Fur Farming A book of Information about Fur Bearing Animals, Enclosures, Habits, Care, etc.   By: Arthur R. Harding (1871-1930)

[Illustration: SOME YOUNG BLACK AND SILVER FOX.]

FUR FARMING

A BOOK OF INFORMATION ABOUT FUR BEARING ANIMALS, ENCLOSURES, HABITS, CARE, ETC.

BY

A. R. HARDING

Published By

A. R. HARDING PUBLISHING CO. Columbus, Ohio.

Copyright, 1909

By A. R. HARDING PUB. CO.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER. PAGE

I. SUPPLY AND DEMAND 15

II. WHAT ANIMALS TO RAISE 27

III. ENCLOSURES 38

IV. BOX TRAP TRAPPING 53

V. FOX RAISING 63

VI. SKUNK RAISING 83

VII. MINK RAISING 97

VIII. OPOSSUM RAISING 107

IX. MUSKRAT RAISING 115

X. RACCOON RAISING 129

XI. THE BEAVER AND OTTER 137

XII. KILLING, SKINNING AND STRETCHING 146

XIII. DEER FARMING 152

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

Some Young Black and Silver Fox Frontispiece

Enclosure in Thick Woods 32

Corner of Enclosure 39

Fence with Wire Turned in at Top 41

Fence Showing Sheet Tin 43

Plan for Combined Enclosures 46

Box Trap for Catching Animals Alive 55

Box Trap with Swing Gate 58

Barrel Trap for Catching Animals Alive 60

Another Box Trap 62

Northwestern Fox Skins 66

Map Showing Where Fox Farming is Feasible 72

Plan for Arrangement of Fox Yards 74

Box Shelter for Female and Young 75

Corner of Fox Yard 77

Fox Yard, Showing Outer Fence 78

Yards of a Maine Fox Farm 81

Corner of an Ohio Skunk Farm 90

Mink Enclosure in Detail 103

Ideal Location for an Opossum Farm 112

Fur Farm Near a Farmhouse 117

Muskrat House in a Marsh 122

Barrel Shelter for Female and Young 134

Fur Farm on Open Ground 135

Elk in Enclosure 163

Tame Deer Eating Watermelon 178

[Illustration: [G. R. Harding.]]

INTRODUCTION.

Ever since Columbus discovered America, furs have been an important article of commerce, but at the rate of the catch during recent years, the supply drawn from the natural sources forest, field and stream will soon prove inadequate if not entirely depleted in some species.

Less than 30 years ago, there were countless thousands of Buffalo upon the Western Plains. Where are they today? In the 70's and early 80's they were slain by tens of thousands by hide and robe hunters. Does or does not such a condition face some of the American fur bearing animals at the present time? Many hunters and trappers must think that the supply will not long be equal to the demand, judging from the hundreds of letters written the Editor of HUNTER TRADER TRAPPER, asking information about raising fur bearing animals.