THE NATURALIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2978, 12 April 1911, Page 76

THE NATURALIST.

The Rearing of Fur-bearing Animals.

The increased demand for furs all over the world has raised the price of the raw material to an extraordinary extent Consequently trappers have worked harder, and many more have joined their ranks, and they'have trapped so assiduously that in many places fur-bearers have decreased to an alarming extent. If not more fully protected they will follow the buffalo, which 30 years ago existed in thousands, and now where are they? Many trappers, realising this, are turning their knowledge of animals and their ways to further advantage, by fur-farming—i.e., breeding of fur-bearers in confinement. Experiments in fox-farming were tried as early as 1884- on some of the islands on the coast of Alaska, and British Columbia. _ At the present time fox-raising is an industry of commercial importance. In Maine, Ohio, and other American States, as well as a few places in Canada,, the red, black, silver, and cross foxes are being successfully bred, and there is no doubt that with proper care a very comfortable income can be derived from this source. The American Government has taken the matter up, and has issued a very interesting bulletin on "Silver Fox-farming." One instance I read «f <3*ne such farm in Main, where the breeder sells his red foxes to hunk dubs, presumably for

turning down, some to zoological gardens and menageries, retaining only the more, valuable ones four skins. Up to the present; time fatal disease among captive foxes has bean very rare. In 1907 the sum of £440 was paid for a single black pelt. ..linkbreeding has been tried, but not with any groat success, but there is no reason why they should not do well in congenial surroundings if given natural food The high prices paid for prime fur certainly justify the attempt, Coon-farming has not been tried, but in the States, where there is a ready sale for the carcases as well as the skins, it would probably pay. , The musk rat, at one time despised by trappers owing to its low price,, is now much sought after, the price having nsen from 2s to 4s. There is a musk rat farm in Ohio, where a piece of marsh has been, fenced in, and this brings its owner about £IOO a year without any trouble beyond killing, skinning, and shipping. The musk rat is a prolific breeder, having two htters of from five to ten every year. Being vegetable feeders, they are easily fed when natural supply runs short. In the Southern States they are served on hotel tablee as marsh rabbits; about scl each is paid for the bodies. No doubt beavers could be bred profitably, and perhaps otters In many cases, with experience, it will bo found that by oarcfal feeding, as in the case of domestic animals, the quality ot the fur can be improved, and the value enhanced thereby. . m Seal-farming, though impracticable tor private individuals, is to be tried by the American Government A few young seals will be taken from Pribiloff Island, with which a colony will be started on the Pacific coast. In 1867 it was estimated that there were about four million fur-breeding seals on Pribiloff. In 1890 the island was leased to a company for 20 years, and in that time the seals have decreased to about 140.000 The lease having expired, the Government have taken charge, and by careful protection nope to scon replenish the island. A certain number will be branded to be retained for breeding stock. All killing will be done by the Government, and skins will be sold by public auc tion. . .. , The following list of prices paid by dealers for raw hides will give some iaea. of the possibilities of fur-farming. In a few caf.f-9 the prioe paid in 1897 is given also. Musk rat, then 3id to 5R now Is to 4k; coon. 4d to Is Bd, now 3s to 12s: red fox Is to 4s, now 8s to 30s; otter, 2s to 16s. 'now 12s to £4. Present prices of white weasel, 2s; possum, to 2s 6d; skunk (Alaska sable), 2s to 14s ; beaver, 3s to 28s; mink, 2s to 30s; grizzly bear, £1 to £4; silver fox, up to £100; black fox, £5 to £l5O, and even more. For eome of the information contained in this article I must acknowledge my indebtedness to publications of the Harding Publishing Company, Columbus.—Walter Gilbey Percival, Ontario, in the Field. A Word for the Elephant. Many a man there is who will give the palm for intelligence to the dog, whilst almost as many put a good case for the horse along- this line. Numerous stories of one or another of the brut-e creation show that man does well to grant each a certain share in some ruling intelligence that does duty for that mentally for which man alone is accounted a responsible being by his Maker. Yet perhaps of all the advocates of cne animal or another, those who plead the right of the elephant to supremacy among the brute creation for more than strength alone have instances to,bring forward of this animal's intelligence which arc the most difficult to do other than admit. Mr H. L. Tangye, in his book "In the Torrid Soudan," is one of the elephant's firmest supporters : "In but few creatures.of the brute creation exists any germ of true unselfishness," ,be says. "Thought for others is rarely in evidence. Even man's best friend, the doc, would r>ass a vounded brother with a. snilf; if .wild, he would probably devour him. Who that has seen a -wounded elephant rescued from danger by his fellows, supported on each side, can deny in this an attribute of something superior? "It is a temptation to declare that he possesses a sense of humour. A herd of elephants once- fell in with a train of donkeys. Their attention concentrated on the load the donkeys carried. With all the mischief of monkeys, the loads were torn asunder and their contents distributed ove? half the province. At Bor, on the Mountain Nile, -"die elephants wsre at one time full of practical jokes. Passing at light time through th« village, thev would 1 knock the sleepers up bv demolishing their huts above their heads, then contentedly march away." Animals' Sense of Smell. Contrary to general belief, strong -winds dissipate rather than carry scent, and in wet, mild weather the animals and their hunters give off a. strorger small because of .the heat or dampness, or both, of their bodies. In the case of the shooting man without a dog, game naturally have the advantage, because the canine scenting power is stronger than that of the game. Person - ally fsays a writer in a Home paper), I consider that of all our British birds or animals (other than dogs, of course) wild fowl have by far the most acute sense of smell. When the wind is blowing in their direction it is almo?t impossible to get within range of wigeon or mallard, so strong is their scenting power. The onr>osito extreme is found in hares and rabbits, which have evidently little ability in this way, I have seen stoats approach rabbits without the latter having any warning of the comina: of the hunter, although the wind was blowing directly from the stoat to the rabbit. On the other hand. I have noticed rabbits become uneasy and anticipate danger from a fox which was over 100 viids away and -which they could not possibly have seen. The dog-trainer has to Kis careful that his sporting dogs are not trained on handled birds, as the doas will learn to "point' or "retrieve" the human scent -and pav no attention to the bird or animal one. It is the human scent on eggs which causes wild birds to forsake their nests which have been visited; the gamekeeper puts vhis knowledge io good account on occasion, as human-handled esters are a warning in themselves to the wculdbe thieving fox or stoat.