Evening journal., 1922-02-06
'MUSKRAT IS
VALUABLECROP
-Pelts in Demand for Seal
skin" Enrich State
+. Farmers
LAWS PROTECT
FUR BEARERS

with tho pchs OF the common
muskrat IN demand at from $3.50 to
s1.75 each the farmers OF Delaware
have come TO a realization that these
rodents. once regarded as pests. con-
stitute one OF the greatest assets OF
the State. In the brief season OF
fourteen weeks there are possibly
more than 100000 worth OF skins
taken and sent to market. or sold
directly at the traps. and there is no
doubt the rats are far more profit
able than ever. the cultivation OF
peaches proved. Many farmers
realize from $3.50 to s40O on every
acre Of marshland they own and
they are now considering a PROPOSE
ton to engage systematically and
scientifically in the propagation OF
these fur-bearing rodents.
It is an established fact that musk
= rats breed and multiply as rapidly as
their kin. the house and barn rod
ents. which means that each pair OF
these swamp denizens multiply more
than twenty times a season. With
one pair actively engaged in the
= rearing OF young 1t is estimated that
their offspring represent a value OF
more lNhU foN year AH AufN lANf
harmoniously in large groups-in fact
they are the most peaceable OF all
Wild rodents hundred pairs could
find housing accommodations and
forage on an acre OF marsh, so that
with care and proper attention the
hitherto useless waste land and
marshes Of the State may be trans
= formed into the most profitable sec
ton OF the farms
There are hundreds Of acres Of
lowland I'm Delaware that cannot be
used for growing crops or other pur-
pose. whore tho raising OF rats Is
rapidly becoming the stay and sup
port Of the fortunate owners in these
DAYS when farming has ceased to
pay a profit
Il is believed that with the waste
land turned 10 proper account and
the propa cation Of muskrats well es-
tablished these marshes would net
more than s1.OOO.O00 to the farmer
trappers.
The wartime demand for furs first
sont the price Of rat pelts up 10 a
dollar each during the early days OF
lighting. but Il was believed that
after the return Of peace they would
drop 10 their old rates. ten or fifteen
cents apiece. The present season
has disproved that presumption.
however, and now the business has
assumed the importance and dignity
of a vocation of very first rank. Also
10 is an industry that never fails. for
rats are affected in numbers or
quality OF fur by neither dry nor wet
weather. heat or cold. They evi-
IDENTIFY have no off-season and
despite the high price set upon
their heads by fashionable women
they gain in numbers constantly
Since they have risen 10 the dignity
OF supplying fur for the best OF
"sealskin" coats or smaller gar
ments. Delaware has surrounded
them with protecting laws that ex
press her realization OF the precious
nature OF the animals.
One had almost as well shoot his
neighbor or az least his neighbor'l
horse or COW as TO kin a singl,
muskrat outside of the drastic law,
that guard them. To destroy theii
houses or moiest them in any wal
that might cause them 10 move {,
= other quarters is punishable with ,
fine Of 500 or as many days In jail
while even trcspassing on th'
marshes where they make thei
home is no less severely punished
They must not be hunted with a dol
or shot. or shot at. under such pen
atty as grant them immunity from
pot hunters or hunters using unfai
means OF capturing them. Neithe
may they be killed at times whei
waters are overlooking their lairl
forcing them out into the open.
Under the Delaware laws IN
iruskrat is treated with the creates
care, and he who disturbs IN
Quietude of Their marshes or resort
tl the mailing" process Of captui
= .ng them or taking advantage q
them in any way is a sure candidai
FOR the workhouse II he has no ban
balance.
Indeed. the veneration in whic
tile Delaware muskrat is held in th
conscience Of the law makes his pC
ton almost analogous to that
The sacred COW Of India or the whii
eggplant of Siam He possibly d,
serves all this consideration, for :
has come into a value at a tin
when the farmers are needir
money. and he eventually will bl
sf come the chief asset left 10 the Stat
as all other of its natural resourcl
are fading away for lack of prote
ton and appreciation. The musl
rat requires no care or attention ar
simply needs 10 be let alone in ord
TO multiply and increase the wealt
= Of the land owner whose guest
may be.
The rat is by far the most prof
able yield OF Delaware farms toda
one acre Of marsh well stocked Wi
the rodents is worth twenty acres
peaches, even when the prices a
: near the top. or ten acres OF the be
apple area in this garden and o
chards section of country.
MIR LORD WITH CHEVROLET c