Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-19
The Muskrat as an Edible Animal.


The Muskrat as an Edible Animal.
The 81. Louis Republic Of late date
has this 10 say:
A Virginia paper objects TO the Repub-
lies enumeration OF muskrat COOKING
among the accomplishments OF the late
Colonel Skinner
We insist that Colonel Skinner knew
how TO cook muskrat. that ne could
make II delicacy. and that he took some
pride in his knowledge.
Our Virginia contemporary may not be
up to the mark, but Just the same, an
appreciation OF the possibilities or the
muskrat Is one OF the tests Of esoteflc
culture In the eplcure. Any hishy
schoolcd Tidewater Virginian will corro-
borate this view.
The time was when the diamond-back
terrapln was a despised animal, given 10
10 the colored fishermen along the river
banks. Then only taste OF original deh-
cacy and an invention Of native force
could grasp its attractions. At, present
there IL no credit in liking terrapin ana
knowing when IL Is properly presented
Every restaurant can supply II on ~
mand. Canvasback ducks, frogs legs
and oysters have had similar histories.
II Is the advanced epicUre who has
eaten many a NiINf Win 'HA' WV
educated up 20 muskrat Cooked as II
should be. the little swimmer Is a rare
tIdblt. Colonel skinner knew all about Il.
1t Is not very easy 70 determine how
much Of the Republics article Is play
fui and how much serious. Colonel Skin
ner was man acquainted with all the
secrets Of the woods and fields, ana kne"
well the Inhabitants thereof. II IS quite
likely that he had killed and eaten the
muskrat sometimes called the musquashp.
but that he considered ii "a delicacy'
we doubt.
We. however. know intelligent persons
who have eaten muskrats, and who ie-
port that they make a passable dish.
The meat is tender, juicy. and when
properly prepared. free from any oh
joctionabie odor. II Is not a fact. how
ever, as far as We have been able to
learn. that the muskrat Is often eaten
I'm Eastern Virginia. Nor 10 we think
that It is one Of the tests Of esotcric
culture In an cpicure" Of our Tidewater
counties
The fact that the nuskrat is OF the
rodent species. though in some other re-
spects he is akin 10 the beaver, no doubt
prejudces the public mind and palate
against him. There Is prejudice against
him also on account Of his odor; also. be
cause he is a hen-house robber. lie IS
sometimes called the musk beaver.
and it would have been better for his
chances of getting permanently located
in the society Of good edible animals
had that name been the only name by
which he was designated.
However. it may be, as the Republic
suggests, that the cpicure Of the future
Will take to the muskrat just as his predc-
cessors took TO oysters and TO frog legs.
The old James-River and kanawha ca
nal was in former days the great nursery
of muskrats in Virginia. The canal had
many enemies. but the freshets and the
muskrats were tho greatest OF these.
Time and again muskratS burrOWed
through the canals embankments and
opened sluice which grew and grew
until the canal emptied itself through It.
on one occasion, at a point near Holly
wood cemetery in this city, the opera
tons of muskrats caused a damage
amounting 10 thousands Of dollars and
n temporary stoppage of traffic on that
water way which our fathers designed
TO be the commerCe-bearer between the
Atlantic seaboard and the Ohio Valley.
Years ago the canal was abandoned
and a railroad built upon its tow-path.
but the muskrat still loiters about such
Of the dams and entertainments as remain.
our country mill-ponds are also well
supplied with muskrats, and should the
time ever come when they will take rank
on bills Of fare with c.nvas-back ducks
and diamond terrapins, Virginia may con-
graduate herself that she will be able
to supply them TO consumers in large
quantities.
From the kindly notice that the st.
Louis Republic gave of the late Colonel
Skinner and the way 1t now writes about
the muskrat, we suspect that its epcu-
rean editor is a Virginian, or else has
been in the habit OF visiting Eastern
Virginia as a hunter or fisherman, proba-
bly,. But no matter whether 10 the man
ner born or not if he succeeds in raising
the classification of the muskrat as an
edible animal he will be entitled To the
respect and good will of many Virginia
mill-pond owners who might then make
muskrat-raising as profitable an industry
as rrapin-farming has become in some
sections of Virginia and North Carolina