The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1919-12-05

prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture)
With the approach of cold weather
the thrifty farmer in almost any sec
ton of the country soon can under
take some form of FUR trapping with
profit A knowledge of the fur-bear-
ing animals found in his vicinity and
how to treat their pelts reveals Il
source of income often overlooked.
For the boy in the country nothing
offers n more delightful diversion than
Il trapping expedition, particularly if
it entails n money reward. Where
the farm itself affords little oppor-
tunity for trapping. an accessible
stream or wooded tract is generally
to be found nearby where fur-bear-
ing animals can be caught. While the
fur resources of the country have been
diminishing steadily, prices have been
rising. The war also has been an
important factor in this upward trend.
Wait Until Fur Is Right.
The person about to engage in pelt
gathering must understand at the out
ping until the animals fur is at its
best The pelt of Il mink. for cX-
ample. killed In September might not
be worth more than 80 cents, where
as ii the same animal were killed
in November or December. its pelt
might bring $40. Speaking generally,
trapping should not begin until cold
weather has set In. that Is. until late
November or December. for most sec
tons of the country. Two principal
exceptions to the rule are the musk
rat and beaver. whose fur is not at
its best until February or March.
In addition TO the widely distribut-
ed fur-bearing animals mentioned be-
low each region has many Others to
lure the pelt collector. The prices
given here are necessarily only APP
ordinations. Each trapper must
bear in mind that the size and condi-
tion of the individual pelt, as well as
other factors, will have much to do
with the sum 1t will bring.
Skunk Pelts Valuable.
The skunk. one of the most com
mon fur bearers, is found in every
state of the Union. Large skunk
skins probably will bring the trapper
from 81 to S. this season, while the
pelts of the little spotted skunk will
bring from 10 to so cents. The weas-
c of one variety or another, is to be
found In practically all sections of
the country. Formerly the brown
m
with the rise in fur prices brown pelts
should net the trapper from 10 to %
cents each, while the white pelts will
bring from 80 cents to $1.5O.
An animal not to be found in large
numbers, but native to regions north,
south east and west, Is the mink.
When in prime condition its skin, If
from 81 to 49, while skin secured in
the south should command 50 to So.
Likewise, the raccoon living in the
north produces better pelt than the
one living In the south. Good rae
coon skins are worth from $1.Oo to
$3.50 each to the trapper.
Many persons. particularly city
bt ~ iSe'"
That many foxes still are trapped In
inns country. Red fox pelts, obtain
aOIe in widely distributed areas in the
Northern states, should bring from
Slo to $50 each this season. while the
gray fox found in the Southern states
VIII bring from S1.5O to $3 a pelt.
An example of returns that can be
secured from fur resources long over
looked is found In the fact That the
people of Oregon netted Approximately
H'h"D from mole skins last year, fol-
lowing trapping demonstrations by
rep esentatives of the biological sur
'ey OF the United States department
VI agriculture. The demonstrators
showed that while millions of Euro
beah mole skins We're used by fur
manufacturers in America before the
war the skins of some American
es' especially the large, common
,ariety OF western Washington and
oregon, ore larger and have better
texture than those from Europe. Farm
ers Bulletin 832, published by the
united States department Of agricul-
ture, describes the best kinds of mole