Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-12-01
MONEY OUT OF sKUNKs.
Pennsy1vanian Raising tho Little An
mails for Ther Peits.

In LawreLce County, Tennsyl.
vania, Is 10 ated the only skunk farm
In the world. 1t Is owned by John
Eckman, who in April of last year
killed a couple OF the little creatures
and sold their hides to furriers for 81
each. He concluded that IL was a
profitable business and the idea VI es
tablishing a skunk industry suggested
itself, and the idea was no sooner
conceived than acted upon, says q
writer in the Ohio State journal. lie
Immediately set to work and captured
between thirty and forty skunks and
established his farm. From thirty
last year his stock has increased to
$50 this year and will continue to In.
crease In the same ratio from year TO
wear. lie keeps ten females to one
mae and two filters Of young ones a
year Is the al erage Of a female, with
from seven to nine at each litter So
that IL may be seen that tho rate Of
increase Is very rapid. A peculiarly
Of the skunk Is that when the second
litter Il born the first litter Is killed
by the old Que, and this, II Is said, Is
the reason they do not increase SO
rapidly In their wild condition. tn
prevent this killing Of Of the first lit
ter Mr.. Eckman separates the FIRST
litter from the old ones before the
second litter Is born. The first litter
Is placed In an addition TO the origin
and In this way the industry Ia ex.
tended. The skunks are fed Offal
from slaughter.houses. worthless
sheep aud milk. They arc very hardy
and seldom, die Of any disease. Next
year Mr.. Eckman expects to have
1000 on his farm. In December OF
each year the killing occurs ten
males being killed to one female.
The pelts arc valuable, ranging from
10 cents to o. apiece. Black pelts are
most In demand and bring the high.
est price. The proprietor OF this
farm expects to make u fortune out
Of the skunks, and from all indica.
tions Is In fair way OF doing so.
Tho Enclosure IN which the skunks
are kept is about two acres In extent
and IL surrounded by u board fence
about four feet high made out OF
rough timber. just inside the fence
and about three feet from It and ex.
tending entirely around the lot, was
constructed u ditch or mOat, walled up
with solid masonry. the object Of the
moat being to prevent the skunk
from burrOwing under the fence aud
escaping from the farm. Inside the
mOat. aud entcndink around the en-
closure, side by aide, mounds OF earth
that present very much the appear
ance OF graves, making the entire To-
closure look very much like Gene
terry. Beneath these mounds OF earth
were wooden Goxes OF comnOdi 0us
size to which was an entrance ut the
end OF the mound through q sort OF
square opening constructed Of boards.
In these burrows live the skunks.
Across the inside angles oil the fence
were nailed boards to prevent the
skuuks rIom climbing over and escap
Ing. Mr.. Eckman, who conducting
o party Of visitors around the plac
recently, picked up by the tails two
Of the blacklist and most ferOciOus
looking skunIs In tho whole lot. The
lady visitors uttered 4 scream and
broke for the entrance TO the enclOS.
ure Us fast ~ their feet could Carry
them, and the 20 tleMen OF theparty
were not disposed to tarry On the
ground until the fears OF all were 10.
licved by Mr.. Eckman's assuring
them that there was no danger ut all.
Mr. Eckman explained that the fetid
liquid, which makes the skunk SO re
pulsive, Is secreted In y small gland
near tho pelvic extremity OF the
spinal column, and that ut certain
times the skunk cults this liquid Ia
u dne spray rs means Of self de,
tense. He srld the skunks on his
farm never emitted this disavreeahle
liquid except when killed or engaged
In q tight During this con ersatiOr
the skunKs cOngreRated around them
by the scores ard resembled great
number Of cats waiting to 10 fed.