Show muskrat crat once thought nuisance now valued in the early days of 0 the fur trade it 11 was tile the practice in caama for trappers to keep foxes or other wild fur bearers caught in warm weather un on til the fur was prime and from this custom has arisen the modern industry of fur farming in recent years the development of muskrat niu farnin has progressed rapid ly particularly in western canada marsh lands hitherto considered ill at most worthless worthiest have suddenly increased in value at one time tile the rous krat was looked upon us its a pest and was disregarded by the trapper unless a great number could be taken with little trouble today this little slough dweller Is one of the chief factors to in maintaining a u high total value for our annual fur production rind and in commercial imbor tance heads the list of fur bearers taken in canada tills this growth in pop flarity Is due to two valuable loable va properties the pelts long ions wear ins ing qualities and its suitability for dyeing exchange Exclia |