Delaware Expects Big Muskrat Catch I)eUw»r« City—Opening of J>e trapping season In Delaware promises to be followed by one of the largest muskrat catches ever recorded In the Slate. The season closes in March. This Is the opic'on expressed here by practically every trapper who has come in since the season opened on Wednesday. Muskrats are reported to abound In all of the marshland sections, and while thousands of them belong to the “younger set." they are nevertheless In fairly good fur. While It Is Impossible to approximate even the value of the season's trap, old hands insist It will run into the thousands of dollars. Muskrat skins are bringing from 12 to %i each, depending on the size and the condition of the fur. This means that many of the trappers putting in their first season will clear a hand some profit. Compared with last season's price. It Is said that the offers made by fur buyers Indicate another fur season In developing and that the demand is practically as great as a year ago. when it was conceded, all former shipment and sales were shattered. in connection with the demand »uuie surprise is expressed that It should have developed so strongly so early In the season. The weather has been anything but stimulating to the sale cf furs at retail, whir*’ means that the fur e manufacturers cannot be moving stocks very rapidly. Yet with conditions of this kind whl-h might be expected to depress the price, muskrat skins are bringing almost as much as last year, while the demand equals that of a year ago One factor and possibly s second has entered Into the demand this rear for the first rime. At least It has aly been within the oast few days that the importance of either was fully nr cognised. The first of the new outkts for muskrat skins Is found in the demand created by the glove manufacturers. While the pelts were used years ago tn manufacturing gloves, they were of the cheaper grades. These conditions in change have changed and today muskrat skins are being utilized In manufacturing the finer grades. Glove interests Visit Section Several buyers for glove Interests have been through this section during the past week. In many instances they have ‘practically contracted for all of the skins the trappers can produce of a certain age. Site seems to be the essential factor In deciding the utility of the pelt In connection with the manufacturing of gloves. Naturally the smaller skins are less in demand, although many of them will be used this ynar in '.hit way. One thing the buyers are insisting upon, the pelt* must not show puncture marks. This practically excludes tbos- taken from muskrats shot. Few muskrats, however. are being taken in that My. Another demand for the muskrat pelt has resulted from the manufacture of amtiLtor* apparel it has been found that the skins used as linings with the fur inside afford ample protection to the wearer, while they constitute a lighter lining than can be obtained from other sources, e*pec.ally leather. The apparent 11m't to the demand for this nnrpcee is fixed only ny the quantity of such equipment being manufactured. Although locally, thousands of muskrat skins have been shipped annually for years, It has tally been within the past year that the trappers found the business unusually profitable. Last season, the extraordinary demand for furs compelled the manufacturers to utilize pelts of all kinds for purposes to which they had never been put before. Muskrat skins, i: was found, instead of being i cheap substitute, were capable of being used in many original ways and did not lose value when their real character became known. In fact, a demand sprang up for muskrat skin garments which caused the fur men to suddenly dis-

cover that the little “two-bit" pelt had been wrongfully discounted and was entitled to an accepted place tn the fur trade, of course that could not be ca the “two-bit" basis, so the price of muskrat skins was Jumped until In the entire history of .he fur trade It is contended no other* pelt, even under the careful manipulation of the Hudson Bay Company, ever made such a pyramiding record. Hundreds of muskrat pelts sold last season st the trap at troth 12 to $5. This made the velvet for tht trapper run something like a “yard wide and all silk," for while everything else felt the boost In price Incident to the war. trapping equipment proved the exception. It was not until the season wss well advanced that the oversight in this direction could be corrected and by that time the trappers were outfitted for the winter. Many of them have gone into this season's a jt*. without expending a dollar on additional outfits. But boosting the price at the trap made It possible to conscientioucly do the same thing a* the consumer end of the game, with the result that many a wearer of a muskrat skin coat found herself in the sealskin class of but a few seasons befere. At one time a shoring,-, of muskrat skins actually dev< toped with th« -esult that the manufactured skin begar to look a whole lot like the finest sable. Can Be Dyed and Bleached In connection with the muskrat skin it has been found that the latter can be dyed or bleached at will and that once lu tone is property fl ed it becomes permanent. Another advantage possessed by the little pelt Is thut although the skin U light In weight it is usually tough when tanned or cured. These facts have been known to local trappers for years, out they never before last year were able to Impress their Importance on representative fur houses. Surveye made last week and Immediately preceding that time showed that many additions! acres of marshland had been taken over Ly the muskrats this year and that the total number was well In advance of put of a year ago. Considering the enormous catch last season such a situation was difficult io explain. This may be done, trappers say. In only one wav. It must b« conceded that banters have consistently observed the taws and that in addition the'season has been unusually fwrrable to the propagatl'm of the muskrat. With little to dts'urh them and an abundance of food carrying well Into the winter they here thrived as never before. Owners of muskrat farms report that the conditions in their colonies differ little from that of these in the oper Many of these men adult that the yield this year will pro.* -ven more profitable th.n last season and that from what they are able to learn from the fur manufacturers the new conditions as relating u> the muskrat will continue with little variation! in the future. in other words, they have been given to understand that rx*m that a cheap fur supply source- has been developed it will be the business of the fur manufacturers to see that it is encouraged and developed to the mutual advantage of all interested Hence It sterns that quiU «!! ’*ncorsclo>:sly Delaware has b»A a new and profitable industry thrust upon her, for while muskrat skins can be obtained In hundreds of localities m many sections of the conn try. none surpass those trapped in Delaware. The local conditions are considered as unusually well adapted to the caUivatioi. of the muskrat producing a larger and better furred pelt than is obtained In other localities. "Delaware" on a muskrat akin Is coming to mean something In trade cir-

cles

Skunks Arc Grown Scores of skunk skins will also find their way to the markets from Delaware trappers. The value of the pelt has long been fixed and a resul* is that on many of f be muakiat farms skunks are grown. Contrary to what might be generally expected they domesticate easily and cease to become

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319 Fifth Aerane

either a nuisance or a menace. It is

quite' a common experience to see litters of baby skunks playing around the sheas and garages on these farms. They become as tame as kittens and are fully as amusing in their •ambol*. The present price of skunk skins Is approximately the same as last season's and the fur buyers say there is nothing in the conditions to suggest n

decline.

Quite a number of foxes have been trapped while the number of squirrel sskins salted down surprise those investigating Delaware at a fur producing Stale. There also promises to be a good supply of racoon skins on hand when ihe fur auction in St. Iiouis is aeld this year. One thing has been learned by the Delaware trappers and fur buyers. It pays to organize. This season will see the Delaware shipment* being sdvsntageonslv handled at the auctions while In the Interval between now and then hundreds of them will he sold (o the fur manufacturers and ■hipped oat of the State Buyers from the northwest have been in Delaware during the past week. Several of the representing Minncapolls firms were here the past few days going over the muskrat situation with local trappers They are reported to be paying a little higher price for their pelts than Is being offered by buyers from other districts. Locally the northwest demand Is creating considerable interest ns it has always been accepted here that that section was the great fur producing division of the country. Now the question is naked: "Are the northwest furs stripped from southeast game*" Some of the trappers and pelt dealers say they are beginning to get a little new light on the fur game and that possibly what they have long suspected was a reality. For several seasons the Impression has been abroad that many of the fur Usings found in garments sold throughout the central sections and supposed coming from the northwest were nothing but southern pells. The resemblance to the latter has always ! era quite marked, dealers insist. Now the trut! may be coming out' and if It Is done no one here can see how any erne will be hurt. The only thing It »iU do will be to give credit where it properly belongs- That will mean something for Delaware and adjacent States in the fur trade of the

future.

Wave Force A visitor to the seashore iu sunnier. who goes Into the water »o bathe, can sometimes form from his own experience a faint idea of the force exerted by a srave. But to fully appreciate wave force and what say be termed throwing power of a srave. let us tee srhat can be done by water to ■olid masonry. Shot after^sbot from the most powerful cannon upon earth oould not wora such destruction as have waves upon huge granite blocks, breakwaters and lighthouses. Take the east Mil north coasts of Scotland tor example. In the winter of 18(0, at Bishop's Rock llghthoote, the bell was torn from its fastenings, although situated 100 feet above highwater mark. At Cnst. in the Shetland* Islands, a door sms burst in at a height of ’85 fee! above the level of the sea The most wonderful effects of srave force recorded were witnessed at Wick Harbor breakwater. Blocks weighing from five to ten tons mere built In about the line of high-water, first with hydraulic lime, then with Roman and 'aat with Portland cement This great work was considered by the most learned engineers in Rnglsnd to he capable of withstanding the assault of the ocean for ages, but in October. ISM. over 300 feet cf this giant barrier was swept away. In lf7J a monolithic block weighing 1350 tons was lilted bodily and carried leeward of the breakwater, and L873 another and heavier concrete mass, weighing 2600 tons, which had replaced the former was swept away Intact and carried tc a point equally distant. The marine dynamometer, for measuring the force of waves against an obstacle, was invented by Thomas Stevenson, and onr of the results obuned was a Skerryvore lighthouse, in the Atlantic, where a force of 6083 pounds per square foot toot was meoeured. At Dunbar a fotee of three and a half tons per square tool was recently registered.

The Age of Death One quarter of the people on the earth die before the as* of six. one-

The Snow-Sweepers

Brush

Seeing s snow sweeper passing along the trackes of n tfitv street, one cancot help wondering at the sturdiness of the revolving brush which is made use of for the purpose of removing thr accumulations of snow and ice. Not that many of us have use for such an article, bnt we cmnno' help hot to pay tribute to the wsy It stands up under the severe character of the work It la called on to perform. It used to toko one man an hour and a half to put In the ratten In a segment of the rotary brushes use.! on snow sweepers, says the Electric Railway Journal. Now the Clevelan 1 Railway Co. has designed and built a machine at the Harvard snops wl Ich makes it pos■lole for one man .o fill ten brush segments or more In an hour. The work which has mod* this economy and the ability of the shop to keep ahead of replacements curing long snowstorms possible In -olved not only the design of the birth macHae Itself, bnt also a redesIg . and rebuilding cf the brush holdeA ,n the sweepers. The brush mae.'.ine consists of an air-operated press having a bed and beam designed esiedally for making these firrush segments. An sir pressure is maintained la a cylinder In the basement below tb> machine. A special wooden Vcsrr u attached to the piston and this may he i •<«rd and lowered by means of the shop air puMure controlled by an ordlnarr\ralnmans valve, two oak Umbers forming the vertical guides for the beam. In the bed of the prees Is a groove of the proper size and shape to receive a galvanized pressed st-.-el shell which forms the bock of the completed brush segment A layer of rattan of 30-lnch lengths is then laid evenly across the bed of the press and. by means of a guide board a*, the bock of the bed, centered over the shell. Then a maple bar 2 inches sridq at the top aide. 1 1-4 Inch wide at 'he bottom side and 2 itches deep, which has been fitted with ten cnst bran hooks is fastened to the bottom of the beam of the press and held In position by means of a short length of chain at either end. Air la then Itted toYhe cylinder, end as the beau, jcxnes down It forces the rattan down into the shell anl turns the ends upward on either side of the. maple bar. When the p'ston has traveled Its full length downward the brass books on the bar spring over the rounded or rolled edgss of the shell, engaging it and holding fast. This completes the making of one brush segment and the others follow In like maimer until the entire broom is completed. It is claimed that there Is lees leakage of the rattar^snd that the brashes have a longer life when made with this macbinl than when mode by hand, probably due to eliminaUon of malleting the rattan into place and to the fact that the bend In the rattan is not quite ao sharp- The rattan is of course ■o'teeed before it It made up into the ■cements by steaming It in a 30 Inch diameter by 36 Inch high cylinder connected to a steam hose. Another advantage of the machine is that It la possible to use up short pieces of rattan by mixing them with the pieces of regular length.

A Rival of the Sphinx It Is given out os a fact that one of the most curious and interesting formations in rock in the world Is to be seen on the stage road, near Tucson. Arizona. It stands on a knoll, several feet shove the surrounding sandhills. When first seen, we are told, the effect la startling, and the mind has to get over the shock before the peculiar object can be comprehended. It Is a most perfect representation oi s camel, and Is fanned of one piece o' granite This curiosity Is of collossa'. size, but perfectly proportioned. It Is about sixty feet high, and la very white and smooth. To ere are very few fissures on the surface, and they, r.trangely. are in the proper places to form features The only real protection from the surface Is exactly placed for an eyebrow. The two humps are plainly lo he seen,

and the neck is curved beautifully.

Tht trouble is that we could n«t prove that the figure came from the hand of nalur*, which la usually more haphazard In its manner o* doing things than to put wrinkles end eye-

brows In their proper places.

Perhaps some of the first discover era of the Sphinx in modem times attributed its authorship to an upheaval cf the earth's crust, but everybody In this age knows better. As medieval

has been traced to Arizona, and

ha'' before the age of sixteen and only about one person to each 100 bora lives to the age of slxty.-fire. A Mystery oi

the Ages

Why a horse rise* from the ground on its fore-legs and cow on its hisd-

*:ii methods and impl-menu discovered there ii profusion, why should we asy that ever/ curious formation bearing the Image of some beast or other thing wss not his work thousands of

years ago*

Teacher «of natural history duett— "How meny species of kangaroo are known to exl IT" Bright Pupil—“Two. Just the same a* any other kind of creatnre—the

legs has never been explained. kangaroo and the k»ngaroo«t«-r "

The Boys and the Woodchuck "Who knows what animals belong to the rodent family " asked Grand pa Peterklns, one evening, of his three grandchildren, as they gatherd shout him. eager to have him tell a story. “Who knowsT" he again repeatri. "I don't." drained Fred. “1 do," said Rob thoughtfully, "l^t me see—one horse, tsro cows, five pigs, three cals and a dog."* "Why. Rob." said grandpa, somewhat •'•rerised. "what on earth are you talking about?" "WaO." continued Rob. "if that s tha family yon mean. I don't know whether their name is Rodent or not, but I know they have just moved up here, ard have ell those animate." "Very good." smiled the old gentleman. "But I see you don't understand me. I simply tram to know what anl mala comprise the family of rod cola?" "Rate!" called out Fred. ‘You ore right. Fred." he replied seriously, endeavoring to show no appreciation fa the boy's slang. "Rats do come uede~ that order, as do the squirrels, thu bearers, and the woodchucks. These animals have two large front teeth, called scissors, on each Jaw. Fee here now." he said, bringing a woodchuck's skull from his cabinet, which sms well filled with many inter eel Ing specimens, "this Is a type of the rodent family: you’ll note quite a ■pace between the front and bock teeth or molars. The front tooth being long are used exclusively as a means of gnawings." "But. grandpa." Interposed young George, "please don't forget to tel’ ns a story." “That's a fact; and speaking about woodchucks recalls an Incident that happened to me years ago. when I was about your age, Fred, almost fifteen, and hod. like my cousin John, always lived In the city. During our summer vacation, our Urele George invited us to spend a few weeks at his farm on Long intend, an outing that would give us plenty of freah air, plenty of sailing nr J good fishing, rod xnsny other enjoyments, inch ns we much desired. One bright morning oar ancle said lo “Come, you city bred boys—rone up in the lot with me. and see If you can't Invent same plan to catch a woodchuck Now, if you succeed In capturing him alive. 111 make you each a handsome present", "After walking acre tire or three lots, we at test came to the hole where the animal had made his abode. The earth was pBed up some two feet or more at the entrance, showing that be had exerted no little labor in establishing his claim. "'Now then boys.' continued our uncle, ‘you see the place, for 1 saw him slip tn Jtrrt be ft) re we crossed that first lot Get him out If you con. but mind, bring him to me alive and in good condition, and 111 keep my part of the contract; but I mast leave you now. as I have other matters to attend to. ao devise your own plant of capture.' “After our uncle hod gone, we surveyed the grounds again, and then peeped into the hole. John was positive he saw a pair ol_ryes looking up at him. and that seemed to frighten us a little. " T think.' said John, 'that if I had a long pole I might prod him out.’ “ That would never do.' I objected. "You know we must not Injure nor kill

him.'

" ‘It we only had a big burning glass, and then snuff a lot of paper dosrn, we might rmoke him out.' “ 'Yes. that would be a good scheme; or If we only had a big fire-cracker, that might bring him to terms.' “T have It!' said John, clapping his hands. ‘Let's drown him out. He can't sit down there under water'bery

long’

“'Good!* 1 cried, 'a mighty good Idea. We'M drown him out; but I'm afraid that when he starts to come on; he'll come so fast that we may not be able to catch him. How will we mWl age that?* “ 'Well.' answered Joht. who had quite an inventive turn of mind, ‘you know that old steine that uncle has down at the houee. We can bring that up i '.th the water and moke s fench of it around the entrance, and when he comes cut we can easily draw the seine together and bag him. and 'hen there will be no danger of his biting us. You know they can bite like the mischief.' "It was row agreed that 1 should stand guard over the woodchuck, while John went to the bam to get a horse and drag to bring up s barrel of rater After I had waited patlentil for almost an hour, he returned srlth the water and the seine We innnedtetely procceded to ritake up the latter; then ptecing the barrel st the outeredge of the enclosure, I filled the pan ,nd passed It ore. to John, who in turn poared It into the burrow. i n * short time we emptied the barrel, sod the water stood within s few feet 0 f thttop. and was now rapidly subsiding in the sandy sum-soiL Tot where was our prisoner? "That woodenuck must be crasy, to deliberately commit suicide by drown Ing.' John remarked.

- -Imagine a woodchmek In solme'. I replied; hut'my words were lust by shouts st Uughter from an adjoteteg

field.

"We knew very well who was laughing at u». but we did not look around. Presently he-our uncle-zhtmted • Look behind you. boys—look behind you!' 'And. boys, would you believe It. directly behind us. and within five^ yards from where we stood, sat hla_ Highness bolt upright; and John aisrnys contended that there was a htot*^. grin upon hte fat little countenance, which seemed to say, ‘Who got fooled that time? "Grasping a stick 1 made a rosb for him and to my utter surprise he disappeared head first under ground. When I reached the spot. I had no little difficulty in finding the hole, which was shout eight inches In dioxnete- and hedged around about with grass. By this time our unde came running up to us almost convulsed with laughter. “•Well boys.' ho said. You did not calculate upon that auxiliary exit of escape, did yon? ! should have told you about that in the first place. The woodchuck, as a rule, burrows In that srny. You see' he laid. 'Ihat the dirt is always thrown out st the entrance, and so nicely does he de hte work aj the exit that It can only be found after some little senrehln Their burrow* describe a shape like this.' lie explained. making a rough sketch upon the loose ground with a stick. A the center of the excavation is tai thus giving him plenty #f room. MOTT boys,' he added. ‘ you must admit that the woodchuck has outwitted von, no grt upon the drag, and well go io the house, as U now almost dinner time * ** The fire In the open fireplace was burning low. Grandpa had finished hte story. The few moments of silence that follotrod was abruptly broken by a question from George. "Did the woodchuck get hte feet wet, when you poured the water into hte house, grandpaT' "Ltd you and your Cousin John got any present for not getting him?" asked Fred. “Did you turn round on the way home, to see If the woodchuck came out of his hole to laugh at youT* queried Bob. "Boys," said the old gentleman, who bad anticipated a bombardmeni^St questions from them and was now ptecing himself on the defensive— "boys. It's about your bedtime, and tomorrow I'll answer oi! your questions; so good night!"

Strange Pasturage in Holland

The great dykee that keep back,tha era from a large portion of the coasts of Holland have caused the onntry much expense in their convructioa and maintenance. There is one very large dyke along the 7.ayder Zee. which connects sand-dune with sanddune. During the summer the sea retires fo* >ng distance, and the uncovered shore 'jecomes fine psitnrage. But ail Lie farmers along the aoaat are not benefited hr this pronsK*. of nature. The privilege to puture cows there was bequeathed to tie residents of three villages by a coumtss who died in the year 1M2; and each descendant of s resident of one of the tltegee st that date has Inherited the right to pasture seven cows. This privilege cannot be bought cr sold. When spring comes, the cattle are driven to the pastures, and the owner*, who generally live miles away, have to make two milaing trips daily at midday and midnight.

many feet under water.

The uprising sometimes cos swiftly that the cattle are caug! and are drowned. So si the be) of September, watchmen :.re unioned on the dikes to keep

lookout on the sea.

When the ses rises, the man dyke hangs up z lantern, and »ea rises more he hangs up two, is » danger signal. Then aimltei are flashed from church tower tc by watcher* In the belfries. When ,he sea rises fast, the t the dyke hongs op throe lighte. means "Cofne qtickly.- xu ^ are rung In every village and sc roads are crowded with people , Md on horseback, all going

rrecue of their herds,

it is perilous work which the > do. and they heave a long , relief when the cattle are safe

sublee at home.

Opal Worn to Cure Weak ^ves

H is said that t *°m to promote brirty. the chrysoi ‘he onyx worn i Prevent epUep., , and the top tioo and Ve^. th,

walking.