Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1907-05-17

| the Western world, the m0skrat IS tne
most unfortunate, as what ne
contributes to the food and cloth1g
supply of the people he does almost
without a word Of credit. 5,
His deeh is eaten as terrapin, ana
his thick, soft, warm. silky fur dyed
in many ways and sold as all sorts OF
fu1s, but seldom as plain muskrat:
Plucked and dyed, the fur OF the
muskrat makes an imitation Of seal
skin only to be detected by fur
dealers or experts. Mink and other
costly furs are 30 closely initiated as
to almost defy detection. and the
skins of these perfectly harmless and
remarkably useful little animals have
been considered Of value since our
country began. The farmers boy
hunts him for pocket money. the
negro for food and the muskrat
hunter tor both. While this interest,"
ing rodent il to be found every where
in North America and in countless
millions on the Atlantic coast, the
STATES of Maryland and Delaware are
the only ones in which the hunting
and marketing for 10th the fur and
flesh of the muekrat are carried on to
a degree approaching an industry:
In the streets of Wilmington and
in some parts of Baltimore the
muskrat is sold as marsh rabbit
and is eagerly sought after by the
negro population. In the country
places of many Southern states the
white population has learned the value
of this little animal and it is now
eaten by persons who few years
since would have refused it with
disgust. it is sweet, tender and
entirely wholesome. Students OF the
muskat know that he leeds On the
choicest grass, roots herbs and ether
clean foods, which he carefully washes
In live water.
| The muskrat will not live in q
stagnant pond Or pool; he dwe)ls in
carefully Quilt houses constructed of
earth and twigs, while the entrance
Is always below the lowest tides or
currents From n sine to Texas the
tops OF muskrat houses mag be seen
peekirg above the surface Cf mill
ponds and along the tide creeks, live
swan,ps, and the hunter or Taper
shoots spears and traps these little
rodents by the Thousand.
! Many country stores in Maryland
and Delaware deal in muskrat SKINS
In many places they are accepted as
readily rs the national currency, and
the fortunate hunter who goes to "the
store with quantity of rat skins is
sure to take away a cart load Ut
groceries,, wearing apparel or ammuni-
ton. The muskrat skin fills the larder,
clothes the family, supplies ammuni.
Ition and arms to the hunter and
keeps the stone jug full OF liquid
vigor Of the eastern shore.
The man who knows the values OF
the muskrat will tell you the Gods
country is the Eastern Sho. " And why
not? Where can 50 many good things
be found in one locality? Peach
brandy, apple jack, the choicest of rye
whisky. terrapin canvasback duck,
soft crabs and the finest oysters in the
world. What a list The fame of tht
eastern shore is world wide and the
hospitality Of its residents unbonded
TO him who has partaken Of any
one OF the many good old. fashioned
dishes or drink Of the eastern Shore
ss they are prepared and served al
home, the memory Of tbs event is {
pleasant lingering dream ever after
Now the popular aud fashion able FAC
OF the shore is muskrat dinners. Thi!
long neglected dish is among thu
attractions Of the famous Mary lant
club at Baltimore, and will soon b
served in this leading fashionable
hotels and restaurants all over thu
country. The rapidly growing demand
tor delicious flesh of this water roden
will not as IN the case of the te1repln
soon use up the supply until tn
price will place it beyond. any bu
very long purses, as it will hrs
induce the fur hunters to save tn
flesh, much of which has been thrown
away, to render the sale al
imp:ssibility.
In parts Of the South the mskra
skin trade IS so important that tn,
mskrats on which they have thei
burrows are rented out for the shoot
ing The sport is usually best a
night, when the animals are out i,
search OF food. It sometimes o,cur
that an unusually high tide drive
them from their homes, when they ar
slaughtered In thousands. The fu
hunters only kill them IN the winte
and early spring, when their coats ar
thick and IN prime condition. Tn
flesh is not so good in winter az il
warmer weather, SIS they get thin dur
ing the Geld weather.
, The muskyat Is an excellent swim,
mer, and when in tie water, IL j
only the expert Or very lucky sports
man who MANAGES to bag him, Whel
on shore he is easily alarmed and flop
, ! into tbs water with much noise
disappearing beneath the surface +
come up fifteen or twenty yard
away or to make a dive into his eel
by thu under water doorway. TIL
entrance to all houses are urde
water for oncealment-tbe hsll wa,
winds upward into a cluster OF cose
nests out Of raech IF tho ord;,orc h; ri