The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-02-19
Trapping For SKUNKS.
The Farmer Boys In the Bald Mount Region
Catch Them for Their Peits.

SCRANTON, Feb. 49, Throughout the fertile
farming regions beyond Bald Mount. which in
cludes the townships Of Newton Ransom. and
North and South Abingdon, the skunk-trapping
season is now at it's height. Skunks are very
numerous on that side Of the Lackawanna val
ley, while on the other, or east side. trappers
say that very few are to be found. Along Leg
Rett's Creek. which runs through the Notch
into tho Lackawanna River. scores OF skunks
have been trapped within three weeks. while in
the country to the north of that valley the
prime quality, and It will be 50 until the latter
buying up all that are offered for sale. When
Now York. The most OF them IA are Exported to
Germany and other European countries, whore
I miiI,a are ba mdae J lasS ts sS!L 81 h thsn for ss sel ms5Si and
tured Into hats or anything else in this country.
The price Of q skunk skin Is regulated by the
who is guided in the price he pays for each
class Of pelt, by, quotations occasionally sent 10
at a glance. how much he can afford to give for
each skin that Is spread before him, II he is in
f fsss l1 Slsc Eo shsn as Sh IT, s fn4l ss 2 ssis S S%Gnf hans
large as his hand. he throws the skin into a
Skins that have about in equal amount ot
black and white fur are put into another pile
iOWcE ptlS0 tuuu Tile OtllcIS. IL 1--WE
priced ones, are those that ~contnin moro white
than black fur. At present the local dealer is
paying the trapper % cents for q skunk skin
that has more black than white fur, 90 cents
for one that is about half and hall. and 10 cents
for one that has moro white than black.
various ways OF trapping the. little nocturnal
providers with q bumped back. peaked nose,
and busny tail are adopted by the rustic urchins
up there. The trap most used is made In this
way: A fiat stone is placed on the ground or
snow not far from Il barn or other outbuilding.
Then the end Of another and heavier fiat stone
is braced against one edge OF the horizontal
stone. the other end being propped up with q
stick. SO that the two stones and the prom look
made generally Of i chickens head is fastened.
In order to get at the bait the skunk is Obliged
10 take up a position under the slanting stone.
As soon rs the skunk begins to yank mt the
bait. one end Of the prop slips out Of place, the
stone falls. and the skunk Is crushed.
Another way Is to fix r strong circular rub
Der band SO that the skunk will have to stick
its head through 1t to reach the bait. In doing
this its nose is poked against Il stick that keeps
the band tsut. the stick flies out. the band con-
tracts like II flash, and closes on. tho neck Of
the skunk. and 4 mournful midnight tragedy
is the result. The skunk Is chokod to death
when the boy finds him in tho morning.
some OF the urchins set as many as fifteen
catch a skunk. but many Of the lads gather In
half a dozen or so apiece each morning when
tho weather is favorable. It isn't very agree
able work TO skin the skunks. but tho boys
don't mind 1t at all. They tack tho skins on
the side OF the barn to dry. and. after they have
accumulated forty or fifty. they dump them
into the sleigh and take them TO market.