The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-18
FORTUNE m SNDNKS
Short Grass Citizen Getting
Rich on Unique Industry.
HE TELLS OF ENTERPRISE
Business Seems to be More
Profitable Than PIeasurabIe.

Dodge City. an, Dec 17.-Major Ben
Ferguson has new way Of keeping the
wolf from the door. He is engaged in
catching skunks for the market Major
Ferguson lives on ranch seven miles
east Of the city and ne intends to devote
the winter months IN catching skunks.
He begun a little more than two weeks
ago, and he has now over 100 skunk hides.
He caught sixty skunks in eleven days,
and twenty Of these were captured in one
day. lie caught seven coons also.
He is following along the south side
Of the river, and viii pursue the sand
hills up into Colorado. The favorite
abode for skunks is in the sandy soil,
and for this reason Major Ferguson finds
more Of the meDhids tribe on the sand
hills. His mode Of capturing the skunks
Is a very simple one. He tracks the
skunk holes and covers them with sand
and digs over the burrow until he 10
Gates the varmint with a SPADE. Two
dogs complete. the rest Of the capture.
One Of these dogs is an Irish setter and
the other is a fyce. The fyce win catch
and capture a skunk quicker than q big
ger dog.
Major Ferguson skins the animals and
takes away the fat, and the rest ne
throws to the dogs" The oil is used
for mechanical purposes and the hides
are made into the best sable furs -
Last winter Major Ferguson sold 500
worth OF skunk hides and oil to Sheen
nen & Co., of Chicago, and he has an
order to supply this firm with all he can
catch. The hides bring 80 cents apiece
and the oil 81 gallon Twelve years ago
Major Ferguson sold in skunk and other
hides about 5000 worth, and ne believes
this winters catch viii exceed that
amount. This is opening up winters
sport and occupation that is not to be
'sneezed az" On this present hunt he
will catch beaver, coons, coyotes and
other animals. The beavers gall has a
market value, and he will also utilize the
coon fat. Major Ferguson says II he
could find market for the musk" Of
the skunk he would make a fortune In a
short time. A little coal oil is used in
overcoming the obnoxious odor Of the
skunk
If Major Ferguson purstes the hunting
Of skunks, coyotes, coons, beaver and
other varrnints, he will well nigh exhaust
the country of the pernieious tribe,
which give the farmers 50 much concern,
in projection Of hen roosts, COW yards
and sheep corrals
A bounty is offered for coyotes and the
trapping Of thess animals is a profitable
pastime for young and old people, but a
systematic hun- ike Major Ferguson is
engaged IN viii do much towards Kidding
the country Of these pests.
There is a number of species Of skunk
but the most numerous kind found here
is the common American skunk, about
the size Of a cat generally black or
blaclzish brown, with white streaks along
the back. It inhabits burrows, which it
makes in the earth, feeds on mice, frogs
etc. and insects and fruits, and some
times enters houses TO plumber store
rooms. It is not averse to spring chicken.
There is small skunk, not numerous,
known as the hydrophobia skunk It has
only one streak along the back, and its
fur is valuable, being worth %. Deaths
have been known from the bite OF this
skunk
sBunks depend very much for defense
on an excessively feted fluid. which Is
secreted by glands near the anus. On
this account the skunk is very much left
severely alone. but there are people. like
Major Fergsuon, who overcome the fear
Of the meDhiuc and pursue him in his
burrow.
After catching a skunk Major Ferguson
throws it into a pool of water where it
remains twenty-four hours, when the
stink leaves it.