The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-07-09
THREE MILLIONS FOB sKuNKs
THE skunk brings annually to the
trappers of the United Statas aho,,


j trappers of the United States abou-
$S,000,0O0. 1t stands second il
Importance only to the muskrat among
Our fur bearing animals. The value Of
skunk skin in the raw fur market
averaged from about rs cents to $3.50
In December, 1913, and usually runs
higher. Although this fur is not very
popular in America, Europeans favor il
because it wears well and has a luster
which makes it rival the Russian sable
IN appearance. These facts are empha.
mzed in the new farmers bulletin mo
$50 now being sent out by the q. &.
Department Of Agriculture, which may
be had free on application by those who
are interested in the Economic Value
Of North American Skunks.o
Thirteen states now protect the skunk
by game laws, and fuller understand
ing OF the economic value of these crea-
tures to agriculture, as well as to COM
merce, will no doubt result in protec-
tive measures in other localities The
earliest Legislation for the protection
Of these little animals grew out Of ap-
peals from hop growers in New York
because of their value in killing the hop
borer. This was in 1893 and since then
Laws have been passed for their protec-
hon in Maine, New Hampshire, Yer
mont, New York, New Jersey, Della
ware, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan.
Missouri, Kansas, and North Carolina
The closed season for the skunk varies
in the different states, but in the
opinion of the author of this bulletin it
should be extended to at least nine
months in every case, for at present
There is a scarcity of fur animals and
the increased demand for furs has put
higher premium on its peIt. Unless
given more adequate protection, it can
not long survive high premium. In
advising this close season it should be
understood that the right of farmers
to destroy individual predatory skunks
should always be reserved.
Returned to Us as Alaska Sable,
London is great market for Ameri-
can skunk skins. In 1858 over 10000
skins Of this aimal were exported to
London; in 1911, over 100000 AL
though only a small percentage of our
skins are now dressed and made up
here, we have received in years past a
good number Of them back after they
nave been made up abroad, and many
American ladies who would scorn to
wear skunk skin have been proud of
their imported "black marten" or
"Alaska sable" which was merely the
American skunk fur more attractively
labeled.
The process of dressing the skunk
skin and removing any lingering odor
has been improving year by year and
meanwhile the fur has been gaining
popularity. The present extreme scar |
city of Russian sable because of law
that forbids the taking Of that fur
favors the foreign market for the skunk
and even in this country the use of its
skin is increasing
Profitably Raised for Their Fur,
The recent high prices for skunk skins
have led to discussion of the subject +
of skunk raising on commercial basis.
Although some breeders have encoun-
5ered difficulties, on the whole there
are good reasons for believing that
profitable industry may be developed.
Skunks are less wild than other mem
'ers of the family to which the more
important small fur bearers belong and