The Meeker herald., 1904-08-27
PURSUIT OF PELTS.
arox1.Rss HuxxzRs DO o11Ar
8A1N N LoUIs1A1A.
Build Fires 10 Drive Out Game and
Destroy 1astaraee and Prop
srty-8xtsfminating
Animals,

invasion OF southern LOUISIANA by
hunters In search Of minks. raccoOns.
'possums and even rabbits which threat
ems to exterminats these animals ~ ef-
fectually ~ the millinery hunters have
exterminated the water fowl OF the
gulf coast. says the New York Sun.
The ravases OF the bird hunters were
70 great ~ completely to annihilate. In
two seasons, four varieties Of terms Pc
culiar to Louisiana. Ono Of these va
rieties was killed entirely for its tall
feathers. which furnished . very hand
some aigrstte.
The Audubon society Anally inter
fered and secured from the legtsla-
turs protection for non-6ame birds
which they did not previously enjoy:
and this has stopped the slaughter. but
not until several species had been COM
pletely exterminated.
The energy Of the fur hunters Is
likely to lead to similar hostile legis-
lation, II not BY the legislature at any
rate by the police juries or governing
bodies Of the several parishes. The
hunters have been far moro active than
usual this year. and for the nrst time
are hunting possums for their skins.
There IL NO particular objection to
their killing the animals. except from
the negroes. who regard them - great
delicaciss: but the manner In which
the hunters have carried on the work
has been such - TO arouse Q great
deal OF Indignation and 10 Invite pro-
hibitivs laws.
Tho coon 10 particularly fond q
nsh and shrimps, and ~ . consequence
the swamps. marshes and pFAiries on
the gulf coast are filled with them.
and make splendid field for the hunt
ers. The population OF this region IL
composed mainly OF hshsrmen. who do
not hunt. and when the fur hunters
started In this year they found . Dig
business awaiting them.
Unfortunately, they have tried to do
, II on too large scale The Louisiana
coast Is covered with . coarse grass.
frequently i've and sax fest high, and
when this Il set on nre the coons are
driven out and can be shot like pleas
ants In q preserve.
The prairiss have been fred In all
directions BY the hunters. The result
has been to cause heavy losses TO tho
stockmen who feed their cattle in these
prairies and to the lumbermen and the
hshermen.
In vermillion parish. which has over
. million acres Of this prairie. the dres
started by the fur hunters have de-
stroysd nearly all the winter pas
tura8e Of The cattle. and the injury TO
TIE stoexmea will mount up 70 the
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars. The
police jury has prohibited coon hunt
ing in the parish ~ . consequence.
The police juries of all the coast
parishes are likely to take action SIM
liar to that OF vermillion. not In order
TO protect coons and rabbits. but to pro-
teet tho Inhabitants against the reek-
lessness OF the fur huntsrA But for
this action these animals. now prob
ably more abundant in southern Louis
lana than In any other part OF the
country, would be wiped out this year.
The recent raid on the coon. pos
sums and mink 10 due 70 the great d.
mand for furs and the destruction OF
fur-bsaring animals In the northwest
The price paid for pelts 10 so good
that the hunting Of eoous and 'possums
IL highly profitable. and . good hunt
or makes from Is to s1s day.
II 10 more p ontable than shooting
ducks or other game. The carcasses
are thrown away after being skinned.
or else they are converted into oil.
They furnish lubricating oil worth 60
cents q gallon. and . good sized coon
will yield nearly half . gallon OF oil.
Coon skins have been selling for
, several years. bringing from 70 to 80
cents. Postum skins have never been
sold in this region before the present
year. but are now In demand At from
10 70 20 cents. and even rabbit skins
bring cents Apiece.
Squirrels have heretofore been with
out value. but In the last few months
there has been . demand for sQuir-
rsls' tails. The minks have always
been in demand. but they have been
few until recently.
ThibstAn Women.
Al II nature had not been unkind