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Show Muskrat, Once Thought Nuisance, Now Valued In the early dayB of the fur trade It was the practice in Canada for trappers trap-pers to keep foxes or other wild fur bearers, caught In warm weather, un til the fur was prime, and from this custom has arisen the modern Industry Indus-try of fur farming. In recent years the development of muskrat farms has progressed rapidly, rapid-ly, particularly In western Canada Marsh lands hitherto considered almost al-most worthless have suddenly Increased In-creased In value. At one time the muskrat was looked upon as a pest and was disregarded by the trapper unless a great number num-ber could be taken with little trouble Todny this little slough dweller Is one of the chief factors In maintaining u high total value for our annual fur production and in commercial Importance Impor-tance heads the list of fur-bearers taken In Canada. This growth In pop clarity Is due to two valuable prop ertles namely, the pelt's long wear lng qualities nnd Its suitability for dyeing. Exchange. |