New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-20
ON Il SKUNK FARM.
Hoe Profit Is Made Ont of the
MaI0dorOus animals.

In the northern part OF Connecticut close To the
Massachusetts, line and a settlement OF
Shakers. is skunk farm which IS run by two
young farmers with profit themselves If with
discomfort TO their neighbors. This locality had
always been greatly troubled by skunks and after
warning against them necessarily these two farm
ers, John and Joseph King, decided TO make a
blessing out Of evil and capture the skunks for
market. AS skunk skins are worth from 40 cents
to 81 so apiece, they decided to trap the animals
and market their pelts. So they set their ira DIS
and waited but IN a considerable time only a few
Of the little black and white creatures were
caught so tho method was deemed too slow a one
to be remunerative and the King brothers decided
TO hunt them.
The plan they follow is this: Just as II is grow
Ing dark they go forth into the fields with
courageous but discreet dog. \ number OF skunk
holes visited IN succession. The dog shifts
around each hole, and ii does not take him long
TO decide whether the skunk is at home or not
II the skunk has gone out he starts Its trail
until he comes within safe distance Of IT. Then
he bays long and loud, and the two farmers creep
swiftly up and usually find the little animal sitting
its hind legs, meditatipg humiliation to the dog.
While the skunk is thus occupied one of the
farmers sneaks behind it and drops a net over IT,
The net IS made Of a barrel hoop which is
stretched meal bag. and the whole is fastened
10 a short handle AS soon as this net is dropped
the skunk it jumps into the top OF the bag
and the hoop Is scooped carefully under it and it
is lifted into the air in the net Then the neck
Of meal bag which the other farmer carries is
opened and the small bunch of fur is slipped into
it. There the animal cuTs up and gives no further
trouble. After the hunt has lasted about three
hours the men return home, generally bringing sew
era skunks with them, and good sized animal
weighs from ten to twelve pounds the burden OF
carrying them Is not an easy one,
The pelts OF these animals only valuable in
cold weather. If killed before October the skin
will be blue the under side. Later IL will become
white, and bring a much higher price in the mar
ket But ii is not always easy to hunt them in
the fall and winter months so the Kings hunt them
cold enough for them TO be slaughtered. When
these first caught the skunks they turned
into a home made OF old hencOop, with yard
Enclosed with wire. Boards and tin were sunk into
This was an acceptable home 10 the skunks, but
persons living In the vicinity OF the skunk farm
complained that at time was the air fit TO
breathe, the animals Were removed to the barn
Into this barn the skunks are shaken from the
bag when the farmers return from hunt. In
boxeE in the centre OF the floor and in corners
skunks TO be seen piled in heaps fast asleep
They are fed every evening, and eat nearly every
thing that is meat They are given bits of musk
rat and rabbit and the carcasses Of all small ami
creatures and say that each one has individual
ity Of its When the men into the barn
the skunks rub against them and squeal and
tumble about like pampered kittens. The Kings
monkey with the buzz saw by picking the ami
mails UP by the tail II is said that this is easy
but most visitors willing to take the Kings
word for II without trying the experiment them
selves
The fur dealers send agents throughout the coun-
expect 10 make about $50 their pets this season
In few weeks they will be killed by shooting them
with revolver, and their skins will on tho walls
10 dry and wait for the agents.