FUR FARMING SECTION
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
This section is open for discussion of anything pertaining
to fur farming.
Information concerning stock, site, house and pen con
struction, equipment, cost, breeding, mating, feeding, cooking
recipes, sanitation, prevention of contagious diseases, disinfec
tion, trapping, killing, pelting, marketing, packing, shipping
and other notes are welcomed for publication,—with due credit
to the author.
This section is intended to be the common meeting ground
for fur farmers. Interchange of ideas, helpful information, con
structive suggestions anent these particulars should readily
solve vexatious problems of fur farming. Readers are urged to
take advantage of this section and help The Gateway foster fur
farming throughout Alaska.
By Frank G. Ashbrook, Biologist in Charge, Division of Fur Resources,
Bureau of Biological Survey.
Many who contemplate entering
a new industry look only to its
great possibilities and profits, clos
ing their eyes, consciously or un
consciously, to the pitfalls and dis
couragements that may exist. The
fact that fur-animal production is
practically a new industry makes
it extremely easy to deceive the
novice. Alluring articles in the
public press on fur farming, under
such titles as “Muskrats—Acres of
Diamonds,” or “Fox Farming—A
Veritable Gold Mine,” or the propa
ganda distributed by dishonest
dealers in fur-animal breeding
stock, lead many to believe that a
fortune awaits them in this indus
try. Many who inquire about fur
farming have the notion that they
can build pens or fence in a rug
ged piece of land, turn loose some
fur bearers, feed them occasion
ally, and then once a year collect a
profit from the pelts that they
think will be produced. Persons
with no experience in fur farming
v/ould do well to obtain employ
ment on a fur farm and thus famil
iarize themselves with the princi
ples involved before engaging in
the business for themselves.
Successful breeders of fur ani
mals either must possess or else
must acquire a clear conception of
the important factors involved in
breeding. They are interested in
breed improvement and concen
trate their efforts mainly on in
creasing prolificacy and quality in
their breeding stock. Never do
they lose sight of the fact that fur
animals are bred and raised pri
marily for the fur produced and
that the sale of breeding stock is a
secondary consideration.
PROSPECTORS INVESTORS
Large returns are easily predict
ed or promised to prospective in
vestors on an abnormally high rate
of dividends or on large pelt prof
ile. Heavy risks usually accompany
such lures. Too often they are the
chief talking points of financial
charlatans. Promoters know that
the names and indorsements of suc
cessful men carry weight, and often
{use these without authorization.
An example is the erroneous state
j ment sometimes heard to the ef
! feet that the United States De
i partment of Agriculture indorses
certain individuals or companies
engaged in fur farming. The prud
ent investor, however will look be
i yond names and indorsements and
| Investigate the merits of all propo
! sitions or contemplated transac
tions.
The promoter who tries to im
press the prospective investor by
tabulating the fabulous returns
supposed to have been realized in
the early stages of fur farming
from investment in a pair of foxes
unwittingly admits that his offer
ing can not stand on its own feet.
Such figures fire the imagination,
but they are generally deceptive,
i They are not a true index to the
! profits to be expected from any new
enterprise into which the small in
vestor is urged to put his money.
Irresponsible sellers of silver fox
j es often “guarantee” that certain
profits will be made or dividends
paid, or even that they will buy
back or resell when the purchaser
wants his money. Such guarantees
never can afford protection unless
their makers have financial back
ing. Promises of this nature are
made to establish confidence and
lull suspicion. They should indi
cate to the prospective purchaser
a special need to investigate not
only the securities pffered but also
the responsibility of the proposed
guarantor.
HOW TO MAKE A START
It is not wise to begin fur farm
ing with a large number of ani
mals. Many who have done so or
who have expanded too rapidly
have failed. The better method is
to start with a few pairs of animals
and gradually increase the number
as one’s knowledge of care and
management enlarges. Troubles
and obstacles are bound to arise,
and remedies for the present can
be learned only through experience.
Quality, not quantity, is the factor
that counts in breeding fur ani
mals.
Breeding stock should be obtained
in the fall, in order that the ani
mals may become thoroughly ac
customed to their new surroundings
before the breeding season. The
weather |s sufficiently cold by the
end of September in fur-farming
areas to permit the shipment of
animals with safety.
AREAS SUITABLE FOR FUR
FARMING
The natural habitat of most of
the fur animals of North America
covers the greater part of the con
tinent from the central United
States northward into Canada and
Alaska, including the border of the
treeless tundras. Among fur buy
ers it is well known that the pelts
produced in northern localities are
the more valuable, and while their
experience teaches that certain
, areas are not too far south to yield
valuable furs, their conclusions are
only general. The average person
can not always judge whether his
own locality is suitable, especially
if the old fur animals have been
exterminated there. It is neces
sary, therefore, to ascertain defi
nitely the areas within which fur
animals are known to produce su
perior fur.
WHERE TO OBTAIN BREEDING
STOCK
State game commissions in many
instances have records of the fur
Masters Work
Jonas Bros, offer you a com
plete Far, Taxidermy and
Tanning Service — unexcelled
anywhere.
Game heads, fur rags, birds,
etc., mounted true to nature.
Your raw fur skins dressed •
and made into coats and
chokers.
Write for free catalogue.
JONAS BROS.
1030 Broadway, Denver, Colo.
HI-QUALITY BREAD
All kinds of pies, cakes
and pastries
Butterhorns—Our Specialty!
Electric Bakery
fanners in their respective States
and frequently can supply the
names and addresses of those hav
ing surplus stock. The kinds of
animals raised and the prices of
breeding stock can then be ob
tained from the breeders them
selves. The United States Depart
ment of Agriculture raises fur ani
mals for experimental purposes only
and has none for sale. It does not
issue permits to persons who con
template engaging in fur farming.
That matter is handled by State
authorities. It is contrary to the
policy of the department to vouch
for the integrity or the financial
standing of any individual or com
pany engaged in fur farming, and
under no condition will it pass
judgement on any investment prop- j
osition in the industry.
(Continued Next Week)
ABOUT WORMS THAT INFEST
FUR BEARERS
j
(D. E. Stubbs, fur farmer, McKin
ley Park, Alaska.)
In the science of medicine, worms
are classified under the title, “An
thelimintics,” which means against
worms. Drugs for their destruction
are divided into two classes:
(1) Vermicides, meaning to de
stroy, and
(2) Vermifuges, meaning to ex
pel.
Practically all the advertised
worm medicines come under the
class Vermifuges, since it is the
only one by the use of which the
fur farmer might see a worm.
Ninety-nine per cent of the adver
tised worm remedies are some of
the violent poisons, and are put up
in small doses to prevent the
chance of killing too many animals.
By scaring the fur raisers of the
world nearly into a fit, the makers
of so-called worm cures have
gypped them out of millions. Once
the fur farmers were “advised” to
pill their animals jtwice a year,
now they are cautioned to pill them
once every two weeks, whether
they need it or not—at so much a
dose!
Fur bearers have worms, but the
worms have no teeth and do not
eat them up alive. Of course, a
heavy infestation of worms is un
desirable, and are usually indicat
ed by an unhealthy look, gums pale,
a slight white crust around the
eyelids, fur dull and rough. How
ever, all worm symtoms are ques
tionable, except finding worm eggs
in the droppings under a micro
scope of 250 or 300 power.
Where it is felt and worm remedy
is needed to be given, the use of
Oil of Chenipodium, commonly
called “worm seed,” and used by the
Indians before the days of Colum
bus, is effective.
Dose for adult fox: 3 drops (mink
and young fox pup, one drop).
1931 SALES DATES
November 17
December 15
Advances will be made
as usual when request- I
ed. Transferred by Tel- g
Give three doses with intervals of
two hours between the doses. Two
hours after the last dose give adult
fox a tablespoon nearly full of
castor oil mixed with one-half tea
spoonful of chloroform (half of«
above to mink or fox pup). If ani- j
mal appears depressed, stop med-j
icine and give castor oil and strong
hot, black coffee as a stimulent.
If castor oil is not at hand give
adult fox one drachm of epsom salts
dissolved in sugared water, (30
grains to fox pup or mink).
A common sense and sure shot
way to rid and keep foxes free from
worms, without giving any of the;
worm medicines, is to make a tight
lumber, or cement, floor in the
pens, (do not roof the pens with
boards). Keep floor clean with wa
ter, and now and then use a weak
solution of common lye, let stand!
one hour and rinse again with wa- :
ter. Lye will dissolve and thus de- I
stroy all worm eggs. This will rid
the animals of all kinds of worms,
(since worm eggs must all pass out
of the animal with the droppings),
inside of two months, and prevent
their recurrence.
OFFICIALS TO INVESTIGATE
MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., Oct.
23. (/P)—Oil and gas bubbling to
the surface of the sea and forming
a floating scum, more than a mile
long and a quarter of a mile wide,
has appeared five miles off the
coast from this town. Officials
have decided to investigate.
TAX SLASH
WASHINGTON, D. C., Oct. 23. OP)
—The United States Board of Tax
Appeals awarded a $135,269 slash
in the deficiency taxes assessed |
against the estate of Robert Todd;
Lincoln, son of the late* President |
Abraham Lincoln.
TRAPPERS! Two Foxes in a day, |
with only two sets out, is my j
record. Methods guaranteed, $1.00. j
Floyd Blackman, RD 3, New Ber-1
lin, N. Y.
Hartman’s Genuine Black Raccoons.
Registered stock. Prices reason
able. Satisfaction guaranteed. One
of the oldest breeders. E. L. Hart
man, New London, Ohio, U. S. A.
NEW YORK
Wants Your
r:
i
The purchasing: power
of the American fur in
dustry is concentrated in
New York, the fur center
of the world. Offer your
raw furs to these buyers
through the NEW YORK
AUCTION CO., INC. This
Si is the safest and best
method of marketing your
merchandise.
Let us put you on our
mailing list. Write us
today.
[NEW YORK AUCTION C0j
Incorporated
226 West 26th Street
NEW YO»K
Cmtora tann«n
of far ikina and
baekakiiu Taxi*
dcrmbt on bt|
game rocs, wall
moantn. Mm
factanr of
choker*, coat*
and fflorea of
I a t e • t itjrha
Send far oar
*
— analogue.
—Wo buy teeth for mounting—
W. W. WEAVER. Reading Michigan
Hunters — Trappers
"NEVERFAIL CHEMICAL FERRETS”
will help you get the cream of the fur
harvest—the prime furs of the animals
that den up. Positively empties the
dens—brings the animals out alive and
without injury to fur or flesh. Suc
cessfully used for years by the best
trappers and hunters. Don’t delay—
order NOW, and start making REAL
money in furs this season. Trial order
of six sent postpaid for $1.00.
WILSON MANUFACTURING CO.
Dept. A. Box 81 Quincy, I1L
in Award} for
RAPPERS/
Get your share this season of this
extra fur money which is offered
to trappers everywhere by the
THIRD RATIONAL
FUR SHOW
FREE!!
TRAPPERS!
American Trapper Maga
zine is devoted entirely to
trapping. It gives you the
best trapping methods; and
each issue contains over a
full page of scent and bait
formulas, including directions
on how to use. Each and
every issue of American
Trapper is packed full of
useful trapping information.
It is just the magazine you
have been looking for. Am
erican Trapper tells you how
to make successful sets for
the wise furbearing animals,
also scents that will lure
them to your traps. No Trap
per can afford to miss a
single issue. It is published
six times a year, October to
March. Subscription price is
only $1.00 a year (Six issues)
or three years for $2.00.
Sample eopy, 10c. Regular
price is 25c. Back issues, 10c
each, or 8 different copies
for 50c, prepaid. We are sure
once you see a copy of Am
erican Trapper you will be
come a regular subscriber.
Subscribe NOW or at least
order a sample copy.
Address
N. E, SHARP
Publisher
Plymouth, California.
!
;
JohnnyJWuskrat’s new
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—the only book of its kind
—written for trappers, by
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tains full details of our
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which, since 1925, has en
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WON
$2,000.0«
H. A. Barker. NoUnda.
Aia., wfa'Br Mink >*9>
lest stat't show.
YOU CAN WIN
1st Award $2000.90
2nd Award. S0&J0
3rd Award .2SO.OO
4th Award .100At
219 HonofaMa
eaagi«sio2i5oji
Sears, Roebuck & Co.
SCARS, ROEBUCK AND CO. ^ ^ _
Please mall me without coet /
or obligation Johnny Muskrat’s new^v. /
book explaining your free fur marketing service
and the Third National Pur Show.
Name_
Poetofltce
State
Rural Box
.Route.No.
Street Address.
Berlin Tanning and Manufacturing Company
BERLIN, WISCONSIN.
TANNERS OF
Shearlings-wool finished Bark, Beaverized or Wombat
MANUFACTURERS OF
Sheepskin Socks, Slippers, Mittens, Gloves, Helmets,
Vests and Coats.
FOR THE MOTORCYCLE RIDER
Leather Belts, Sheepskin Saddle Covers, Cloth and Leather
Helmets and Handle Bar Muffs.
WRITE FOR CATALOG
Jtv
*
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