FUR FARMING SECTION
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
This section Ijs 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 arc welcomed for publication,—with due credit
to the author.
This section is intended to be the common meeting ground jj
for fur farmers. Interchange of ideas, helpful information, con- i
structive suggestions anent these particulars should readily j
solve vexatious problems of fur farming. Readers arc urged to *
take advantage of this section and help The Gateway foster fur ?
farming throughout Alaska.
HINTS ON Til CARE OF OPOSSUMS
By United States Department of Agriculture,
Bureau of Biological Survey
The recent increase in popularity
of opossum fur has prompted an
interest in these animals. The in
formation here is based on indi
vidual experience and on data from
-sources considered reliable.
Surroundings
Quarters for opossums should be
well shaded in summer. Dry woods
or groves of trees in field or pasture
are excellent places to build them.
Yards
Each female should have a yard
at least 6 or 8 feet in diameter.
The fence may be of boards, on
end. or of wire netting. Netting'
for this purpose should not be
-coarser than 34-inch mesh; other
wise the young will escape. A six
foot fence, with a board overhang
.18 inches wide, extending inward
at the top, will oe sufficient. A
floor, preferably of netting, covered
by a few inches of earth, is neces
sary to prevent undermining.
Nest Boxes
Nest boxes should be waterproof
and large enough for plenty of bed
ding in cold weather. There should
be an air space between the box
and ground to prevent dampness.
Food
Opossums eat a great variety of
food, as meaVeggs, milk, fruit,
bread, cooked vegetables, soft nuts,
insects, crawfishes, and mice. On
a farm the cost of feeding is very
little. In the wild state they usual
ly fast while the ground is covered
•with snow.
Breeding
This animal is very prolific. The
number of young in a little is some
times as high as 13, and in the
southern part of its range it is
;said to produce three litters a year.
The period of gestation is about
15 days. One male will serve sev
eral females. Except while the fe
males are carrying young, it is gen
erally feasible to allow the mem
bers of a breeding group to run
together, either in a large inclos
ure having a number of nest boxes
or in a series of adjourning pens
connected by open doors.
SAFE ANTISEPTICS AND WASH
ES USEFUL ON A FUR RANCH
' D. E. Stubbs, fur farmer, McKin
ley Park, Alaska.)
(Continued from Last Week)
Boracic Acid—Buy it powdered.
It is not a strong antiseptic, but
is not poisonous and is safe. It is
used dry as a powder, or in sat
urated solution. To make a sat
urated solution: Put a tablespoon
or two in a bottle, medium size,
sand add water until nearly full;
-shake occasionally. If some of the
j powder settles at bottom, the liquid
j is a saturated solution. Add more
i water as used, using only the clear
liquid. If powder disappears, add
more. Label bottle. Uses—to wash
‘ animals’ eyes, wetting a bit of cot
! ton with it. Also wash any sores
I or ulcers. Boracic Acid is an im
portant part of many solutions and
dusting powders.
Carbolic Acid—One of the oldest,
and probably because of its busi
ness-like odor, gained a wide popu
larity in years past, and has gained
a reputation far above that which
it deserves. It is most dangerous
in any form for use on a fur farm
and for use on fur bearing ani
mals. Now and then someone will
recommend it perhaps as a “car
bolic soap,” etc., but its use is very
dangerous. The skin of a fur bear
ing animal is very absorptive, and
particularly so for carbolic acid,
and numerous cases of carbolic
poisoning have resulted from its,
use. To use it is always “ to take
a chance.”
Creolin and Lysol are two de
rivatives of carbolic acid, one often
lees recommended in papers and
circulars. They are dark brown
semi-fluid substances; forms a
white cloud when added to water.
Same objection applies to them as
to carbolic acid. Only possible use
on a fur ranch would be in a one
to 40 solution to disinfect dens and
nest boxes.
Tincture Iodine (seven per cent
solution) is useful to apply to ani
mal bites and wounds. Use exter
nally only. Will blister if applied
too often.
Potassium Permanganate — A
deep purple-violet prisms, soluble
in water. A wine-colored solution
is useful to wash inside an animal’s
ears, and to rid them of ear-mites.
Not poisonous and safe. Be sure
all crystals are dissolved. May be
kept in solution in a well corked
bottle. Do not use too strong. Do
not mix with anything else.
Buchach is an excellent powder
to dust and rub in the fur against
fleas, flies and other insects. Is
safe. When pure alcohol was ob
tainable, an excellent way to ap
ply was to dissolve and sprinkle
or rub on animal.
Hunters — Trappers
“NEVERFAIL CHEMICAL FERRETS"
will help you fret the cream of the fur
harvest—the prime furs of the animals
that den up. Positively empties the
dens—brinps 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, III.
NANKING, Oct-, 15, (/P)—The
uneasiness whic h Washington
| and London feel respecting Man
churia, was emphasized by the
j announcement that British and
! American ministers would arrive
; here from Peiping for a series of
: conferences with heads of the
j Chinese government,
j They will not meet the Japan
| ese minister to China, Mamoru
l Shigemitsu.
After presenting Acting Foreign
Minister Frank W. Lee with a
note warning the Chinese govern
ment it would be held responsible
for the present anti-Japanese agi
tation of this country, he sailed
for Shanghai on a Japanese war
ship.
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.
Custom tanners
of fur skins arid
buckskin. Taxi
dermist on b i g
game rugs, wall
mounts. Man u
facturer of
chokers, coats
and gloves of
latest styles.
Send for our
catalogue.
—We buy teeth for mounting—
W. W. WEAVER. Reading Michigan
Get your share this season of this
extra fur money which is offered
to trappers everywhere by the
THIRD NATIONAL
FUR SHOW
FREE!!
Johnny Muskrat’s new
book,‘*Tips to Trappers”
—tlioonly book of its kind
—written for trappers, by
trappers — with many
photos taken right on tho
trap-line. Gives modern
methods of trapping,
handling and selling your
furs for mast profit. Con
tains full details of our
Free Fur
Marketing Service
which, since 1925, has en
abled many thousands of
trappers to obtain more
fur money. Learn now
how the World’s Largest
Store can lielpyou—write
for Johnny Muskrat's
new book today!
WON
$2,000.00
H. A. Barker, Notasultra,
Ala., whoae Mink akin
was judged to be the beat
handled pelt entered in
last year’s show.
YOU CAN WIN
1st Award S2000.00
2nd Award. 500.00
3rd Award .250.00
4th Award .100.00
215 Honorable
Awards’of S10 2150.00
ISffSKM
iRS, Roebuck & Co.
Mail This Chicago Philadelphia
— Me mo his Kansas City
Dallas Seattle
Coupon to
(Write nearest point)
WESMEBM,
SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
! T
63G79
Please mail me without cost
or obligation Johnny Muskrat’s new i
hook explaining your free fur marketing servlee
and the Third National Fur Show.
Rural 11 Box
.. .Route__No. .
i jcive both your Route and Box Number
if tin a Rural Route
Street Address.
A Masters Work
Jonas Bros, offer you a com
plete Fur, Taxidermy and
Tanning Service — unexcelled
anywhere.
Game heads, fur rugs, 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.
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
.. .
i FOR SALE-Modern Six-room House
Full basement; furnace... Lot 40 by 100
EXCELLENT LOCATION
i The former Gus Peterson residence. See Osbo Electrical
j i Shop for further information
TRACK BOMBED
ATHENS, Oct., 15, (/p)_Two
persons were killed and three
wounded in a series of explosions
along the Simplon Orient Railway
in Jugo-Slavia. The bombs ex
ploded 15 minutes before the ex
press arrived, a large section of
track was torn up, but the train
was stopped in time to avoid a
wreck
INCORPORATION FILED
NEW YORK, Oct. 15. (/P)—Incor
poration papers were filed Tuesday
, for the formation of the National
i Credit Corporation. This corpora
| Lion is a union of bankers who have
I united to liquidate and help liqui
■ date frozen securities of member
j banks.
TRAPPERS! Two Foxes in a clay,
with only two sets out, is my
record. Methods guaranteed, $1.00.
Floyd Blackman, RD 3, New Ber
lin, N. Y.
Science of Trapping, $1.50; Fox
Trapping, $1.50; Fur Buyers Guide,
$2.50; Home Manufacture of Furs
and Skins, $1.75; ALASKA SHOP.
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 copy, 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.
Ml
NEW YORK
Wants Your
FURS
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
Is the safest and best
method of marketing your
merchandise.
Let us put you on our
mailing list. Write us
today.
[NEW YORK AUCTION Cftl
lii<‘ori>oriii<‘<l
226 West 26th Street
NEW YO»K
Every Month in the
Year
1931 SALES DATES
October 20
November 17
December 15
Advances will be made
as usual when request
ed. Transferred by Tel
egraph if desired.
Special Sales Held on
Request of Shippers
SeattuFurExchange
65 MARION STREET VIADUCT- . y 'b
SEATTLE. U S A. ...
ONE OF THE MOST MODERN SHOPS i
IN THE TERRITORY! j
PLUMBING |
TINNING I
STEAMFITTING I
GENERAL MACHINE I
WORK, REPAIRING j
V
ALITO REPAIRING i
ACETYLENE AND I
ELECTRIC WELDING j
FORD AGENT !
Agent for The Kohler Automatic Power U
and Light Plant
Oils, Greases and Gasoline S
Agent and Installing Engineers for Fur
nace Oil Burners
Seward Machine Shop \
ALL WORK GUARANTEED — MADISON 56