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WHAT FUR?
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Iowa," rather than from the lonely spaces of the Ozarks which cover a big part of southern Missouri.
The Missouri conservation commission estimates that at least 80 per cent of the state's fur harvest is taken by farmers. They've learned that the ponds theV built for stock water provide excellent muskrat water and provides crayfish, mussels and frogs for coons and mink.
The commission keeps a close eye on furbearers. In 1940, after the coon population hit a severe low, the commission and the coon hunters got together, approved a reduced open season, a bag limit and a program of habitat restoration.
That year 11,000 coons were taken. In 1945, a total of 40,000 was bagged.
The same picture applies to muskrats, the state's biggest fur producer. Relief from the drought of the Thirties and improvement and expansion of water areas resulted in a much better population of muskrat.
Stated simply, we still produce millions of dollars worth of fur in this nation yearly because we have learned to cultivate it as a crop, to care for it properly and to permit its harvest
only when it is in prime condition during a short midwinter season.
What is true in Missouri is true throughout the country. In Kansas, the flat ''breadbasket" state of the country, fur is taken annually in all parts and rough estimates indicate that farm boys of that state receive a quarter of a million dollars for their harvest every year.
Missouri's fur figures include no rabbit nor squirrel. In the central region those pelts are not of suitable quality. Last year 1 1 ,000 mink were taken in the state, worth about $10.50 per pelt. In states farther to the north, rabbit and squirrel pelts make up a big part of the annual harvest. North Dakota taking 1,403,233 pelts in 1942 with 1,117,256 of them jackrabbit hides.
The boy who came up from the creek with those two muskrat pelts learned how to set his traps from his father, and he from his father. Under the methods we have learned to use to encourage furbearers and to preserve them, he'll be able to pass the knowledge along to his son and there'll be game for his rifle and furbearers for his traps.
A farm hand took his girl out for a buggy ride and nine miles out in the country the horse dropped dead. "Oh dear." sighed the girl, "and I am so tired." "Suppose I give you a nice kiss," said the farm hand, "that will put life in you." "In that case," answered his date, "you'd better kiss the horse."