Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-02-25
MUSKRAT vi
WORTH THOU
In Some Eastern Shore
Bring A Revenue ArouI
100000 Annually.

captured in Worcester County yearly
as up in Dorchester, Caroline, Talbot
and other counties up the Peninsula
but we do get quite a nice lot OF
them and trappers get good pay for
the hides. The Easton Star-Dem-
ocrat tells of the muskrat yield in
Talbot County in the following in
teresting story:
with the pelts of the common
muskrat in demand at from $3.50 to
S175 each the farmers of Talbot have
come to a realization that these ro-
dents, once regarded as pests, consti-
tute one of the greatest assets of the
county. In the brief season of four
teen weeks they are possibly more
than $75. 900 worth of skins taken and
sent to market, or sold directly at the
traps. and there is no doubt the rats
are far more profitable than ever the
cultivation of peaches proved. Many
farmers realize from $3.50 to $3.50 on
every acre Of marsh land they own
and some are now considering a prop
osition to engage systematically and
scientifically in the propagation Of
these fur-bearing animals.
at is an estimated fact that musk
rats breed and multiply as rapidly
as their kin, the house and barn ro-
dents. which means that each pair Of
these swamp denizens multiply more
than twenty times season. With
one pair actively engaged in the
rearing of young it is estimated that
their offspring represent value OF
more than $50 a year. As they live
tremendously in large groups--ln
fact they are the most peaceable of
all wild rodeats-a 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 in Talbot that can be used
for growing crops or other purpose,
where the raising of rats is rapidly
becoming the stay and support of the
fortunate owners in these days when
farming has ceased TO pay profit.
1t i believed that with the waste
land turned TO proper account and
the propagation of muskrats well es-
tablished these marshes would net
more than 100000 to the farmers
and trappers.
War Boosted Prices
The wartime demand for furs first
sent the price of rat pelts up to
dollar each during the early days OF
fighting, but il was believed that
after the return of peace they would
drop to their old rates, 10 to Is cents
apiece The present season has dis
nrnved the. T;;.ccss;;;;;;ssi if;tioi, however,
and now the business has assumed
the Importance and dignity of a vo-
cation Of very first rank. Also it is
an industry that never fails, ft>'-rats
are affected in numbers or quality Of
fur by neither dry nor wet weather..
heat or cold. They evidently have
no off-season, and despite the high
price set upon their heads by fash
ionable women they gain in numbers
constantly. Since they have risen to
the dignity of supplying fur for the
best of "sealskin" coats or smaller
garments.
One had almost is well shoot his
Al. ffrta
horse or COW as TO kill single musk
rat outside of the drastic laws that
guard them. To destroy their houses
on modest them in any way that might
cause them to move TO other quarters
is punishable with fine of 500 or as
many days in Jail, while even tres
passing on the marshes where they
make their nome Is no less severely
punished. They must not be hunted
with dog OF shot, or shot at, under
such penalty as grant them immunity
from pot hunters or hunters usi'
unfair means of capturing ll.4-~.
Neither may they be killed at times
when waters are overlooking their
lairs, forcing them cut into the open.
Under the Maryland law the musk
rat is treated with the greatest care,
and he who disturbs the quietude of
their marshes or resorts to the 'naN-
ing process of capturing them or TAX
ing advantage of them in any way
is a sure candidate for the workhouse
# he has no bank balance.
Indeed, the veneration in which the
Talbot muskrat is held in the con-
science of the law makes his position
almost analogous to that of the sac
rcd COW Of India or the white el
plant of Siam. He possibly deser-
all this consideration, for he has
into value at time when the
mers are needing money, ana
eventually will become the chief
set left 10 the State, as all othe
the natural resources are ia,
away for lack of protection and