who raise the animals there would be less trouble from
catching young and immature rats.

Muskrats do not become fully prime until midwinter and many of them are
not strictly number one until March. When fully prime the skin will be
of a cream or pink color, with no dark spots showing. Winter caught
skins will have a number of dark spots, while those taken in the fall
have a very pronounced stripe or two on the back.

Along the Atlantic Coast for many years land owners have rented the rat
catching privileges to "ratters" on shares, which is generally one-half
of the catch. The "ratters" only trap when the fur is at its best, so
that the supply is holding out. On lands "free for all" the rats are
thinned out.

During recent years, property owners in various rat producing sections
have awakened to the fact that their "swampy land" is of more value for
the animal fur harvest than for any other purpose.

Muskrats are easily raised and increase rapidly. They often make their
homes in the banks of canals, fish ponds, etc., coming from nearby
waters of their own accord. These places seem to be ideal places for
muskrats and instead of their leaving they remain year after year, even
though they are trapped and the property owners resort to other means
endeavoring to get rid of them. Muskrats are not afraid of civilization,
and do well in thickly settled sections where there are rivers, creeks,
lakes, ponds, marshes, etc. They seem to do well in their natural state
where they have water and feed and on some ponds hundreds are caught
annually.

As already mentioned, these animals need little care. If the waters
where the animals are is naturally productive of muskrat food, the
animals will take care of themselves unless the numbers are too large
and they consume the entire food supply. The raisers should guard
against this by feeding, as the natural supply should be protected so as
to help furnish the food supply year after year.

Lakes, ponds, etc., that abound in wild rice, flags, lilies, etc., make
an ideal home for muskrats, as they are fond of both the wild rice seed
and roots, as well as the roots of flags and lilies, on which they feed
when the surface is frozen over. Artichokes should also be started, as
muskrats are fond of them.

Those who expect to raise this fur-bearer should take into consideration
that little or no fencing is required on lakes, ponds and creeks if
proper feed grows there. If the feed is not