Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-09-27
Wild RABBIT IS
VALUABLE ASSET
Each Year Fully 100000, 900 Of
Little Animals Are Killed IN
United States.
FUR IS IN STRONG DEMAND
Value Of PeIts Will Be Further In.
creased This Year on Account Of
Embargo Placed on lmporta-
ton of All Skins.

The game commission Of Pennsyl-
vania estimated that in 1917, during
the open season of As days, fully $780,
600 rabbits were killed and utilized for
food in that state. Making due allow
ance for everestimates in only one
state, it is safe to say that each year
fully 2QO,OOO,OO0 wild rabbits are killed
in the United States. Many Of them
are jack rabbits, the majority Of which
have been utilized in the past. If
all the rabbits killed were consumed,
they would represent between 100000
and 100000 tons Of valuable food, &C.
cording to specialists of the United
States department Of agriculture.
The skins of these wild rabbits are
q valuable asset, as they can be used
for hatters' fur and glue. The war
has caused a great shortage of hatters'
fur from other countries. Last winter
the price of native rabbit skins rose
steadily from 20 or Is cents to 20 and
even 80 cents a pound at the close of
the season. 1t takes 6 to 8 dry skins
of the cottontail rabbit to make a
pound. This makes the present value
of the pelt of the smaller rabbit 10 to
II cents and that of the jack rabbit
IS to 20 cents. These values will be
further increased because of the en-
barge that has been placed on the i'm
portation of furs.
Save the Skins.
If proper measures are taken to in
sure the collection of skins the short
age Of hatters' fur can be largely met
by the wild supply. II all households
that use rabbits for food and every
marketman who dresses rabbits can be
induced to save and dry the skins the
present home production Of hatters'
fur can be more than doubled next sea-
son. The prices pay we'll for the slight
labor needed to prepare them for mar
let. Men can make excellent wages
skinning the jack rabbits that are
destroyed as pests in our Western
states, and that have hitherto been
wasted. At only 10 cents each the
skins Of the 100000. 900 rabbits killed
In the United States have q value of
$20.OO0,OOO.
The organized drive, in which every
rabbit caught may be utilized as food,
IL being encouraged wherever prac-
tcable as a means Of conserving meat
and protecting crops from their depre-
cations.
While the fur Of our wild rabbits
does not make the finest hats, and the
manufacturers OF these are dependent
On nutria. muskrat, and beaver clip.
pings, the use of these finer hats will
probably decline and they will be re-
placed by those made of rabbit fur.
There IL q strong demand for all the
rabbit skins that can be collected in
America.
Kansas Firms Contribution.
Last winter n firm in Kansas
dressed and shipped $4,000 jack rab-
bits, or 275 tons Of meat. The skins
were all shved and marketed, making
an important item in the profits. A
large extension Of the business h
planned for the coming season, and 1t
is expected that many similar enter
prises will be developed in various
parts. Of the West. These activities
will insure a much larger saving Of
A.. -~Ah,< than In tho voe<