Digitized by tine Internet Arcinive in 2014 https://archive.org/details/anderschbroshuntOOande_0 "SECOI^D, REVISED AND ENLaS-C^ED EDITION OP*' ANDERSCH BROS. Hunters and Trappers Guide ILI.USTRATING THE Fur Bearing Animals OF North America THE) SKINS OF WHICH HAVK A MARKET VAIvUE. Describing the Various Animals, Geographical lyocation, Habits, Mode of lyiving. Propagation, and how to Hunt and Trap Them WITH REVISED Game Laws OF AI.I, THE States and Territories in the U. S. How to Skin Animals, Manner of Stretching Skins, Trappers' Secrets, with Illustrations of Various Standard Traps, describes Skunk, Mink, Fox and Opossum Farms and how and where to raise these animals for profit, number required to start with, size of farm, how to breed, kind of food, etc. By ANDERSCH BROS., - Minnkapoi^is, Minn. COPYRIGHT 1906 BY ANDERSCH BROS., MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Intnoductorv Pnefacc. SPACE of three years has now elapsed since the first edition of this book was given to the public; the appreciation of that volume is shown by the remarkable demand that bared the shelves before the trade was really aware of the existence of this pub- lication. Scarcely a year had passed before the necessity for a second edition or re-print dawned upon the author, who, only after due deliberation, intelli- gent inquiry and assurance of co-operation, undertook to improve and enlarge the scope of its usefulness by embodying in a comprehensive and thorough manner, new secret methods and the experience of hundreds of experts in the vocation of hunting and trapping. The deep rooted interest in this volume manifested by those associated with the occupations of Hunting and Ji'apping, the public in general and the Fur Trade in particular, is greatly appreciated. The nature o< the subject will lead the reader, as it has the author, over the entire New World, and the ecliptic penumbra of our observation is extended northward to the frozen seas and southward to the pampas. To the willing observer and student Natural History, like Astronomy, is ever reaching, and when once taken up, the subject is extremely interesting. Lower animals play an important part in man's every day life, and we largely owe our existence and sustenance to them. They are useful in life and death, furnishing us with meat, fat, milk, fur, wool, drugs, and many useful and ornamental articles; they carry our burdens and supply us with comfort, pro- tection and companionship. This work, covering as it does a field not hitherto occupied, embellished with artistic and superb illustrations true to nature, all technical and scien- tific terms and descriptions eliminated by the use of plain, common language throughout, should be acceptable to the people to whom it is particularly dedicated. The form of this work has necessarily been modified in order to bring the whole matter within reasonable compass, as well as to adapt it more per- fectly to the wants of hunters and trappers, which it is designed to meet. The technical and critical information has been condensed as far as was deemed compatible with a book of this nature, but any one desiring know- ledge of a distinctively scientific character should peruse the works of Muller, Haeckel, Wallace, Owen, Darwin, Von Baer, Cuvier, Brehm, Linneaus, or our own Audubon, Bachman, Coues, and other authors. We are greatly indebted to the many hunters and trappers, also to some of the publishers, for the kindly assistance and courtesies extended, in the compilation of this book, and many thanks are accorded them for their generous co-operation. /) Origin and Evolution OF Man, Beast, Weapons and Traps. PROF. HAECHEL has satisfactorily traced man in the process of evolution through animal and vegetable life to the very lowest form of life consisting of a minute cell, and he sup- poses that this cell was produced by or from inorganic matter by some occult process, technically denominated as spontaneous gen- eration. Darwin never withdrew, even in his last work, the sen- tence in which he intimated his belief ''that life may have been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one/' He traced man to the humble and unarmored molluscs, called Ascideans, whence man's line of ancestry ran through the lower vertebrata; thence to the monotrematous mammals, and finally to the anthropoid apes. In the process of evolution, when animal life was engendered from the vegetable, the resultance of some form of copulation, the conception of which seems impossible for local realization and description. The theological version of Creation and divi- sion of life falls asunder, excepting when leaning upon Darwin's popular intimation, ''that at some remote period life may have been breathed into one or more forms by the Creator/' but very probably the infinite spark of life was inborn in the very exis- tence of being. Leaving the vegetable and animal transmigrative period and skipping a million years, we find the evolutionary epoch has some- what specialized the living forms, but man is yet at a great dis- tance. Nature, or the natural selection and survival of the fittest has conspicuously developed higher and higher species, and fin- ally, after an elapse of ages and ages, omitting some detailed histological differentiations, we behold the concrete result — man. The mind can scarcely perceive the slow progress in the advance- ment of man, and the necessary ages required to produce man as we are, and as we find him today. 10 Andersch Bros/ Hunters and Trappers Guide. Animal Instinct pregnant crude conception of animal in- in Man stinct in man as relegated to us from the lower forms, seems fair to be exterminated in the future progress of evolution. One can perceive the marked comparative abatement of these instincts when the highest order of man, as represented by the American, English, German and French, is compared with the low barbarous and uncivilized tribes. This energetic progress and advancement is not only notice- able in the human family but also in domestic animals, and the influence of the two, coupled with the ever forward evolutionary progress, will spread to wild animals, birds, reptiles and fishes, and in the ages to come, the will of man in a still higher form, will be supreme and alone accountable to nature and the crea- tive mind. The origin, as well as the destiny of each As iVIan and Beast individual is from nothing to nothing. Come They The past is written by historians, the Will Go. future anticipated by scientists, and as each generation passes along the path of existence, familiarizing and learning by their investigation, they each leave behind some useful achievements from which others profit. What is true in the human family is reasonably true in a milder sense of animals, but notwithstanding the latter's limited powers of beneficial conception they, like the human race, learn by lessons. A burnt child dreads the fire ; so does a trap-nipped fox or wolf dread iron or man's contrivance to capture him. The animal language, be it a facial expression, action of the body, or sounds from the mouth, are all expressive and the mean- ing intelligently conveyed. The bodies of the first animals were of diminutive size and form and that the The Lost Species change from plant to animal life took ^"^ . place in some tropical climate seems Extermination reasonable; also that ages were required of Animals. ^j^^ climatical distribution of life species, especially of terrestrial habitat. The ex- istence of the mammoth before the glacial period, and that these and other monstrous animals were killed by the cave dwellers, is demonstrated by the weapons, remains, and other items found in the excavations. Dawkins found engraved ivory with the cave men of Pleisteone, in the cave of La Made- line. Tools, hunting weapons, dug-outs, traps, spears, snares, and remains of bodies indicating extinct species, were found in many parts of Europe, Asia, and in America. Thousands of species were lost in the glacial period, also in the Bibli- Anderscli Bros.' Hunters and Trappers Gnide. 11 cal denudation of Asia, still others became extinct by disease, ravages of strong animals, and by confusion of propagation. That many species became extinct by being zealously hunted and trapped by man cannot be doubted. Even in our day, we grasp the passing of the buffalo, the beaver, and the otter, and scox^es of other animals and fishes, and notwithstanding the severe laws, the period of total extermination of the above mentioned species is not centuries but years. In our own period of evolutionary changes, we harbor the true belief of total extermination of the American Indian, many species of animals and kinds of plant life. On the other hand wx see the many herds of cattle, sheep, swine, and the human family numerously enlarged and improved. We ponder at the many inventions, discoveries, manipulations, watch the winters and the summers pass each other, see our friends go, hear of distant calamities, note earthy disturbances, energetic changes, progress — call it all evolution. ^ . . - ... Man's earliest implement of defense, the Origin of Weapons ^ , . ,^ , . ... . _ first assistance to his physical prowess and Trace. • .1 i 1 • r 11 m the chase and m combat, was when he stooped, picked up a stone, and hurled it at his adversary. A club was the second. The third and fourth in order was the spear or the sling. We now pass to the stone age and we find the first true implements, the result of man's study and labor, the commonest, most widely distributed, was the Imperforate axe, of roughly dressed flint, diorite, greenstone, or almost any material workable into desired forms and that retained the requi- site sharpness of edge. Daggers, swords, spear heads, made out of bronze came next in order. The bow and arrow is traced to the bronze age, but whether its use predominated in an earlier period is lost in obscurity. The earliest tools were flaked stones and cracked bones, and one can conceive the possible result from such tools in the forms of weapons. The capture of animals by snares was first introduced in the bronze age and the existence of deadfalls at times when Europe had a tropical climate is augmented by discoveries made in gla- cial deposits. Historians relate that prisoners were set at liberty during the early ages for the purpose of capturing wild beasts of prey, and upon their return with evidence of success were pardoned, but invariably they were devoured by the beasts that they set out to kill or capture. Many that were fortunate in this pursuit returned to join those that were not, and these men soon became the expert hunters and trappers of those days. These men killed or captured the wild beasts by running them into self constructed dens, dug-outs, enclosures, or waylaid them in 12 Andersch Bros/ Hunters and Trappers Guide. paths and killed them with clubs, slings, spears, lances, arrows, etc. The American Indian, probably greater developed in the trait of hunting and trapping, confined himself largely to hunting such beasts that gave him food and clothing and such skins as were mediums of barter with more distant tribes. The bow and arrow, battle axe of simplest form, and spears, predominated, but in later years, or in places where game was not plentiful, figure four arrangements, dug-outs, pit and deadfalls were resorted to. Probably no other tribe or nation were as successful in the art of lassoing and snaring large and small animals as the American Indian, likewise the original American race as con- stituted by the many tribes were more proficient and still greater experts with the bow and arrow. The use of poison in the destruction of animals is recorded by Chinese long before the Biblical version. Poisoned spears and arrows were used in warfare long before the Christian era, and the American Indian knew the effect of poison hundreds of years before Columbus touched our shores. . _ . Leaving: ancient arms, weapons, traps, Modern Traps and , r -^j- n i ^ i. Wea ons dug-outs, pitfalls, box traps, bows, spears, slings, set arrows, drop-weights, and dis- regarding the doubt as to whether gunpowder was used in China and India at a remote period and whether the combination of potassium nitrate, carbon and sulphur was discovered in the 1 2th century, we skip this period to study the weapons, traps and methods employed by the native Indian and hunters and trappers operating in the United States and Canada, during the 19th and 20th century. The interested reader will now please peruse the following pages, first to form a thorough acquaintance of the animal by studying the descriptive articles in the fore part of this volume, later digesting the modern methods of hunting and trapping, and finishing up by reading the hundreds of origi- nal articles from experienced hunters and trappers. The Fur Bearing Animals North America WHOSE SKINS HAVE A MARKET VALUE Minutely Describing, Illustrating and Classifying the Various Animals, their Characteristics and Habits, Mode of Living, Propogation, Food, Geographical Ldcation, Etc., Etc. THE WEASEL. (Ger. Wicsel, Szv. Vessla, Lat, Ptitorius Vulgaris.) LITTLE carnivorous animal, the smallest f} of the marten or weasel family, is found in |) nearly every state and territory in the Union, Audubon says, ''also in Alaska." What Dr. Coues says of the Putorius er- minea, with slight modifications, is also true of the weasel : ''A creature of thoroughly and conspicuous circumpolar distribution, extending probably as near the pole as any land animal, it is modified, when changed at all, by latitude as ex- pressed in the climate to which it is subjected, state of its food supply, etc.'' The American weasel resembles the European, but a difiference of length in the vertabrae and color of fur on the tip of tail, is noticeable, and climatic conditions of Europe, like that of this hemisphere, are responsible for the variation in body, size, color, etc. On this continent we can divide this little courageous animal into separate groups, so as to give a closer and more definite de- scription of their size, color, habits and respective value of their skins from the manufacturer's point of view. First' smallest weasel on this continent is chiefly found in the southern and middle states, often seen and known to inhabit western as well as Atlantic states. It is sometimes con- fused with young northern species during the summer months, 14 Andersch Bros/ Hunters and Trappers Guide. which it closely resembles, and perhaps occasionally, at least it is so claimed by naturalists, seen in northern states as far as New York, Minnesota and Washington. This species is easily dis- tinguished from the larger variety by its short tail, smallness of body and continued brown, chestnut or chocolate dress, winter and summer. The belly portion however, is covered with a strip of light colored fur, beginning with extreme end of upper lip, continuing along its neck, belly, and ending at the anus, though somewhat dividing and terminating systematically at the inner portion of the knee. The body measures six to seven and one-half inches, rarely eight inches, to which a tail varying from two, two and one-hall or three inches, must be added. The black furred tip of tail is less conspicuous. The animal is equally ferocious, and its small size enables it to enter openings apparently not exceeding one inch in diameter. Second- ^^^^^ably the best known amongst, the weasel is the large, brown, chocolate, chestnut colored animal that inhabits the middle, northern, eastern and western states. Is found sparingly in the southern states and Canada. The body of this species measures ten to fourteen inches from nose tO' root of tail, the latter attaining a length of from four tO' eight and one-half inches, depending upon the maturity of the animal. The body is more cylindrical and plump, as compared with the first described species. Has an unusually long neck, and its tail (of variable length), attains a greater length as compared with either of the other twO' species. The ears are large, high, and orbicular. The legs are much stouter and its toes fairly covered with long, coarse hair over-lapping the claws. The habits of this species, like all others, is terrestrial, arboreal and not aqua- tic. During the late spring, summer and fall months, the body is covered with rather a thin pelage of brown, chocolate or chest- nut color with a somewhat lighter colored undergrowth of fur fibres. The belly portion, beginning with the under lip is of a yellowish cast, and this color extends to the inner portion of the legs. Quite often a white strip of fur is noticed extending from the lip, neck and chest, and terminating near the anus. At other times the under lip is covered with clear white pelage and the bellv with the afores-^id yellow or whitish fur. The above described change in the animal's pelage is especially true of those inhabiting the extreme northern p^rts of the United States. The clear white pelaee covers the entire bodv, head, limbs and tail, with the exception of the extreme pencil-like tip. It should be noted that , not all the animals change their outer garment from the brown Andersch Bros/ Hunters and Trappers Guide, 15 to the white color, especially in the middle section of this country where the climatic conditions are not as favorable as compared with the animals inhabiting the more northern part of the United States. 1 have seen and examined as many as three thousand skins in one season that more or less indicated the change from the white to the brown and the brown to the white fur, and at inter- vals examined hundreds of skins taken from animals during the . winter months that failed to realize for the owner any remuner- ation, due to the predominating brown color, occasionally partly colored with intermingled white and brown guard hairs, and semi- brown undergrowth of fur fibres. Only such skins having a clear white coat of fur, have any commercial value. These are sold as ermine skins, at a lower range of prices, though objections are plentiful. This species is easily distinguished by the furrier, due to its long tail and smallness of body as compared with the Siberian ermine. On approach of cold weather, (October, November), the outer garment gradually changes from brown to the white ermine coat of fur, and by December or latter part of November the animal's outward appearance resembles that of the ermine. Third- ^^^^ ^^^^ species, often called the ''American Ermine" is found in the northern part of the United States, Canada, and Alaska. It resembles the Siberian ermine more closely than the other two species above described. (See article under Ermine.) ^ . r> . I know of no animal that is more courag^eous General D6scrip~ • ... " when size and ferocity is considered, than the tion and i t. i r Habits weasel, it openly wages war upon many of the larger quadrupeds, and by its quickness, ferocity and deadly attack, causes dreadful ravages amongst them. The body is extremely elongated and appears longer on ac count of its neck and head being of same circumference, and its ability to stretch its body, especially when seeking to enter small crevices of rocks, knot-holes, as well as other openings made by such animals as the mouse, rat or squirrel. The legs arc very short and thin, and the paws extremely tender, being cov- eired with a hairy growth, and its toes are the possessors of sharp claws which are used to great advantage by the animal in climbing. It inhabits plains as well as mountains, and is known to roam in the forests where it seeks its principal food supply. Even the large muskrat falls prey to the little weasel, also moles and rabbits ; is known to enter the chicken coop, killing as many as twenty-five birds in one night. It is ex- 16 Andersch Bros/ Hunters and Trappers Guide. tremely fond of killing small animals and birds, not only for food purposes, but more so for pleasure. It possesses unusual courage and seemingly with unlimited daring and boldness, affronts large animals ; is known to pounce upon sheep, calves and other domestic animals, who rid same off their backs with diffi- culty. No small animal possesses immunity from the weasel, but in its turn is also hunted and destroyed by the larger species of its tribe, such as the mink, marten and other carnivora. Its favorite hlold or bite is on the victim's neck, head or throat. Not only will the weasel or ermine lay in wait for a possible victim, but stealthily follow the tracks and pounce upon the victim's back, which, unaware of the danger, succumbs in a rather one-sided combat. It pursues birds of all kinds and it is common for hunters to disturb the animal while so occupied. A certain European writer relates an instance where a large bird' of prey captured a weasel, and with it in its talons, rose in the air. In a few minutes, however, the bird began to show signs of uneasiness, rising rapidly in the air, or as quickly falling, and wheeling irregularly around, whilst it was evidently en- deavoring to force some obnoxious thing from it with its feet. After a short, but sharp contest, the bird fell suddenly to the earth, not far from the observer who intently witnessed the interesting maneuver, and saw the weasel, apparently unhurt, scamper away. Upon examination he found that the weasel had severed a large blood vessel, also ate a big hole under the bird's wing. The animal frequently visits nests located in the loftiest trees, in clefts and rocks, in search of eggs, young and old birds. Many a mother bird has lost her life in protecting her young, and often in such battle the weasel, in misjudgment of distance, weakness of branch or limb, and at other times due to the savage attack of the mother, is hurled to the earth. The mother brings forth a litter of four to eight young at a time, which are born blind, and generally in a hollow tree or log, under a pile of rocks or in some burrow, softly padded with hay, dry leaves and similar vegetation. If the young are in danger, the mother will carry them off in cat fashion to a place of safety and protects them with unusual courage, and if necessary, with her life. The mother loves her young dearly, who, like kittens are amusing and playful. An instance is recited where the mother sacrificed her life in protecting her young in a desperate encounter against a dog, who upon the close of the combat was bleeding furiously about the lip, head, ears and neck. At the age of twelve months the young have generally attained their maturity and tlie life of the animal is from six to ten years. Andersch Bros/ Hunters and Trappers Guide. 17 One must accede to this animal a wider and more extended range of activity against a greater variety of objects ; possessing persevering and enduring powers of chase, with a natural love of destructiveness, taking more life than is necessary for its actual wants. The great cats, who procure their food supply by particular mode of attack, their hunger being satisfied, quietly wait until again prompted by hunger. This is not so with the weasel or ermine. No animal or bird with insufificient strength or other powers of self defence, is beyond their ruthless and relentless pursuit. This enemy assails them not only on the ground, but under it, on trees, and some claim, in the water. Swift and sure of foot, keen of scent, he is able to track, run down his prey, and make the fatal spring upon them unawares ; owing to litheness and slenderness of body he is able to follow the smaller animals through the intricacies of their hidden abodes and kill them in their homes. It is evident that if he does not kill simply in gratification of supreme bloodthirstiness, he at any rate deliberately kills more than is necessary for his require- ments. His parallel cannot be found among the larger Car- nivora. Yet which one of the larger animals will defend itself or its young at such hazardous risks? The physiognomy of the weasel will suffice to betray its character. The teeth are almost of the highest known raptorial character; the jaws are worked by enormous masses of muscles covering all the side of the skull. The forehead is low, the nose sharp, the eyes small, penetrating, cunning and glitter with an angry, green light. There is something peculiar, moreover, in the way that this fierce face surmounts a body extraordinarily wiry, lithe, and muscular. When the creature is glancing around, with the neck stretched up, and flat triangular head bent forward, swaying from one side to the other, we catch the likeness in a moment — the image of a serpent. Andersch Bros/ Hunters and Trappers Guide. 19 THE NORTH AMERICAN ERMINE. (White Weasel. Ger. Hermelin, Sm. Hermelin, Eng. Stoat & Ermine, Lat. Pntorius Erminea.) S STATED elsewhere, this animal resembles the Siberian Ermine very closely and there is no apparent good reason why the change in name from White Weasel to Ermine is improper from a commercial and scientific [standpoint. Dr. Coues, after a thorough ex- amination, heralds the change, and in his view we fully concur. The only difference noticeable is that the body is slightly smaller, the fur not as long, neither quite as silky. The peculiar sulphur-like yellow color is noticeable in all species of the erminea, also the pencil-like formation on tip of tail. The animal does change its outer garment periodically but the change is not so sudden as certain authors relate. Bell states : 'The winter change of color which this species so universally as- sumes in the northern climates is affected not by loss of the sum- mer coat, and the substitution of the new one for the winter, but by the actual change of the color of the existing fur.'' Another prominent author states his views in the following words : ''The transition from the summer to the winter colors, is primarily occasioned by actual change of temperature, and not by the mere advance of the season.'' Mr. Blyth, commenting upon the above two assertions, has the following to say: "Authors are wrong in what they have advanced respecting the mode in which this animal changes its color, at least in autumn; for in a specimen which I lately examined, which was killed during the autumnal change, it was clearly perceivable that the white hairs were all new, not the brown changed in color." Close observation of the animal and more so in the handling of thousands of skins from animals killed at different periods of the year, give one the opinion that the animal changes, rather sheds, its coat twice a year. In autumn, September and Novem- ber, varying somewhat in the different latitudes, the summer hair, gradually, almost imperceptibly, drops out, and is immediately succeeded by a fresh coat, which in the course of ten to twent> days becomes white. In the spring months the change in color is just the opposite. The change is natural, not only from the out- ward appearance, but also from the flesh part of the skin. The inner part of the skin, after all flesh and fat is removed and 20 Andersch Bros/ Hunters and Trappers Guide. becomes dry, has the natural white and prime color. The skin is thin and clear, not so when the skin is removed from the animal during its shedding period in the spring, at which period the outer portion of the skin is black and unprime. At this period the new fur fibers are still perceptible and the old guard or outer hairs are loose in their respective cells. Subsequently the change in color of this animal's fur comes in periods when other ani- mals shed their outer garment to a greater or less extent. The male is invariably larger than the female. Both are pro- vided with glands from which the animal when under the influ- ence of fear, anger or sexual passion, emits a peculiar fluid of a highly penetrating, offensive and horrible odor. In color the fluid is yellow, and it is believed that this fluid is responsible for the yellowish, sulphur-like color of the pelt. Others again state positively that this peculiar color on the fur is the result of the animal's unclean habits, abode, and continued contact with their own or the mate's water. The fluid containers or glands are situated one on each sid^ of the anus just upon the verge of the opening. On the animal slightly averting the anus, these papillae may be readily perceived. Slight pressure will cause them to stand erect, and at the animal's pleasure may squirt and distri- bute its fluid in a firm spray at a variable distance not exceeding two feet. At other times the fluid trickles in drops or in a stream about its parts. The average measurement of skins received from Canada and northern part of United States indicate that the body of the largest animal is 15 inches in length and the yearlings about 8 to 9 inches. Many skins are received indicating that they were taken oflf from kittens measuring 5 to 6 inches in length and ^ to I inch in width. The large skins usually measure 13 to 15 inches long, 2^ to 3^ wide. The length of tail, varying some- what, is usually 2 to 4 inches. Once in a great while a clear white skin with a longer tail, is received, but presumably this is an exception, and possibly the animal emigrated from a more southern latitude. A large number of brown skins (summer) from the same region received during the late spring and summer months, are practically of the same size and dimensions. See illustrations of skins elsewhere in this volume, also article "Trap- ping and Preparing Skins." This animal as well as the weasel, shows no sign of becoming exterminated. Higher prices for their pelts has a tendency to increase the activity on the part of the hunter and trapper in pursuing same, as will be seen in the table of number of skins marketed in this country and London. In former years the ermiine fur was controlled by royalty, and certain penalties by Andersch Bros/ Hunters and Trappers Guide. 21 law were attached to outside persons wearing garments made from these skins, but of late years, owing to the large number marketed, and from other causes, the skins are used, for various purposes and by all classes of people, not only in Europe, but also in the United States and Canada. The price of the skins varies considerably, depending upon the demand and supply. The skins of the European ermine ranges from 50c to $2.50 while that of the American species including the white northern weasel, very seldom exceeds $1.00 and in most cases 25 to 75 cents being paid the trapper. The last two years however, are an exception, and the ruling price for good skins ranged from 75 cents to $1.25, one American concern alone marketing in London 60,000 skins. Tlie skins are used for various purposes, principally for ladies' wearing apparel, on royal clothes and garments, at other times in connection with other furs, principally with krimmer, Persian lamb, seal, etc. The yellowish, sulphur-like parts are used in conjunction with the black pencil-like tip of the tail. Manu- facturers dislike the sulphur-like color on the skins ; such skins are commercially called ''stained'' and bring a less price than those that are clear white. (For mode of propagation and habits, see article under Weasel.) Andersch Bros/ Hunters and Trappers Guide. 23 THE MINK. (Ger. Nertz, Lat. Piitorius (Lutreola) vison.) T IS not commonly known that mink and skunk are now the greatest producers of revenue to the American hunter ' and trapper ; the reader can judge for himself, especially after perusing the table on a subsequent page, which gives the num- ber of skins marketed in a given period. The mink belongs to the weasel family and is found in North America, Europe and Asia. Naturalists divide the North American mink into two, sometimes into three, separate species, but I believe that there is no good occasion to make such division. If same is desirable from a de- scriptive and scientific point of view there can easily be made as many as two or three divisions of animals in a single state, and probably twenty or thirty in the entire northern hemisphere. T\k fur trade has its own division, for instance: Southern, South- western, Central, Eastern, Northern, Fish, Prairie, Cotton and the fine Northeastern and Canadian. De"?cri tion ^his animal differs notably from the weasel or ermine in its larger size, much stouter form, and lasting color of its pelage. It resembles the marten, also the wild ferret. The ears are short, well rounded, furred both sides, and the adjacent fur covers members in certain altitudes. The head is small, rather low and flat, sub-triangular, with a rather well rounded otter like mouth. The lower portion of its mouth is small. The extremity of the snout is protuberant and definitely naked. Its legs are stout, short, and well proportioned. The front legs measure to 2^4 inches in length, the rear ones always exceeding the front by ^ to % inches. Each of the four feet have five rather long toes, which are armed with short, crooked claws. The legs and feet, excepting the pads, are covered with fur. The claws are retractable at will by the animal. The body is long, slender, and with its slender neck has a general vermiform ap- pearance, and measures from nose to root of tail 12 to 26 inches in length, to which a tail of 6 to 9 inches is to be added. The above variation in size is further explained elsewhere. The male always exceeds the female by ^ to 1-3 its size. Its pelage varies extensively in color, length, quality, and density, according to the section the animal inhabits, but the fundamental color is browji. The further south one goes, the coat of the animal becomes paler, while just the opposite is true 24 Andersch Bros/ Hunters and Trappers Guide. in the northern latitudes. The tail is always a few shades darker than tlie fur on the body and invariably is this also true of the animars back as compared with the fur on its belly. A white spot is common on the animal's breast, other times this spot appears only on the lower lip. Once in a while a mink will have a few white hairs on the extreme tip of its tail, otherwise the color of its pelage is fairly uniform. The outer garment consists of two distinct sets of fibers, the inner or undergrowth of fur fibers proper, and the outer or guard hairs. The former are soft, silky, downy, adhering very closely together, and in color are usually lighter than the predominating guard hairs. While the former are }i to ^ inch long, the latter always protrude j4 to ^ of an inch above the undergrowth, consequently % to inches long. The guard hairs are coarse, smooth, glossy, rather pointed and well distributed all over the body, becoming shorter about the head and feet and longer at the tail ; on the latter the hairs are inclined to stand out horizon- tally, giving it a bushy appearance. Southern These are found in all parts of the southern states. ^•^^ The animal attains a size of i6 to i8 inches with a tail 6 to 8 inches in length. Its fur is rather coarse, especially is this true of the lower growth. The guard hairs are also coarse and comparatively pale and void of lustre. ^. J. Are found in these states alonsf rivers, creeks Southwestern , - , . i . .i ^ . . ^ . l^.^l^ and lakes. Are about the same m size as the more southern species, but are better furred, more robust, and their skins always command a better price from the dealer and furrier. The fur is more dense and of better color and larger individual specimens are also noticeable. Northeastern '^^^ animal that inhabits Maine, New Bruns- Mink wick, parts of Quebec and that particular sec- tion, is comparatively small. The body is lo to 14 inches, with a tail 5 to 6 inches long. The fur during the latter part of December and January is extremely beautiful. The rarest, best and highest priced skins come from that section, especially when its small size is considered. The fur is soft, silky, not so deep or long, but very dark, rather of the wavy and changeable color type. Prairie name indicates, the animal is found chiefly in l^.^j^ prairie sections, about streams or in light growth of timber. He becomes very large in northern states, notably so in Dakota and Manitoba. While the ordinary size of the prairie mink, especially those inhabiting the open sections of the middle west, and west, is from 22 to 30 inches, the writer has seen minks and their skins measuring 32 to 36 inches from Andersch Bros/ Hunters and Trappers Ouide. 25 nose to root of tail, and with the latter a total of 43 inches over all. The animal and skin, while extraordinarily long, were othei- wise well proportioned. The former in a natural position at middle of body measured 12 to 12^ inches in circumference and 3^ to 4 inches in diameter, the skin averaging in width from shoulder to rear portion, 4^ to 5 inches. The pelage of this species is somewhat coarse, but of fair color and very suitable for coat collars, cufifs, etc. Under no circumstances must the pelage of the prairie mink be compared with southern coarse mink, as these northern skins are worth twice to three times as much. The female is much smaller than the male, and has a more valued coat, being finer in texture and darker in color. p..^^ These attain an average size, are more aquatic, live in l^.^j^ and about water more than other species and their food consists chiefly of fish. The fur is more evenly distrib- uted, the outer guard hairs protrude less over the fur fibres or lower growth, as is the case with the other species. In general the fur is more sleek, top hairs shorter and all are of more uniform color, in this respect resembling a lot of dark, brown, glazed cofifee beans. The odor of the animal is constantly that of fish and seemingly this odor remains in the skin for a long time. Cotton claimed that the white underground species is Mink, rather more of a freak of nature than a distinct species, and that this growth is quite unnatural, sometimes caused by sickness, other times by confinement. Some naturalists seem to think that this peculiar color crops out at intervals, and for explanation go back generations when it was claimed that there were no mink, but ermine, and that in the ages of evolution as explained by Darwin, such are the reminders of the changes that were brought about in the natural course of evolution. Such minks are found sparingly in the central, western and middle states. Apparently the theory that this species is more of a freak, must give room for additional thought, as hundreds and thous- ands of skins are annually marketed showing these particular characteristics. The general construction of its body, size, habits, etc., resembles the other minks. It does not breed separately, but in connection with the regular species, thus indicating har- mony amongst them. The outer garment is practically the same as on other species, and the only difference noticeable is that instead of having brown or dark colored fur fibres, its under- growth of fur resembles cotton, being clear white. Occasionally this white cotton like growth is noticeable only on sections of the skin, particularly on the top of the animal extending 4 to 6 inches from the root of its tail, other parts having the normal color. On account of the animal resembling the other very closely, 26 Andersch Bros/ Hunters and Trappers Guide, hundreds of trappers are annually disappointed, being obliged to accept a lesser price for such skins ; many unexperienced buy- ers purchase these skins without knowing the difference until they come to sell them. The easiest way to detect these cotton or white underground mink, is by blowing into the fur at various places, especially just beyond the tail. Such skins cannot be used advantageously in their natural condition and are either dyed or blended. Habits mink is very active, light of foot, carnivorous, and its essential aquatic nature leads it to seek in general well-watered sections ; will scarcely ever be found far away from water except it be caught during the journey it makes from one stream or lake to another. Its amphibious mode of lire is well known to all hunters, trappers and those that come in contact with this carnivora. His movement on land lacks some- thing of the extraordinary agility displayed by the more slender bodied weasel. It habitually prowls about stone piles, frequents underground retreats, and is altogether a more openly aggressive marauder, not less persistent or courageous in its attack. In swimming most of its body is submerged and in smooth water its coming and going is almost imperceptible. Its ability to climb trees is unquestioned ; it scarcely frequents them but will take to the tree if it thinks its capture can be averted. Its keen sense of smell enables it to track and trace other animals, consequently is less concerned for a fresh supply of food than most other animals. Its principal food is fish, frogs, rep- tiles, muskrats, mice, and rats ; birds and fowls of all kinds are relished. Much to the detriment of the farmer, it frequents the hen roost, but in this respect it is not as much an unnecessary slayer as the weasel or ermine, though instances are recorded where as many as forty chickens were killed by a single mink in one night. Its ability to gain entrance through openings of J}4 to 2 inches in diameter, is well noted, and in the event that the opening is too small, it can increase it in a remarkably short time. The male and the female can at their pleasure, emit from their respective glands a horrible smelling odor. For further description of this fluid and manner of discharge, see article under Weasel. The rutting season usually begins in latter part of February or first part of March. At this time the male wanders carelessly along the shore of streams and lakes, having in mind only the search for the female. Apparently the male is on foot day and night and during this period is more easily trapped. The female is scarcely seen at this time being in some abode, obviously to keep away from the male as much as possible. Andersch Bros/ Hunters and Trappers Guide. 27 During the month of April, or early part of May, the mother brings forth a litter of four to six young, which are carefully hidden in some hollow log, burrow or cave. The mother con- tinues with her young until they are about half-grown, and pays particular attention to keeping them away from the male, who, if opportunity presents, will kill its offspring. The animal attains its maturity in one year, the female arriving at age of puberty at the end of this period. The young are born blind and remain so for four or five weeks. Mink can be tamed if taken young, especially before they have their sight. It is unwise to attempt to tame the animal after the age of three to six months, and especially if he or she is of a vicious disposition. If taken young, by continued petting and handling, they become like domesticated ratters and have all the playfulness of young kittens. At a later period they become ex- tremely mischievous as their keen scent leads them to pantries, hen houses, dovecotes, and a canary bird in a room is very annoying to them. The animal's extensive power with the mouth can hardly be estimated unless one has seen the animal in a trap, cage, box or other place of captivity. When wild minks are con- fined with tame ones, the latter always prove stronger and come ofif victorious in the contest that ensues. H h) PQ