New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-06
A FERRET AND HIS PREY.

rats are YOu know who Kate Is? Well, Kate is
the finest fox terrier for that purpose in the whole
country. I've owned her for ten years, and she is
eleven years old, and what she doesn't know about
rats isn't worth knowing. As soon as she gets In the
place, she snTs around. When she locates place
where the rats have come out she just turns her head
to me wags her tail. Then know she has found
the place. She doesn't bark growl, for she knows
as well / do that mustn't make bit OF noise
get excited. We want to kill the rats not TO scare
them. Then when we locate all the holes set traps
at each one, IL there many rats. II there are not
very many rats different method, which
will explain later. The trap we use is the double
jaw game trap which is used for small game. As
soon as rat Is caught we kill It and take 1t ont and
set the trap for another for we watch the place all
through the night 1--WE always work mt night when
catch rats
=" But how do you bait the traps7'
1--WE don't. Now, I'll tell you secret OF the trade
We use rat oil, which make as follows: We boil
about 100 rats in large kettle. and skim OF the oil
which rises 10 the top This oil is very pungent, and
proves a great attraction. We oil each trap with Just
n few drops Of ii, and that Is quite enough to lure
them on.
And then this modern pied piper said "Do You
know that we make the rats so to the traps ?
Well we can We walk across the room and, after
a while, the rats follow In footsteps But IL
isn't so wonderful when you know the trick. We sim
ply rub a few drops Of the oil the soles Of our
shoes and drag our feet as we walk toward the traps
Seer
Tell me what you do when there aren't many rats
"Well, take ferrets along In like that.
After Kate finds the holes we stop up all but two.
Kate, she watches one. She's as good as man,
she is And OF my men watches the other Then
the feets put in, and pretty soon the rats begin
TO out. Any rat that comes out al Kate's place
Is a dead rat that Instant One bite settles IT, But
the man can't bite them. Do You know what he does
/ ho III nix holds npar
the rat walks right into it. lie doesn't grab ii then.
! or hit IL. That would make II squeal and bite. No,
! Sir he simply lifts his hand gently with the rat in
! It, holding the animal gently a he would bird.
| And the rat never moves nor gets frightened 1t
will lie in his hand and never show fight or fear lie
can stroke it and pet IL as II it were kitten You
don't believe that. young man, do youi Come now,
that smile shows me you think this is whopper. But
assure you it's quite true. There's something about
| some men who have handled wild and shy animals
all their lives which gives them peculiar power.
| why. I've often done 1t ms SELF though mind you,
don't say could do 1t offhand. because haven't
tried il long time and it all depends on the artful
| touch. But my son Charley here do it. Can't
| you Charley! And my four men can do it,.
They never think anything Of II. Now. don't
| You see what advantage this Isl There is
no noise OF clubbing squeallng The rat simply
tossed to Kate, and she never gives 1t Chance to
| saueal she sends 1t 10 rat heaven too quickly for
that This is important, for If there Is any noise
excitement II settles rat catching for that night.
| They're cute fellows these rats.
"What big catches have we made Well the biggest
| catch / ever made was down in North Carolina.
won't say where, but 1t big hotel in that state.
The rooms and especially the kitchen were overrun
| with perfect swarms OF rats which from the
mountains and the hills and country for half mile
/ around the hotel owned by the ugly brutes. /
had the contract to lill them and brought four men
along with four of my best terriers Wel sir, the first
| night killed 1900 rats. The whole town turned
| out to see them. Well, kept 100 alive. and next
| evening | invited party to an empty room, where
/ had put two big cages holding the rats. The cage
! simultaneously. The men climbed on tables, the four
dogs were brought in and after the doors closed
| the cages were suddenly opened Out poured a swarm
OF brown rats. Think OF IL, zoo In one room. They
crowded into two eorners ana ed N les than i've min
We'll, the Joke oil the story was that one man had
brought his father. who old and bit hears GIFTED.
| When the circus over and j asked TIE old man
how he liked it, he said with surprise that he hadn't
I seen ANYTHING, and wanted to know whether i was
silently, and with so little FUSS that he never saw
| the thing done.
mo, we don't catch rats alive for matches. That
| Is nearly played out and when few are wanted
tramp ratcatchers generally supply them. But we
but he's dead now. We only get few and then,
when want TO try a new ferret or terrier. Como
Young Isaacsen pulled out some OF the little blood
| thirsty creatures. one OF a beautiful yellow color,
! with pink eyes, looked exactly like q snake, US 10
! gIded gracefully toward him, with It's long, slim
shapey body undulating close to the ground They
! have the typical savage head and expression OF
beast of prey and though they seemed 10 Ike coddlng
food ling, and cured up In his arms like pet pusse
they looked too dangerous and Teaehe 10 encourage
stranger 10 handle them. Young Isaaesen says they
not hard 10 train though they not inteli-
weasel they do not suck the blood Of their prey but
eat 1t completely. This disposition Is the main fault
TO be overcome in training them A. there is animal
feared by rats. and as their thin. flexible bodies
viii allow them TO follow the yernn through all their
tunnels they are particularly useful for their purpose.
| They trained 10 come when whstled for. They
| sometimes get bitten but they are extremely hardy.
and II takes great deal 10 kill one. The chief power
One ferret hold up eight times It's own weight with
| its teeth.