The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-12
MUSkRAT CATCHING IN MAINE.
II Is n Profitable Industry for Those Who
Know the Tricks.


EAST EDDiNGTON Me. Nov. "a soon as
the nights grow cold and long and shell ice forms
among the dead sedgcs on the shores Of lloll-
brooks and Eddington ponds the muskras begin
To build their winter houses and put warm
overcoats In an area Of ten acres nj the foot
Of llOlbrOOks Pond more than 100 muskrat houses
are in process of construction. The family dwell
ings made Of dead grasses and flags, bits
Of water soaked wood aud small stones all cement
ed with clay mud chcwed to fine mortar and laid
on evenly by the paws Of the industrious little
hnima's The foundation wall which IL about
six feet in diameter IL laid on n shelving shore
In Ave or six feet Of still water and IL built up
high with great care until the surface of the pond
II reached. Except for two three holes near this
ground, which serve for doors TO allow the musk
rats TO pass in and out below the ice, the walls
are smooth and giistcn in the water like mice.
Above water the outside walls are rough and
unudy. with great tufts Of dead grasses pro,rndIng
from oil sides, giving n stranger the impression
that the house Was thrown up by the action of tho
fnpsts The homes are built from three 10 fvo
feet above water old hunters say that musk
rats know in advance how high the spring fresh
cts will raise the ponds and erect their homes
accordingly. There Is a semblance Of truth In
the statement. because all tho houses In a given
pond arc ~ the same height This year the
structures In Eidlngton Pond are three feet six
inches above water while In Ilolbtook' = Pond
they rsc more than four feet Below the water
line the cones are II bare mud inside. \ floor
Of sticks and rough grasses Is built across the
inside ri the cone few inches above tho water.
Upon this scanoldIng the musktats lie with their
heads pointing Ia the hole In the centre, ~ IN
case ri sudden alarm the inmates may rs''hpc
10 the waters ~ the pond
Though the laws ~ Maine forbid the killing u'
muskrats until March and Nprl more than 800
pclts have been taken in this town since oct 10.
Tho animals AZ" raugh, IN small steel traps That
set top II logs the margin " the ponds.
The traps are held 10 the logs by stout chains.
and ARE weighted with stones rs soon
mhssrr, Is caught Il nlnErs INTO ,hG water M
Is drowned. When muskrHt IL trapped on land
T. cats i's leg oil "b"Nc tn" trap aud escapes on
three legs. later. when the ponds begin 20 irrc!'
over the boys viii enjoy fine sport aud earn good
money hunting miySkrntS on skates. Will"
muskratis COMPELLED I" get air IL order To breathe"
u can travel for miles under the Ice crossing wide
lakes and staying for hours hcluA the frozen coat
ing. In order Ia do this II must stop ~ often aS
once In twenty minutes and eject its breath into
the water This vitiatrd air rises tn the Surfrcr
forming bIg vale bubble which can bc seen easily
To the water for q few minutes the bubble becomes
uNNgcnaird, when the muskrat inhHlcS the gluhui"
To It's lungs ard resumes It's tourney Boys "h"
are familiar with the ways uf animals skate over
The ucNly frozen punds looking Tor bubbles which
they penetrate with the blade Of y pocket knit"
" soon rs the air est apes the opening - pluEgri
with n silver uf w""l aud the imprisoned animal
tru much exhausted aud dRscd tn go away. Is
emuthrrrd near the spot where u left II precious
bubble Later the bodies are Chuuprd ont With
n hhtchr' aud skinned. \ smart hoy can eaten
and skin from forty I" nifty mIskrats u day fruu
pond where bubhlrs Gre plenty.
In SHINING n inuSkrat All inClsiun - made
near the root ~ the tail and H." skin - them
pulled down nrr the head the WAY n man
iurSiIr out AMI hauled On over shluglr tn stretch
aud dry. " fast ~ dried the skins ARE stored
away IN a ""l lott and kept until spring whrn
tine open season permits The hunters t. sell them.
SucccSsiul mu>hrat ttArp"f~ who hay" crI.rS
pu the upper waters ~ mon River often TAI,
> 900 ~ s UUu rclts e. bang, ? at n time n,l
iSn wear, Asu Ne SKINS were very cheap bfnE
ius II" more than 10 or - ccutN each when
>Auni fur vent cut Il fashion and the skunk
that good SKINS nov bring - aud 20
cents each When man can take thirty
October and November the business affords =
large margin 81 profit
The dealers vii. hug The pills. ship them So
Bnstnn aud New York, where thrv arc tanned
and dyed and put 10 many uses Nearly uiI -
ln""h"np"r IFS 81 commerce ore made from Uush
rat skins They ARE ais, usci Tor Innings -
cnpcs, bars and NUTS, many ~ which are won
by H." wives aud dhl!l;' lrrS 81 ti" hunters N'.,
r1 ne ,rnr a 1 "r * /? ,%T'lr YIN IKE II!
orSl5 when h" ,'N To- purchase u ~ IN" fur st"frs
Tltr NhnHki indi"ns who liz" NJ old Town
consider nlr~qu6s!i stow . very tr"!'>um' and
delicious dish prct"rring II 10 chicken - pay
ridges "r rabbit In spit" Il this hir' "ndorsr
mrut, '"w "htr people viii rnt mnshrat wien
un~iVuFN and muSky flavor tie meat l. hlr,a
and tough Th"s". VII" hay" sat at tables wi"r'
ml!~krHt was s'rNrd were never known To- pass
ihoir plates back for - r"flliug For n tim"
tie farmers collected tho SNlunch bodies that
wrr" !rlI on H." Ice and after b"llirC ,'"m led
them Ia ms l.r;"r Nh" drn RS began To-
complain Tat the cggs tasted 81 mu>Lrht and
refused t" buy Sine" then the bodies have hc'n
used Tor bHng foxes ~ else w"rr left on the ice
Tor the crows md eng