Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-04-01
MUSKRAT FOOD VALUE.
The Skins Of These Animals Bring Sew
enty-fve Cents Apiece-Supply
Is Diminishing.

Muskrats are scarce down the river
these days and the heretofore welcome
legend, 'Muskrat supper here tonight, .
Is now seldom seen. In years gone by
the salt marshes of Ecorse have yielded
many thousands of the amphibian, while
the number speared and caught in traps
now is numbered by the dozen only. This
state Of affairs prevails all over Michi-
gan, ana IL is prophesied that next year
the furriers will send the price of near
seaI' coats many per cent. higher.
Various reasons are given by different
people for the scarcity of rats" The
local dweller will tell you that the high
water this year is to blame and that the
muskrats are being drowned by hun
dreds because they cannot reach the sur
face of the water for air. Others say
that the burning over of the marshes is
another prime cause. The fur men say,
however, that the wonderful rise III price
of muskrat skins causes a greater
slaughter than ever before.
1--WE have considerable difficulty get
ting the carcasses,' said William An
spach Of the River Rouge clubhouse yes
terday. Just a few years ago it was
easy to secure a barrel of muskrat car
casses around here; where the trappers
formerly captured hundreds each winter
they are satisfied with d score now Last
was but 10 cents, or two for quarter
when the muskrats were large. Now you
cannot get one for less than 20 cents and
from that up. We used to get large
numbers from Monroe, but that source of
supply also is cut off now
"Muskrat skins are coming in slowly,
said T.. G. Blake, dealer IN raw furs, re-
Gently. The supply is running low, i'll
my opinion, because there is a great de-
mand for the skirs. Michigan musKrats
are greatly III demand and bring splendid
prices. Good skins now fetch 70 cents
each, while but a few years ago 10 cents
was considered a good price. Muskrat
skins are converted into the near seal
coats and are used for q great many
other purposes. The government uses
a large number in the making Of caps
for the soldiers.
1T is a mistake to suppose that the
marshes are yielding fewer animals now
because Of the approach of the dwellings,
of men or the running of railroad tracks
through the marshes. The animals are
scarce because they are more closely
hunted fOl their SKINS
1t was not many years ago that musk
rat was a daily dish among the French
residents down the river No one can
cook carcass like an old French ma
tron. Many years ago the Catholic
church removed the ban on the flesh of
the animal so that it could be eaten on
Friday. The muskrat is one of the
cleanest animals known. Not only is it
careful of what it eats, but before eat
ing a root or anything else the little ami
NAL patiently scrubs it free from dirt.
Not until every particle is removed will
it eat it.
The name has had more influence in
keeping people from eating the flesh than
anything else. 1t is considered great fun
to initiate a novice in eating muskrat.
He is told that it is squirrel or any one
of Z dozen other animals to induce him
to eat it. In ninetynine cases III 100 the
novice is converted at once after the
first mouthful and forever afterward
never tires of singing the praises of the
meat-Detroit Free Press.