.. Isaacsen attached
small piece Of raw meat TO the end Of a
pair oil tongs aud lowered il into cage
where three Of the animals were seuttling
about. AS soon as they caught sight Of
the morse they all jumped for 1t with
the ferocity of tigers. As soon as they
had obtained their grip he drew the
struggling and writing bunch out Of
lie cage, and let them hang suspended
for several minutes. Then taking the
smallest one by the body, be removed
the tongs aud let it support the weight
of the other two, none Of them showing
the slightest disposition TO let go, oil,
though they soon ceased kicking and
clawing when they found themselves
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