The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 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 a |
source of income often overlooked. |
For the boy in the country nothing |
offers a more delightful diversion than
a trapping expedition, particularly If
1t entails a 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
set the necessity of postponing trap
ping until the animals fur is at its
| best. The pelt of a mink, for ex-
ample, killed in September might not
| be worth more than SO cents, where
as if 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
lions 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
proxilnations. Each trapper must
hear in mind that the size and condi-
ton of the individual pelt, as well as
other factors, will have much to do
with the sum it 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 SIS this season, while the
nelts of the little spotted skunk Will
bring from 10 to so cents. The'weas-
81. of one variety or another, is to be
found in practically all sections OF
the country. Formerly the brown
pelts were considered worthless, put
with the rise in fur prices brown pelts
should net the trapper from 10 to 70
een+s each. while the white pelts Will
bring from so cents to $1.50.
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, IL
secured In the north, should bring
from 81 to IS. while skin secured In
the south should command 81 to 70.
Likewise, the raecoon living In the
north produces a better pelt than the
ona living in the south. Good rae
coon skins are worth from $l.oo 70
S3.75 each TO the trapper
Many persons, particularly clty
, dweIlers. may be surprised to learn
that many foxes still are trapped IN
this country. Red fox pelts, obtain
! able in widely distributed areas In the
Northern states, should bring from
s1o 10 $50 each this season, while the
grov fox found in the Southern states
viii bring from $3.50 to So pelt.
) An example of returns that can be
secnred from fur resources long over
looked is found in the fact that the
neonle of Oregon netted approximately
$4,000 from mole skins last year. FOL
lowing trapping demonstrations by
representatives of the biological sur
vev of the United States department
of agriculture. The demonstrators
showed that while millions OF Euro
! mean mole skins were used by fnr
n,onufacturers in America before the
! wor the skins of some American
, rooles. especially the large, common
voriatv of western Washington and
orogon are larger and have better
tovt,,re than those from Europe. Farm
ave, pulletin $50, published by the
rTnited States department of agricui-
mo describes the best kinds OF mole