,bre$+ ,m9ks 9 ,l\isiana    ,,= ,,_!    
,,fur      ,a ,pr(itable ,indu/ry       
,illu/ration      ,,by    ,,william ,,&r
 ,,elf]      ,,= ,,sale ,,by ,,!        
,,gessn] ,,co41  #faa ,,canal ,,/41     
,,new ,,orleans1 ,,la4      ,,copyright$
  ,,by  ,w4 ,a4 ,,elf]  #aiji           
,press ( ,j4 ,g4 ,haus]  ,! ,legal      
,pr9t]  #fbj-fbb ,poydras ,/4  ,new     
,orleans          ,,preface      ,?is   
little volume is issu$ 9 illu/ration ( !
 feasibility (  bre$+ m9ks 9 ,l\isiana =
 _! fur4 ,x is ! result (  exp]im5ts    
conduct$ by ! au?or himself1 & he feels 
t x  %\ld be ( int]e/ to _m & ( value to
 ! few :o are look+  = fields =         
pr(itable inve/m5t4 ,x is ! au?or's aim 
to issue  a m elaborate "w on ! same    
subject sometime dur+ ! e>ly  "p ( next 
ye>4    ,w4 ,a4 ,e4    ,illu/ration3 ,a 
,l\isiana ,m9k4 ,notice ! ,small ,eyes1 
& ! ,l[1  ,r\nd$ ,e>s1 ,sc>cely         
,project+ ,beyond ! ,adjac5t ,fur4      
,= ! foll[+ description ( ! ,am]ican m9k
 ,i am indebt$ to  ! ,encyclopdia       

,britannica3         ,9 size x mu*      
resembles ! ,engli% polecat--! l5g? ( ! 
head & body be+ usually f fifte5 to     
eighte5 in*es2 t       ( ! tail to ! end
 ( ! hair ab\t n9e in*es4 ,! female is  
consid]ably small] ?an ! male4 ,! tail  
is bu%y1 b tap]+       at ! end4 ,! e>s 
are small1 l[1 r\nd$1 & sc>cely project 
beyond ! adjac5t fur4 ,! pelage consi/s 
( a d5se1 s(t1       matt$ "u-fur1 mix$ 
) long1 /iff1 lu/r\s hairs on all       
p>ts ( ! body & tail4 ,! gloss is       
greate/ on ! upp]       p>ts2 on ! tail 
! bri/ly hairs pr$om9ate4 ,nor!rn       
specim5s h ! f9e/ & mo/ gli/5+ pelage2 9
 ^?       f ! s\!rn regions !re is less 
diff]5ce betwe5 !       "u- & ov]-fur1 &
 ! :ole pelage is co>s] & h>%]4       ,9
 color1 diff]5t specim5s pres5t a       
consid]able range (       v>iation1 b ! 
animal is ord9>ily ( a ri*1 d>k br[n1   
sc>cely or n pal] bel[ ?an on ! g5]al   
upp] p>ts2 b       ! back is usually !  
d>ke/1 & ! tail is ne>ly black4 ,!      
"u jaw1 f ! *9 ab\t z f> back z ! angle 

( !       m\?1 is g5]ally :ite4 ,9 !    
,european m9k ! upp] lip is       also  
:ite1 b1 z ?is occasionally occurs 9    
,am]ican specim5s1       x fails z an   
absolutely di/+ui%+ "*4 ,besides !      
:ite on ! *91 !re are (t5 o!r irregul>  
:ite pat*es on       ! "u p>ts ( ! body4
 ,9 v r>e in/ances ! tail is       tipp$
 ) :ite4 ,! fur1 l t ( mo/ ( ! animals (
 !       gr\p to :i* x belongs1 is an   
important article ( comm]ce4      ,! fur
 m>ket has always be5 a good m>ket4 ,x  
has gr[n firm] &  /rong] f ye> to ye>1  
:ile ! prices = furs h be5  advanc+     
/eadily & rapidly ) ! gr[+ dem& = furs 9
  ,europe & ,am]ica1 & ) ! g5]al        
increas+ sc>city ( all  fur-be>+        
animals4 ,m9k fur advanc$ ab\t fifty p] 
c5t4 dur+  ! la/ two seasons1 & !re is e
 reason to believe t !  m9k fur 9       
,l\isiana w advance to ab\t six doll>s  
)9 !  com+ ?ree ye>s4 ,! m9ks caught 9  
,l\isiana la/ season 7  sold at an      
av]age price ( ?ree doll>s4             
,illu/ration3 ,re/+ 9 a ,w>m ,place4    

,notice ! ,long ,body  & ,its ,%ape4    
,illu/ration3 ,9 a ,position to ,jump4  
,notice ! ,long ,tail4      ,fur-be>+   
animals are becom+ sc>ce :]e !y 7 once s
  pl5tiful1 &1 l ! buffaloes t roam$ ?is
 c\ntry 9 su*  great numb]s1 !y w soon1 
_m ( !m1 become ext9ct if !  pres5t rate
 ( trapp+ cont9ues to obta9 9 ,am]ica4  
,already  c]ta9 fur animals are almo/   
trapp$ out & are r>e4 ,ev5 !  alligator1
 :i* 0 s pl5tiful a few ye>s ago 9 !    
swamps (  ,l\isiana1 is h>dly s\ght aft]
 any m = its hide because ( its         
sc>city4    ,! laws enact$ by ! v>i\s   
,/ate legislatures = ! protection  (    
fur-be>+ animals1 9 fact1 (f] no        
protection2 = mo/ furs  caught out (    
season h no m>ket value1 & = t reason   
are n  caught4    ,9 ,l\isiana a trapp] 
has to procure a hunt+ lic5se if he     
wi%es  to c>ry a gun :ile trapp+1 :i*   
lic5se co/s only "o doll> &  is good =  
"o season only4 ,su* a l[ lic5se1 :ile x
 may br+ a  l>ge rev5ue to ! ,/ate1     
cle>ly has no elem5t ( protection 9  x4 

,on ! contr>y1 x is a tru? t x /imulates
 bo? hunt+ &  trapp+1 z !re 7 m trapp]s 
9 ,l\isiana la/ season ?an  be=e ! law  
requir+ ?is lic5se came into effect4 ,e 
trapp]  procures a hunt+ lic5se :e!r he 
c>ries a gun or n1 & mo/  trapp]s       
believe ! law requires !m to h ?is      
lic5se to trap4    ,:atev] is be+ done =
 ! protection ( fur-be>+ animals 9      
,l\isiana1 ! fact rema9s t !y are fa/   
disappe>+4 ,old &  exp]i5c$ trapp]s w   
tell y t m9ks 7 v difficult to  trap la/
 season z comp>$ ) ! seasons ( a few    
ye>s ago1 :5  !y c\ld be s easily trapp$
 9 dead-falls4 ,raccoons1 too1 :i*  7 s 
num]\s 9 ! re> ( old cornfields dur+ !  
trapp+  seasons1 h dim9i%$ at a surpris+
 rate )9 ! la/ ?ree  ye>s4              
,illu/ration3 ,a ,female ( ,two ,ye>s4  
,:ile laws are be+ adopt$ by diff]5t    
,/ates = ! regulation (  trapp+ to      
protect fur-be>+ animals1 x is "t = ^?  
:o  expect to make money ) fur 9 !      
future to beg9 rais+ _! own  animals4 ,!
 "t is almo/ "h :5 trapp+ w be          

unpr(itable4  ,fur animals w be too     
sc>ce to make any?+ at x4 ,!n p  w h to 
build f>ms 9 :i* to bre$ m9ks = _! fur1 
&  m9k f>ms w become common4 ,m9ks are !
 mo/ valuable fur-be>+  animals 9       
,l\isiana1 be+ ! mo/ num]\s1 & !y are   
also !  easie/ & mo/ pr(itable to bre$ =
 _! fur4    ,bre$+ m9ks 9 ,l\isiana = _!
 fur c be made a v  pr(itable indu/ry4  
,!re is m to be made at x ?an rais+     
horses1 hogs or cattle4 ,aft] a f>m is  
once complet$ & /ock$1  all exp5se is   
ab\t ov] if !re is a l>ge-en\gh pond 9 x
 to  supply ! m9ks ) suffici5t food4 ,"u
 ! pres5t condition (  ! fur m>ket1 ea* 
female w av]age a pr(it ( =ty doll>s a  
ye>4 ,a f>m /ock$ = ! fir/ "t dur+ !    
w9t] ) five  hundr$ female m9ks %\ld br+
 its own] ! foll[+ w9t]  approximately  
tw5ty ?\s& doll>s4 ,?is is figur$ at    
?ree  doll>s a fur2 b )9 ?ree ye>s ! m9k
 fur 9 ,l\isiana %\ld  be sell+ = :at ! 
m9k fur 9 ! ,nor? sold la/ season4 ,)   
?is increase 9 ! price ( fur1 a f>m     
/ock$ ) ! same numb]  %\ld br+ =ty ?\s& 

doll>s4    ,illu/ration3 ,! ,fur ,dur+ !
 ,summ] ,is ,v ,poor1 & ,n ,s  ,d>k z ,x
 ,is ,dur+ ! ,w9t]4    ,illu/ration3 ,an
 ,excit$ ,m9k ,try+ to ,climb4    ,m9ks 
require little room1 & ?\s&s c be rais$ 
ea* ye> on a  f>m ( t5 acres4 ,! l>g] ! 
f>m1 h[ev]1 ! bett] *ances  !y w h to   
procure food = !mselves1 z birds w ent] 
a  l>ge f>m m freely ?an a small "o4    
,= ?is reason1 9 build+ a m9k f>m ! fir/
 & mo/ important  requirem5t is a good  
location4 ,a small isl& consi/+ ( l[ l& 
cov]$ ) trees & grasses1 ) ! opposite   
%ore at lea/  ?ree-qu>t]s ( a mile      
di/ant1 w\ld make an excell5t f>m1      
provid$ ! surr\nd+ wat] supplies an     
abundance ( small fi%es4  ,su* an isl&  
w\ld1 ( c\rse1 preclude ! necessity (   
us+  mat]ial = hold+ ! m9ks 9 captivity4
 ,if a suitable isl&  _c be f\nd1 a good
 f>m c be made ) five or m acres (  l[  
swampy l& hav+ a natural gr[? ( trees1  
grasses &  und]bru%1 su* z c be f\nd 9  
,s\!rn ,l\isiana4 ,b ! piece  ( l&      
select$ = a f>m mu/ inclose a l>ge pond1

 or sev]al  small ponds1 conta9+ a good 
quantity ( small fi%es1 especially      
crayfi%4 ,! trees & grasses w attract   
birds1 :i*1 9 addition  to fi% &        
rabbits1 =m a l>ge "p ( food = ! m9ks4  
,fe$+ m9ks is pretty co/ly1 & is h>dly  
to be consid]$ by "o  ent]+ ! bus9ess ( 
bre$+ !m = _! fur4    ,! walls surr\nd+ 
a m9k f>m c be made ei!r ) bricks or  ) 
%eets ( corrugat$1 galvaniz$ iron4 ,!   
latt] mat]ial makes  an excell5t wall1 &
 co/s less ?an a brick wall4 ,x %\ld be 
us$  9 %eets measur+ twelve feet 9 l5g? 
by ab\t tw5ty-six in*es  9 wid?4 ,^!    
%eets %\ld be us$ 9 an upright position1
 & at  lea/ five feet %\ld be und]gr\nd 
& sev5 feet abovegr\nd4 ,!y  %\ld be    
all[$ to lap two in*es1 & ! dirt %\ld be
 firmly  pack$ aga9/ !m4 ,two r[s (     
wood5 /rips nail$ on ! outside  ( !     
wall1 "o ab\t two feet above ! gr\nd1 & 
! o!r along  ! top edge ( ! %eets1 w    
greatly /r5g!n ! wall & also  prev5t !  
w9d f %ak+ x4    ,illu/ration3 ,a ,"y   
,female ,m9k ,walk+ ,along ! ,walls ( a 

,small ,f>m4    ,! foll[+ photograph %[s
 a small p5tagonal f>m1 ! walls (  :i*  
are made ) %eets ( corrugat$1 galvaniz$ 
iron4 ,ea* side  measures sixte5 feet 9 
l5g?1 ext5d+ f\r feet und]gr\nd &  f\r  
feet abovegr\nd4 ,wire nett+ is us$ to  
cov] ! f>m1 n to  prev5t ! m9ks f jump+ 
ov]1 al?\gh ! walls are too l[1  b to   
prev5t *ick5s1 cats & buzz>ds f ent]+ & 
eat+  ! food put 9 = ! m9ks4 ,a wood5 %$
 also cov]s a "p ( !  small f>m & s]ves 
to keep out "s ( ! ra9 & heat1 !re  be+ 
no %rubs or trees !re94 ,!re are two    
small tr\ghs 9 !  gr\nd = hold+ wat]1 & 
9 ! c5t] ( ! f>m !re is a  place = !    
m9ks to live dur+ ! day1 :i* consi/s (  
bo>ds  laid five in*es above ! surface (
 ! gr\nd ) ab\t f\rte5  in*es ( dirt on 
top4 ,"u ^! bo>ds x is d>k dur+ ! day  &
 always damp & cool4 ,!re are also      
sev]al b>rels 9 ?is f>m  fill$ ) corn   
%ucks & hay = ! m9ks to ent] dur+ cold  
wea!r4 ,! m9ks 9 ?is little f>m are f$ )
 ! sple5 (  cattle1 diff]5t meats1      
crayfi% & o!r small fi%es4 ,! co/ (  ?is

 f>m1 or p51 :i* has be5 us$ =          
exp]im5tal purposes only1  am\nts to    
approximately =ty-two doll>s4 ,x is l>ge
 en\gh to  raise two hundr$ m9ks if !y  
are prop]ly f$ & c>$ =4    ,illu/ration3
 ,a ,small ,m9k ,f>m4    ,illu/ration3  
,"p ( ,int]ior ( ,small ,f>m1 ,%[+      
,bo>ds ,)  ,dirt on ,top = ! ,m9ks to   
,live ,"u ,dur+ ! ,day4    ,sometimes an
 isl& c be us$ = a f>m ev5 :5 x has     
opposite  %ores or isl&s )9 two hundr$  
feet or less1 provid$ ! wat]  surr\nd+ x
 has an av]age dep? ( f f\r to six feet4
 ,9 su*  a case1 ! walls inclos+ ! isl& 
%\ld be built 9 ! wat] at  a di/ance (  
fifty or "o hundr$ feet f its %ores4    
,%eets (  metal %\ld be us$1 z previ\sly
 describ$1 by plac+ !m upright  9 ! wat]
 & nail+ !m toge!r ) /rips runn+ along !
  outside4 ,x is n ess5tial t ! l[] wall
 %\ld be 9 !  gr\nd or ev5 t\*+ x2 po/s 
c be driv5 9 ! gr\nd to  /r5g!n ! wall1 
or to support x entirely4               
,illu/ration3 ,a ,m9k ,f>m ,made ,out ( 
an ,isl&4 ,! ,wat]  ,surr\nd+ ,has a    

,uni=m ,dep? ( ,five ,feet4    ,9 a     
small f>m :]e m9ks are 9 close captivity
 & h to be f$1  ! old ones us$ = !      
purpose ( /ock+ x w at fir/ d           
consid]able digg+ ne> ! walls4 ,!y w dig
 into loose e>? to  a dep? rang+ f a few
 in*es to ?ree feet 9 _! attempts to    
lib]ate !mselves4 ,b !y w cease to dig  
aft] !y h be5  9 captivity = ab\t f\r   
mon?s4 ,^? born 9 a f>m w n dig  or try 
to get out4 ,!y w climb1 h[ev]1 to a    
height ( fifte5  feet on recl9+ trees or
 on bu%es1 & = ?is reason all trees1    
bu%es & pieces ( lumb] %\ld be remov$ f 
! inside ( !  walls be=e any m9ks are   
turn$ loose 9 a f>m4 ,!y w  ord9>ily    
jump to a height ( f\r feet4 ,!y c climb
 wood5 walls  z swiftly z a cat1 or any 
wall made ( s(t mat]ial4                
,illu/ration3 ,di/urb$ 9 ,h] ,sleep4    
,notice ! ,bu%y ,tail4    ,! foll[+     
sket* %[s ! v be/ m9k f>m t c be made4  
,x requires a rectangul> piece ( l& (   
five or t5 acres1 runn+  along & sep>at$
 by a l>ge bay\ 9 ! swamps ( ,l\isiana4 

,cov]+ ?is l& !re %\ld be ! necess>y    
trees1 %rubb]y &  grasses4 ,! walls are 
built along ! bay\ ab\t "o hundr$ feet  
f ! middle1 & ext5d und]gr\nd to a dep? 
( six feet4 ,!  walls at ! ends ( ! f>m 
:]e !y cross ! bay\ %\ld be  v c>efully 
con/ruct$4 ,at ^! places :]e ! walls    
cross !  bay\ %\ld h a dep? ( at lea/   
twelve feet or m1 s t !  walls c be made
 to ext5d n9e feet bel[ ! wat] surface =
  "o-?ird ! wid? ( ! /ream & /ill h     
suffici5t op5+s  bel[ ! walls to p]mit !
 wat] to fl[ ?r\gh freely4 ,=  example1 
if ! bay\ is fifty feet wide1 fifte5    
feet ( ! wall  cross+ x c be elevat$ s t
 !re w be a l>ge-en\gh  op5+ bel[ = !   
wat] to fl[4 ,! rema9+ portion ( ! wall 
7t ly+ ne> ! %ore7 %\ld be driv5 9 !    
gr\nd = ab\t  "o foot1 z m9ks w n dig "u
 wat]4 ,a f>m ( five acres1  simil> to !
 "o j describ$1 w\ld co/1 complet$1     
approximately eight hundr$ doll>s4 ,!   
m9ks 9 su* a f>m1 ow+  to ! cont9u\s    
*ange ( wat] 9 ! bay\1 w\ld always h an 
abundance ( food4 ,! banks ( ! bay\ w\ld

 af=d a natural  bre$+-place1 z m9ks    
usually burr[ 9 ! banks ( small /reams  
or along canals & h _! "y ne> ! wat]4   
,if ! wat] 9  ! bay\ falls1 wire nett+  
c\ld be us$ ov] ! op5+ at !  ends bel[ !
 walls4    ,illu/ration3 ,a ,m9k ,f>m   
,inclos+ ,portion ( a ,bay\1 ,all[+ !   
,wat] to ,fl[ ,?r\gh4    ,illu/ration3  
,an ,angry ,m9k4           ,m9ks eat    
birds1 small mammals & eggs4 ,! pr9cipal
 food (       m9ks comes f wat]1 fi%1   
frogs1 crayfi%4--,int]national          
,encyclopdia4      ,! m9ks ,i h be5     
exp]im5t+ ) h p]si/5tly refus$ to  eat  
frogs4 ,i p5n$ "o up sep>ately &        
attempt$ to fe$ h] on  frogs only1 & ,i 
believe %e w\ld h />v$ r ?an eat  frogs4
    ,m9ks c be rais$ 9 any k9d ( p5 or  
cage1 & wat] is n  ess5tial to _!       
happ9ess4 ,!y are easily tam$ & l to be 
pett$4          ,habits ( ! ,m9k 9      
,l\isiana      ,m9ks 9 ,l\isiana h two  
litt]s a season1 !  numb] ( "y 9 ea*    
brood v>y+ f f\r to eight4 ,sometimes1  
h[ev]1 b v r>ely1 !re w be only two 9 a 

brood1 &  almo/ z infrequ5tly1 on ! o!r 
h&1 !re w be ?ree litt]s  a season      
in/ead ( two4 ,captive animals bre$ m   
pr(usely ?an !  wild1 & w occasionally h
 ?ree litt]s :]e !y are 9 close         
captivity4 ,!y beg9 to bre$ :5 !y are   
ab\t "o ye> old1 &  9 captivity w raise 
an av]age ( f\rte5 a ye>4 ,normally1 !y 
live to be ab\t n9e ye>s old1 b !y w    
live long] 9  captivity :]e !y are well 
treat$ & giv5 all ! wat] & !  diff]5t   
foods requir$ by !m4    ,l all o!r      
indu/ries1 ! bus9ess ( bre$+ m9ks = _!  
fur necessitates an outlay ( capital4 ,a
 f>m _c be built )\t  money1 & ! co/ (  
"o suffici5tly l>ge to bre$ m9ks        
pr(itably ranges f five hundr$ to a ?\s&
 doll>s4 ,( c\rse1  a f>m c be made any 
size & co/+ any am\nt ( money2 b l>ge   
f>ms are n necess>y1 & x is mu* bett] to
 h sev]al small  f>ms ( six or t5 acres 
?an "o v l>ge "o4    ,illu/ration3 ,a   
,female ,m9k ,re/+ ,) ,eyes ,op54       
,aft] a f>m is complet$ x has to be     
/ock$1 & ! task is no  easy or          

inexp5sive "o4 ,trapp]s w h to be       
employ$ to trap  m9ks ) ,no4 #a /eel    
traps1 z ^! small traps d n injure !m  v
 mu* unless !y are p]mitt$ to rema9     
caught too long4 ,^?  t h badly-brok5   
bones %\ld n be b\ght1 z suff]+ w  cause
 !m to eat _! leg (f1 9 :i* case !y w   
always die4    ,! au?or int5ds to       
organize a company /yl$ ! ,l\isiana ,m9k
  ,company1 ! objects & purposes ( :i*  
%all be to build m9k  f>ms & to bre$    
m9ks 9 ?is ,/ate = _! fur4    ,no matt] 
:at capital is involv$1 or exp5se       
incurr$1 9 ent]+  into ! bus9ess ( bre$+
 m9ks = _! fur1 ! returns w be  s big t 
?is w appe> small 9 comp>ison4 ,& ^? :o 
are s  =tunate z to />t 9 ! indu/ry n[  
w1 :5 m9ks w h  become s r>e t trapp+ w 
be unpr(itable1 & ! dem& s  great t !   
prices = m9k fur w so> high] & high]--^?
  p]sons1 ,i say1 ( =esight1 :o _h !    
good =tune to />t 9 !  bus9ess e>ly1 w  
reap ea* ye> ! /eady advances 9 ! price 
( m9k fur1 & be able1 9 a ^w1 to comm& !
 fur m>ket ( bo?  ,europe & ,am]ica4    

,transcrib]'s ,notes    ,all obvi\s     
typographical corrections 7 made4 ,all  
orig9al spell+  & gramatic con/ructs 7  
reta9$4 ,"s images 7 mov$ to  rejo9     
split p>agraphs4 ,:]e ! fir/ lett] 9 a  
p>agraph 0  display$ 9 ,old ,engli%     
font1 x 0 assum$ t repres5t$ a new      
section4