class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">19.—Young.

Practical Skunk Raising.

By William E. Pratt.

The supply of wild fur has already fallen behind the demand and the time is in sight when wild fur will form but a small per cent of that in use.

All furs trapped in steel traps are less beautiful because the animal suffers. It is a well-known fact that the less the animal suffers, the better the fur.

The time is not far away when nearly all fur will be grown on fur-ranches. Fur-farming unquestionably has a great future as an industry.

Without detailing countless failures; it is well to begin by disposing of the wrong idea that most people begin with, that all they need to do is secure an island or a big fenced area, and throw in much feed to a bunch of selected fur-bearers, and reap a harvest of so many pelts each year.

The absurdity of this is seen if we compare it to a horse-breeder who would put a high fence around a large pasture and turn in a couple stallions and a dozen mares; throw in much feed daily, and expect a harvest of so many colts, each year.

No,—success depends on general supervision and control of each individual.

Skunks raise a better coat in captivity than when wild, because their food is gotten without hunting for it, and are beyond danger of man, dogs, and other intruders. Striped skunks ten years ago sold for one dollar per pair, while only two dollars per pair was paid for “star blacks”. Three years ago or more these prices had doubled, and a skunk with his scent glands out was even more valuable.

One male and two females is a good lot to begin with, which would increase to twenty young the first year, and one hundred and fifty the second, providing one could wait that long, and one certainly could not expect any dividend until the fifth year.

2.—The Ground.

An acre of ground is sufficient to begin with, but one must have it situated so one could increase to perhaps ten acres. It should be high, dry and sandy, with some grass in the plot, and not too remote from a railway station.

3.—The Fence.

An inexpensive fence to begin with may be made by setting posts in the ground close together, but strongly. I recommend a fence made of wire netting or steel set or inbedded in the ground from one to two feet. First, dig a trench about one foot wide and two feet deep, and put heavy rock in the bottom and thus, with the rock below the wire there will be no way that the skunks can escape by digging.

The posts should be set ten feet apart. If set farther the wire will have a tendency to sag. The wire should be of one and a half inch mesh for the main fence, and one inch mesh for the breeding yards, as young skunks sometimes escape through a one and a half inch mesh. No. 16, or 18, gauge wire from four to eight feet in height should be used. Any smaller gauge than the above mentioned is not durable enough.

A wire or board inhang of twelve inches, should be placed at the top rejecting in so the