Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-01-11
The Haunts Of the Muskrat.

As an arcnltect lnuskrdt Is ue>eTN-
ing of high honor His residence is
always a model of neatnsss, economy,
and ingenuity. The materials used in
the construction vary with the locality,
but he always selects a good, staple
foundation. The lower parts of his
den he makes of sticks, twigs, grasses,
and so on, which he celnents firmly
with mud. He continues this until
he reaches a point above high water
mark. and then his work become
more careful and of a much finer
quality. The best twigs and the soft
est grasses are used with great deN-
teritv and success. IL the colony is
a 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. Not
only is his den 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 NAV 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 5OOOO-probably more
muskrat hides will go from the Cam
bridge, Md, region this year to New
York. Formerly, when the fur was
fashionable, the hides easily brought
as much as 80 cents each, but nova
days 10 or 10 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 n thoroughly
palatable dish, and 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, how
ever. will generally get nothing from
a rodent except failure and a bad
odor. If the muskbag is cut and the
scent is impaired to the meat il be
comes worthless. The most success
full cook ever knew isa coloredwoman
who doesn't know letter in the al pha-
bet. but who has mastered every
mystery Of the kitchen, and she can
get up a dish Of muskrat that will
turn the worst scoffer into an enthusi-
asst. | asked her how she did it, She
skinned the animal very carefully,
washed it well i'm fresh water; soaked
| it for several hours in salt water, and
then hung it where it would get the
benefit Of cold air. The longer IL
freezes the better it gets. After this
she either stews il, or, If she wants il
fried, parboils it and friesi il afterward.
An old Maryland gentleman. who is
somewhat Of an epicure, says that
between turkey and muskrat he will
take muskrat all the time. The way
the Indians cooked this animal was
either to roast il on Goals or boil il
with corn.