The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-12-20
The Haunts of the Muskrat.

As an architect a muskrat is dsserv-
ing of high honor. His residence Is al
ways a model of neatness, economy,
and ingenuity. The materials used in
the construction vary with the locality,
but he always selects good. staple
foundation. The lower parts of his
den he makes of sticks, twigs, grasses,
and so on, which he cements firmly
with mud. He continues this until he
reaches point above high water mark,
and then his work becomes more care
full and of much finer quality. The
best twigs and the softest grasses are
used with great dexterity and success.
If the colony is large one there are
various rooms in the den. and they are
invariably clean and handsome. And
the rat is as prudent as he is fastidious.
Net only is his den a central hall with
side dormitories and extra rooms for
extra occasions, but the outlets are in
four or five different directions, and
are far away from the den proper, SO
that the inhabitants may be protected
against surprise and against the pre-
datory visits of their sworn enemies.
minks and weasels. This muskrat
engineering, while interesting in it
self, is very injurious to the lands
where it occurs. Sometimes immense
burrows, forty or fifty feet long, are
made. and again tunnels are dug
through marsh hills; and frequently
water rushing through these holes en-
larges them until they assume danger
Gus proportions. Men have lost their
lives by falling through these under
ground places, and only the expert
enced trappers feel any security when
venturing upon the marshes where the
muskrats live.
About O,OO0-probably more
muskrat hides will go from the Cam
bridge, Nd, region this year to New
York. Formerly, when the fur was
fashionable, the hides easily brought
as much as SO cents each, but nova
days 10 or Is is about all they are
worth.
The average man will say that he
would not eat a muskrat for $40, but
the average man does not know what
he is talking about. When handled
well, the rat makes a thoroughly
palatable dish, aud this statement is
made from experience. The cleanly
habits and the pure, wholesome food of
the muskrat makes him one of the
most desirable of all wild animals for
table use. An ordinary cook. however.
will genenerally get nothing from
a rodent except a failure and bad
odor. If the musk bag is cut and the
scent is impaired to the meat it be-
comes worthless. The most successful
cook ever knew is colored woman
| who doesn't know letter in the alpha
bet, but who has mastered every
mystery of the kitchen, and she can
get up Il dish of muskrat that will turn
the worst scoffer into an enthusiast.
asked her how she did it. She skinned
the animal very carefully, washed 1t
well in fresh water; soaked it for
several hours in salt water, aud then
hung it where it would get the benefit
of cold air. Tee longer it freezes the
better it gets. After this she either
stews it, or, if she wants it fried, par
boils it and fries it afterward. An old
Maryland gentleman, who is some
what of an epicure, says that between
turkey and muskrat he will take musk
rat all the time. The way the Indians
cooked this animal was either to roast
it on Goals or boil it with corn.