The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-14
CAV = SKUNK CArcn = woUsE,
me ouesttsu over which Farmer. a.. u,,,.
eru tn MAINE Aro DisputiuE ,,a R.,,,.r.

AUGUSTA. Me-, Nov. l3.-Thc Sim ,o, -.
garding the ability OF an avrr,.c Nnino srrnr
to catch an average Maine mouse il an r,naiJ
and until tho question is dclinI;rl, sc,t,cd ,hc
advocates OF tho proposed law urobih;t;r, IN,
trapping OF foxes can make no hcalvnv ,o,irst
popular prejudice. Last spring TINS S,.v rnyo
an outline of the dispute. II was iu,rrd,d ,hon
TO settle tho whole question by an op,n t,c,d trloI
between II skunk and any numb r of healthy
mice which the fox trappcrs might chooso IN
produce. Since then three tournaments have
been held, and though every one was largely
attended and much money wagcrcd on tho rc.
suit, tho referees have been unable to rcnder n
decision In favor Of either side.
At the first trial the skunk was shv and az
frightened ut tho crowds OF men that bc
wouldn't pick up a mouse when it was placed
under his nose, though 1t is claimed that bo
caught and aty two mice after tho men had
gone away. While this answered Tho ,lcinnnda
OF science, IT. was far from satisfactory To Tho
bettors. who insisted on seeing the skunk cai"b
money. At tho second trial held d'i in o Si,inesYn e IN
October n tame skunk that had been kcpt
hungry for two days was introduced into the
trouble in catching three mice. all of which ho
devoured in the presence of the spectators. he.
wagcred money against the skunk declared that
the mice had been caught recently, and were in
Iuppo one hearing this SrrSmemt the r ,icra ,P rrf tr.Sii
to declare the skunk the winner, and appointed
a third trial, which came OF in Randolph early
Ten tamo white mice were turned loose in a
tightly fenced area two rods square, and when
made the tamo skunk of the previous meeting
was put among them. The skunk was not
hnngry snd ob paid nj no b heed doo to the mice that
killed and fed to him to sharpen his appetite,
after which he seemed to have no trouble in
catching all the mice he wanted. When he had
killed four without making any att cmpt to ent
them. the men who had bet on tho skunk dc.
had fulfilled his contract; but the fox champions
demurred. say that white mice were not so
agile az The wild Acid mice, and asserting that
the skunk an advantage which he could o. pG not ts get
in t~he'open field. For these reasons tho referee
nesting. to o. be sh held in in Chelsea he Spp %eRt Nav y i0uf'h
Members Of the Brunswick Fur Club and
S welfare " OF all nun the ,O spplo Si oreh aGss S IN M thas t ds'
Ponds upon the result of this contest. They say
that by using a new bait, which has a peculiar
fascinating smell for foxes, the trappers are kill.
ing Off all the foxes in Maine. and taking them at
a time when the fox is practically worthless. On
took county last February came homo with
more than 800 pelts. In kennebec county the
man may travel all day in newly fallen snow
and not soc a fox track. 1t is further asserted
that no sooner did the foxes disappear from
their haunts than the mice began to girdle the
apple trees. killing whole orchards in a single
winter. For these reasons the men who hun
Will uOko dohCu Ii Slult u u STOP u
trapping, and came before the Legislature with
the names of more than 1000 orchardists at
tached TO their petitions. In the debate whicl
followed Secretary Mckcen Of the Board o
Agriculture said that skunks killed more mic,
than foxes. and as foxes killed skunks. tn,
hunters were trying to preserve the wrong ami
mal: This assertion was disputed by all tn
hunters, and supported by a good number of tn
farmers present. Then a member of the Flu
Club offered to bet 500 that n skunk couldn'
catch q mouse in an open field. This wa
grabbed up by n farmer. and before the com
mittee adjourned more than 81 900 had beel
wagered on the result.
No law was passed last winter. the Legislator
thinking it best to wait and learn the result o
the field trial. Meantime both factions hav
been busy in soliciting support. The TO
hunters declare that unless tho trapping b
scented meat is stopped nil the orchards Ii
Maine will be ruined and nobody can raise an
hard cider. The farmers are equally conHden
that the foxes are running the poultry bushes
OF the State and killing off all the skunks, whic
keep the mice in check. Though the Lcgislatur
does not meet again in regular session unit
January. 1899. the fox hunters have obtaine
nearly 10000 signatures to their petitions, an
have wagered SIS. 900 that a skunk cannot cate
mouse, and offered a reward Of $500 to any ma
who ever saw a fox kill a skunk. From th
present indications the controversy promise
to become one of the issues in tho politics
campaign Of 1898.