The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-09-16
MUSKRAT FARMING
GROWS IMPORTANT
FUR FARMS ESTABLISHED AT SEVEN
POINTS IN MONTANA; INDUS
TRY WILL EXPAND

Montana is certain to become a fac
tor in muSkrat fur farming, in the
OpiRiOn of L. NJ. Bussey of Minneapolis,
who is spending some time in the state.
MIR. Bussey is connected with the
Crown Iron works of Minneapolis and
his company manufactures a wire
fencing which muskrat breeders make
use of, which puts him in close touch
with new activity. He states that
muskrat farms "a been established
in Kalispell, Whitef1sh, Deer Lodge,
swan Lake, Columbus, Hamilton and
Great Falls, with more in prospect.
Where the business of breeding musk
rats has been established it is flourish
ing.
1t is only a question of a short lime
until all available marshes which are
suitable Tor the farming of muskrate
will be converted into muskrat farms.
says Mr.. Bussey. This is being brought
about by the ever increasing demand for
the muskrat pelt which is The backbone
OF the fur industry. The high price of
the pelt has encouraged excessive trap
ping. The western states have been slow
to appreciate the wonderful possibilities
OF muskrat farming. A number of enter
prlses, however, are now developing in
western Canada, Idaho, Colorado and
Montana.
Mr.. Mussey states that 10 months ago
the Northwest Fur company of Idaho in
closed its marsh of 100 acres and put
into this marsh 800 pairs of muskrats
n they now haXe approximately 10000
muSKraCS, or in other words the have
70 muskrats now for every muskrat put
on their ranch. The raising of fur-bear-
ing animals is an industry that has come
to stay, as the demand for fur is increas-
ing. Those closely in touch with the
situation state that in the last five years
the supply OF wild fur has decreased Sc
per cent.
Not many years ago no one thought OF
the muSkrat as a source Of farm income;
they were looked upon more as enemies
70 n farms Inc were driven out OF
dlCch banks and sloughs. But years Of
labor on the part of far sighted individu.
ans VINO nave consistently and enthusi.
aSClcalIy advocated muSkrat farming il
at last bearing fruit. The germ Of thu
industry, long dormant, has had a sud.
den mushroom-like growth which ha.
startled even its staunchest supporters.
Muskrat fur is greatly improved wher
1T is raised in INSTRUMENTATION. Thu
animal gains in size n the fur thicken
and becomes glossy.
The muskrat is a most proIifc braedey
having been known to have from thret
70 nve 1tters Of young in a season. tn
nrsG litter is also known to build home
and raise a family that same year, s.
, that n pair Of muskrats may hav
from 10 10 90 young muskrats in on
season. Mr.. Bussey states that the M
Forest Muskrat farm has six thousan,
1 Two hundred pens OF muskrats and tina
S their average for this amount of pen
was 80 young to each female, and in
number OF cases a female produced owe
: oO onsprlng. Mr.. Bussey stated ths
musks7t pelts are only prime i
February n March, and that ther
Is more poor muskrat fur on tn
market than any other fur for the reaso
that 1T is trapped out Of season. Onl
when the muskrat is raised in semi-do
mestlcatlon, well fed and trapped in sea
son will the muskrat fur come into II
own.