Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-04-04
A SKUNK FARM.
A Novel Enterprise to be Located near Shep
MISUNDERSTANDING About Queer Beast.

from Joseph L. Cookus an acre OF land
north OF town and is now fitting it up
as skunk farm. Mr.. Miller expects
to stock it with about fifty skunks,
and if he has any sort of luck at all
he will make money from his queer
investment by selling the pelts from
the odorifsrous little animals. He
has. several skunks on hand already,
and those who are expert in trapping
the beasts will soon provide him with
all he needs. They are caught in steel
traps almost any place about Shep-
herdstown, the traps being set at the
entrance to their dens. No bait Is
used, the plan being to catch the ami
NAL by the foot when it comes out to
feed. 1t isn't a pleasant job to trans
fer the skunk from a trap to bag,
for he is not in good humor after hav-
ing been detained by those sharp steel
jaws for from two to ten hours.
Mr. Miller has been in correspond
ence with the proprietors of skunk
farms in Ohio and in New Jersey, and
has gotten from them some pointers in
the business. The skunk is not much
of a climber, but is an expert digger
The fence to enclose them must there
fore be built to suit their habits in
this respect. The fence will consist Of
oak boards three feet under ground !;
above the ground will be plank
foot high, on top Of which will be two
feet of wire netting, surmounted by
another plank nailed fiat to the top Of
the posts, and projecting on the inside.
A fence but three feet high above the
ground does not seem much Of a bar
rier, but the skunk is sluggish ami
NAL, and it is said will not be able to
climb over it. 1t is not anticipated
that anyone will break in from the out
side. Sheds will be provided as hid
ing places and for shelter from the
weather.
The animals will be fed upon ohal
from the butcher shops and garbage
of that sort. Carrion suits them very
well. They are small eaters, and en-
JOY worms and insects as a steady diet.
They remain in concealment during
the day and search for their food at
night. They are feeble in appearance
and move slowly and leisurely. They
have only one weapon of defense.
Everybody knows what that is-the
nauseous artillery that routs man and
beast alike. There are many errone-
Gus impressions about the skunk. 1t
is commonly believed that it distrib
utes its evil-smelling fluid by whisking
it about with its tail. This is not true.
The fluid is carried in anal pouches
and is discharged by muscular contrac-
ton, 1t can be projected to dis
lance of from 10 to II feet, but the
odor is perceptible mile away. 1t
only uses this defense when it is dis
turbed.
The female skunks bear two filters
a year, from six to twelve in each lit
ter. The young attain their full
growth in about three months. Their
pelts are saleable only when taken in
the winter. The animals are usually
black or black and white spotted. The
black ones are most valuable, and
their pelts fetch from $l.00 to $1,75
each. There is nearly always white
spot on them, however, either on the
head or the tail. There is little de-
mand for the spotted skins, which sell
as low as Is cents. By constantly
killing off the spotted ones the "fock
may in time be bred to jet black.
Mr.. Miller has been buying skunk
hides for several years past. He sells
them in New York to manufacturing
furriers, and the demand is constant,
From $50 to 500 skunks are trapped
each winter in this vicinity, and there
is money to be made by the trappers
if they follow the business persistently.
The outcome of the new industry
will be awaited with some interest IN
this place. 1t may prove to be such
money-making business that great
prosperity will be the result. And
then on the other hand our summer
breezes may be so odoriferously la
dened that some fine night the town
will go out and dump the whole farm
over the cliffs into the river,
Selling Their Horses.
w. J. and A. NJ Shepherd, of the
Shepherd Stock Farm, and R. D. Shep-
herd, of Wild Goose Farm, near Shop
herdstown, have concluded to dispose
of their race horses and will sell all
except few to be kept for their per-
sonal use. Henry Shepherd has bought