The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-01-07
SKUNK FARMING PAYS.
UNIQUE ENTERPRISE OF TWo
 MEN OF OLD MYSTIC.

hIephitfs fs Captured Alive by Aid of an 1nteiiigsnt Dog and Handled with Perfect Safety by One Who Has Learn ed to Do the Triok-Fur, oil and Meat All Marketable.
 In Old Mystic two farmers have es- tablished an industry that greatly amuses many people in southwestern Connecticut John Calvin Wilcox, known as Cal Wilcox, and Jeremiah Brown are the men who provide amusement for others, while, not altogether incidental iy. they make considerable profit for themselves. They accomplish these re- suits by gathering skunks for the mark ct. In their work they follow unusu- al and highly interesting methods. Most other men in the same business are far behind these enterprising Mystic farm CTS.
 Not long ago two stove factory hands in Dighton. Mass. who had heard that t1iCiC Woo lIlOtCy tO RO Al4ckaC HI 0NiAlil5 skunk skins. started a farm for the purpose of breeding valuable specimens of the animals. They set traps them selves for the malodorous prey, and they bought what other people caught. The skunks thus secured pere put in an inclosure Of wire netting. Every now and then they dug up the ground around the sides to such good purpose that they succeeded in burrowing out. But these occasional losses did not dis courage the farmers, for only one or two of the animals escaped at a time. The business was continued with ev- cry hope of success. It is true the neighbors often complained about the enterprise. but with out any good req son the men who conducted it felt sure. They said their farm was perfectly odorless, and one visit some Providence people made 10 it bore out that state- 1nent Whether or not the pen was aI- ways in this sweet smelling state it is difficult to prove, but one thing is sure, there were some outsiders who took a strong dislike to the business and one night cut the wire, allowed the last skunk to escape to the woods and brought the local enterprise to a sud- den close
 The Old Mystic partnership is pros- pering under most favorable conditions The neighbors now make no complaint about their ingenious fellow townsmen while many people from far and near esteem it a great privilege to visit the farm and watch the animals.
 Cal Wilcox, neighbor of Browns, orig mated it. For several years he has gone .'skunking." going out always at night accompanied only by a dog. Skunks sleep during the day. it should be known, and forage after dark. The dog was trained to track these animals, and no others. and to run them into a corner formed by stone walls or into some other pocket from which there was nc escape. The dog would not touch his game but would bark until his master arrived. Then Wilcox by method which he did not divulge, would pick the skunks up and carry them home.
 In time the hunter felt the need oi company upon his nocturnal expedi- tions. He began to work upon his neigh. Dor Brown, trying to get him to joir him in the business. Brown is an older man and troubled with rheumatism Besides, like many other men, he had g prejudice, call 1t reasonable or unrea. sonable, against skunks. and he made many excuses for not accepting the kinc offer to assist in the enjoyable occupa. tien of DroWling in the depths of the night, picking up real live bobcats.
 But, such is the power of enthusiasm when seconded by persistence. Browr was at last persuaded to enter the bus mess. And only twice has he had cause to regret his course. On those two time. a slight mistake was made in the hand ling of a skunk, and the conseauenc, was somewhat unpleasant.
 During the last few months Wilco, and Brown have been out ''skunking' almost every night Wilcox's splendit trained dog Dick has always accom- panied them and it is through his cun ming that they have been able to mak a success of their business. Let hin once get track Of skunk and he ha it in corner in short order Then vii cox who, after many years of experienc has become expert in the daring task is prepared to walk up to his quarr, and pick it uD as easy as if it were farm cat. It has several times hap pened that an evenings work of thi sort has resulted in the capture of a many as ten or twelve skunks. Thei skins are worth from $1.75 to $2.5 apiece. The business then, is profitable .. but those who would follow it had bes be sure first that they know how t overcome its peculiar difficulties.
 The skunks are kept in a small, wei boarded uo house, much like a dog kennel. There they are safe, for ther is no possibility of their burrowing out Straw is placed on the floor, and thei fcoElsort in other ways is well locke,