Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-29
MINxs. M0sKRATs AND OFFERS.
Sideways for Playful Animals-Roam-
ings Of Fisher Cats.
From the Bangor News.

from the Bangor News.
As to the scarcity or abundance OF fur.
bearing animals In any place much depends
upon the food supply As rule a swamp
OF stream or pond where muskrats are
plentiful Will hold good number of mink.
The otter and the fisher cat are not so
fond of muskrat flesh as they are fish.
though no mink Will think of going fshIng
when 1t can find muskrats
The fisher cat is an animal that roayns
abroad very much. At times a man NAV go
fshlhg on lake near Bangor. for example.
and have his pickerei stolen alnns; from
under MS nose by fisher cats and again hs
may hsh Tor days and weeks and never see
q track of one of these animals along tina
shore y party of hunters VINO spent a fey
days IN Jock Darling's camp on Nicatous
Lake a few winters ago secured five fisher
cats In very short time. Again a man has
sought for them all winter and met with
constant ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The impression
Is abroad among hunters that fisher cats
are gaining in numbers in Maine, and the
reason for their increase is said TO be duo
10 the fact that many brooks and ponds
nave been newly stocked with trout and
landiocked salmon. As fisher cats seem to
prefer members OF the trout family to any
other fish. they are waxing fat at the ex-
penSe of the state.
One can live about the lakes and ponds of
Maine long time before he sees an otter.
In fact, the sc-called black otter OF the
northern streams is very rare as hard to
find and as valuable as beaver sin. II n
person WIN walk along the steep banks In
inland lakes in January and February his
chances OF finding an otter slide are very
good. Within the last ten years we have
seen other slides on the shores Of Hatcase,
Eddington, Chemo, Kinds and FicIjs,'
ponds. One winter the almost preci pitous
banks OF Hatcase were SCARED In many
places by the long and evenly worn slide
ways where the playful animals had gons
coasting.
AS rule, II is our belief that otter arc
more social in their habits than mink or
fisher cats. Reports from inland lakes tell
or men having seen many as ten or a
dozen of these slim and graceful creatures
sliding by moonlight and snoring and rae
Ing about in great glee. Now and then an
otter, driven by stress of hunger, will break
Into hen coop and after gorging itself
with raw poultry Will natten itself out on
a beam and sleep soundly. apparently I'M
veXed by the going and coming of human
foes. Two winters ago otter lived in Il
hen pen in East Orrington for more than
two weeks before 1t was discovered and
slain.
Speaking of otter serves as reminder OF
an ancient lie that has been passing cur
rent in Maine for many years. The story
runs that a. man driving n yoke OF oxen
was crossing pond when he met two otter
on the ice. He gave fight, and the animals
resisted, though to no avail, as the team
ster slew them both by rapping them on
the head with the butt of his goad stick.
He skinned the creatures and took them
home, where the flesh WIS cooked and
served for dinner, tasting for all the world
like choice cuts of fresh maCkerel.
And one who has met otter In close
quarters knows what a chance a man has
of hitting one with a goad stick. as all
offers are as quick weasels and well
fitted. with sharp teeth that can bite deeply.
1t may be that a man has been able to
strike at otter with a stick and hit 1t,
though such cases are very rare. The fam
lily that can cook an otter and remain in
the house while the cooking is going on has
a stomach to be proud OF, as the flesh Is
very rank and most ualodorous. Perhaps
a person might eat 1t sooner than starve
but he would be very hungry before he
contemplated such act