New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-03
MUSKRAT AS A DELICACY.
UNDER THE NAME OF MARSH RABBIT TT is
COMING TO BE ESTEEMED IN MARYLAND.

UNDER THE NAME OF MARSH RABBIT 1T is
COMING TO BE ESTEEMED IN MARYLAND
From The Baltimore American
Epcurean friends Of j. Frank Morrison, the
dig chief in Democratic politics OF the West
End are giving expression to fond hopes that he
will celebrate the recent victory OF his party by
giving a muSkrat supper to which they viii be
invited. Mr.. MOrrisons muskrat seances have
made him famous, and the meat OF the little ami
maj is a most popular delicacy In Baltimore,
though for many years its flavor on the Eastern
Shore has been duly and truly appreciated.
The only thing against the inoffensive musk
rat is its name. and those who take umbrage at
the association the name suggests can relieve
their tender senSibilites by substituting marsh
rabbit, name 10y which the little fellow is now
generally known among the white folks" OF the
Eastern Shore. While in former years the ten
der and savory meat was consigned to con5ump-
ton by the negro slaves. just as terrapn and
canvashack ducks because OF their abundance
and consequent CheapnesS, II has in more recent
years found its way to the tables OF the wealthy
and aristocratic classes I'm the towns. OF course,
there is much in the preparation Of the meat TO
render it a de!icacy. Mr.. Morrison has made this
preparation a life study. and is now past grand
master in this branch of the culinary art lie
has studied with the love and precision OF
chemist the condiments and the quantity OF the
same to be added and when and how to be added
when the marsh rabbit Of you please Is under
going the cooking treatment preparatory 10
tickling the epicurean palate.
rabbit suppers which should recommend them
TO high livers with full appetites and lean
purses for the meat does not cost much In the
tideWater sections of the peninsula IL IS ire
quently a drug on the market because or lts
abundance The animal is hunted for It's Ielt
as well as its meat. The pelt is the main source
OF profit The animals are shot, though they 90
not furnish much sport, as they live IN marshes
over which tramping is not very pleasant me
tran is the method generally in vogue 70 capture
them As soon as a muslCrat is caught 1t plunges
into the water the weight Of the trap holding II
down until the animal is drowned Nheh d
rnuskrat is trapped on land 1t eats us leg OH
above the trap and escapes on three legs.
In skinning a muskrat an incisiOn is made
near the root of the tail, and the SKIN IS tneh
pulled down over the head the way man taxes
off his shirt The skin Is then turned fur Sue
ont and hauled on over a shingle to stretch ana
dry Until two years ago the SKINS were very
cheap bringing no more than ID or IL cents
each When skunk fur went out OF fashion ana
the skunk farmers failed. muskrat skins doubled
in value so that good skins now bring % ana
30 cents each When man can take thirty or
forty nuskrats day and keep II up through
the winter the business affords a large margin
OF profit.
The dealers who buy the pelts ship them TO
Boston and New-York where they are tanned
and dyed and put TO many uses. Nearly all OF
the cheaper furs OF commerce are maze from
rnuskrat skins They are also used for Innings OF
cloaks and overcoats. and are made into caps
canes boas and mufts. many OF which are worn
bv tn, wives and daughters OF the hunters VINO
captured the pelts. cape made or twelve
skins which the trapper sold for So viii cost nm
80 or SO when he goes to purchase 1t at the
fur stores.