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3 th VOLUME OCTOBER 15, 1944 NUMBER 10
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nnua • th ow a ans en s1ve 194. ur earers • war onservat1on ro ram ..... oon to • ar Soon thousand of Iowans will T lf- DU - 1111 - •u- ••- ••- 11• - ••-••- ••- ••- ••- ••-••- ••- u•-••-••- 11•- ••- a• - ••- n•-••- + be scouring the fields, streams, I th ! . i Director Schwob · · tre- and marshes for fur bearer signs, Strip Tease i and the annual fur harvest will II : be under way. Last year the ef . . I Makes Report to forts of our trappers resulted in j Eternity was just a pup = 979,315 pelts reaching the nation's j When nature pulled the curtain up. ! Commission fur markets. : Cave man, Persian, Greek and Roman ! ! Knew her as a master showman; j By F. T. SCHWOB, Director, Not only does Iowa produce • c furs numbering into the millions, ! Paul Revere and Bonaparte j State Conservation Commission but contrary to popular belief, j Marveled at her cosmic art; • (Editor' s Note: The following is from our furs are of the highest qual = And the lady has a way ! Director Schwob's report to the Commit ity. Especially is this true of =1 With her audience today. ! tee on Conservation of Resources of the muskrat, which in numbers and ! Strip-tease connoisseurs will please j Iowa Postwar Rehabilitation Commission, dollar value exceeds all other i Take a seat among the trees; j August 7, 1944, at the Statehouse in Des j Nature now presents October, ~ fo pelts. Moines. The report parallels and aug j The world's most colorful disrober. ments the wi I d I ife and recreational pro dur To those poor unfortunates who ! • - Ogden Nash, in The Forest Log . I gram advocated in the Twenty-five Year have never experienced the thrill • • of "stringing steel", the hard 1 . i Conservation Plan adopted in 1934 and ships and physical punishment + -•a- ID- 11- III- IID-11- III-III-IIII-III-IIII-III-IU-IIU-III-111-IIU- IIII - 111-aii-111-11- UII_:II+ being carried out under the direction of that the trapper endures even in the State Conservation Commission. these days of television and air • Other major reports on conservation to planes seem a little on the nutty e ersat1 e usquas the Rehabilitation Commission at th'is side. Be that as it may, trappers meeting included: soil conservation, by as a group are the most impatient • Clyde Spry, Assistant Secretary of Agri of all the outdoor enthusiasts for culture, and Frank Mendell, Director of es a e ecta e IS the Soil Conservation Service in Iowa; and their season to open so that they I public health and sanitation, by A. H. can test wits with the fur bearers By ANNA MARGRETHE OLSEN says, "There is a little beast I and match their ruggedness called a mushquash their cods Wieters, Director of Sanitation and Pub against the weather, fatigue, and Small aquatic fur-bearing mam- scent as sweet and strong as lic Health Engineering, State Department I of Health.) pneumonia bugs. mals called muskrats, musquash, musk." In Carver's Travels in· - Ask any trapper what about or any of its closely related Al (1778), one reads, "The musquash the game most interests him, and gonquian derivatives, have played or muskrat is so termed for the Soil and water conservation is he promptly replies, "The fur a significant part in the life and the fundamental basis upon which ar exquisite musk which it affords." check," and undoubtedly profit is development of North America. The very early recognition of the our wildlife and recreational pro thl the impelling motive without Histories, as well as the litera grams must depend for success. and economic value of the musk and few of the fur animals ture of this country from the days fur is a matter of record. Silke The future of agriculture, indus would be trapped, even though of the Colonists to the present wormes' Observations (1620) con try in fact, our entire economic quite a number of them are edi- time, contain numerous refer and social structure can survive ol tain the following: "Muske-rats ble. But in addition to financial ences to both musquash and mus skins, two shillings a dozen; the and prosper only: if we conserve be de· our soil and water resources. It rewards, which in the case of rat, used interchangeably, and cods of them will serue for good • com some professional Iowa trappers frequently together. As early as perfumes." And again one finds i!:' important that, at the close of the present conflict, conservation regu· total three or four or more thou- 1616 Smith in his history of Vir in Lawson's History of Carolina of natural resources be recog cart sand dollars annually, every fol- ginia called these mammals (1714), "Musk rats frequent fresh nized as the most important prob erner lower of the trap line experiences "mussascus or muskats", and de streams and no others; as the lem facing the American people. all the thrills and healthful recre- scribed them as "beasts of the bever does. He has a cod of ation common to the sports of ·forme and nature of our water As we study the complexities musk which is valuable as is like of providing outdoor recreation, ar hunting and fishing. rats, but many smell exceedingly wise his fur." In Alsop's Mary- tore 1n The fur take during the past strongly of muske". Another we find that to obtain maximum Iowa Conservationist was around $385,966.00. For an Nor do they scorn animal foods kets in the larger cities. The de interesting and informative ac such as slowly moving fish, tur Publish ed Monthly by mand for them during the trap count of the daily life and habits tles, mussels and crabs. THE IOWA STATE CONSERVATION ping season, which extends usu of the musquash or muskrats, also ally from November to April, COMMISSION as to how they are trapped, read The Musquash Has Been And Is lOth & Mulberry-Des Moines, Iowa Used as A Food frequently exceeds the supply. the article in the Iowa Conser They are. sold as marsh rabbits; JAMES R. HARLAN, Editor vationist for October 15, 1943, on The flesh of the musquash or LOIS AMES, Associate Editor however, no attempt is made to "Under-Ice Trapping for Musk muskrat was eaten and relished conceal the fact that they are F. T. SCHWOB. Dire .'Or rats, Most Valuable Fur-Bearing by the Indians and early trap muskrats. F eatured at church (No Rights Reserved) pers and woodsmen. Colonists Animal", by F rank Tellier and dinn~rs and banquets for various Glen Yates, conservation officers. soon learned to cook them with organizations and clubs, the mus M EMBERS OF THE COMM ISSION Musquash Versus Muskrat as corn, Indian style, eat them and quash has become khow:n to many F. J. POYN EER, Cedar Rapids Chairman like them. Roasting them over A Food and is bought and eaten by all J. D. LOWE ...... Algona the glowing coals of campfires classes of people in these states. F. W. MATTES ...... Odebolt The following adage, "Certain was one of the most popular As the musquash are trapped for MRS. ADDISON PARKER . Des Moines names always awake certain methods of preparation u sed by their fur, the meat can be pre E. B. GAUNITZ ...... Lansing prejudices", applies, beyond professional trappers, hunters and pared for the market with little R. E. ST EWA RT ...... Ottumwa doubt, to the name muskrat in voyageurs. In Thoreau's Maine additional labor and, therefore, G. F. LARSEN ...... Council Bluffs any effort made to reestablish Woods (1848), one learns that the sold cheaply. the use of the flesh of this ani "musquash are their principal CIR CULATION THIS ISSUE ...... 22,975 Musquash As Food in Iowa Subscription Rate ...... 40c per year mal as a food. The fact that the food on these expeditions". Dried Subscriptions received at Conservat ion musquash or muskrats belong to musquash meat was used for win Iowa has a wealth of wildlife, Com mission, lOth and Mulberry, Des Moines, a large group of rodents including ter food by the Indians a nd trad- including native fish. The state Iowa. Send coin, check or money a'fder. mice, rats, beavers, rabbits, squir ers. is following a definite program to rels, and porcupines; and that The n ative Indians of this acquaint Iowans with the life and Conservation Commission they have slightly webbed hind country used game and fur ani economic value of each kind of Military Service Honor Roll feet and long, narrow, rudder mals only for essentials-not for wildlife. To arouse an interest like tails, particularly useful in the fun of hunting. As settlers in the food value of wildlife in swimming, does.not make rats out arrived and civilization prog general and to stimulate the use of them. They possess strongly ressed, the attitude toward game of many of them i n the diet has developed instincts for self prE:s gradu ally changed, with increas been the purpose of a special * ALEXANDER .WW * MORF W J • * ALEXANDER.C.R. * OLSON. ~ERMAN ervation. Sites for their houses ing emphasis on the use of game study in progress this last year * BAKER. MILFORD * PARTRIDGE . W F are chosen in or near marshes, largely for recreational purposes, at Iowa State College. The Fish * BERRY. tREE M * PULVEP..ROB'r * BAER. KENARD· * RECTOR.HARRV on lake edges and in creeks and and with little or no thought to and Wildlife Service of the U. S. * BJORNSON .I-l * RECTOR .JAS shallow rivers. The houses are the food value of the kill and its Department of the Interior, The * BUTLER. VAN * Rl PPERGER.I.l built to offer protection from ex American Wildlife Institute, and * CI.IRISTE.NSE.N.C.* ROKENBilDD1 F conservation. The u se of many * COLBY. HUBERT * RUSI-l. W A treme cold, floods, droughts, and of the small fur-bearing animals the Iowa State Conservation Com * COOPER. ROBT * SEVERSON. B predatory weasels, minks, red as food gradually declined until mission are cooperating in this * COOPE R WILSON*SIM!;;NSON. U * FABER. LESTER * SJOSTROM. R foxes, raccoons, owls, and the it was practically discontinued. project. The work is being done * FARIS. LYNDEN * 5 LV E E OW like. Their fierce or pugnacious Within the last 40 or 50 years under the direction of Dr. George * FINK.LAVERNE * STARR FRANK natures make them good self de efforts to revive interest in these 0. Hendrickson, Assistant Pro * FLICKINGER.VW * STEMPLE. E * GEE,RICHARD * STUFFLEBE.AM.D fenders on land. .. They are clean mammals as desirable foods have fessor of Entomology and Eco * GRAVES, LEROY * SWEENEY. ROBT in their habits and keep their met with variable success in the nomic Zoology, and Dr. P. Mabel * GRAESING.I-l * W'-'AL!;;N.JO'-'N * UARVEY. WALT * WILDE.MILTON homes clean. The marshes are different states. States such as Nelson, Head of the F ood and Nu * 1-lAUGSE.JOHN * WILSON,DON their storehouses the year round, New J ersey, P ennsylvania, Dela trition Subsection of the Home * 1-lt::FTY, ALBEU * '!OUNGBLOOD.M providing them with most of their ware, Mary land, Virginia, Michi Economics Division, and recently * 1-lOFFMAN, G * VOUNGERMAN.W * 1-lOFI'MAN, M foods such as three-square sedges, gan, and Louisiana have succeed appointed Dean of the Division to * 1-lUG'-'ES, DAVID rushes and cattails; the stems and ed fairly well in reestablishing succeed the retiring Dean, Miss * 1-lUGHES. DON leaves are eaten during the sum the musquash or muskrats, also G~evieve Fisher. The writer of * 1-lUSTON .TAVLOR * JAGO, EARL mer, and the roots and root called marsh rabbits or marsh this article is in charge of the * JO Europe to work pn the crude • drawn, cleaned and were in good skins. Today America is the condition. Each one in the first greatest producer and consumer lot was coated with a covering of of furs, and the musquash or • ice to protect from excessive dry muskrat is the leading fur-bearing ing out of flesh, then sharp animal. About 17 million pelts of frozen and stored in an individual musquash are said to be taken locker in the College locker plant. annually. Iowa averages from In the second lot each one was 263 to 350 thousand per year. Jugged Musquash. Old but new. Don't let the tray full of ingredients frighten you . wrapped in waxed paper before With the average value of a pelt They are listed in the recipe and you ' ll like the comb ination when served to you r ight out freezing. There was no apparent at $1.47, the net returns to Iowa of the jug . Cookbooks dating back to the sixteenth century feature jugged meats of vari-, difference in the keeping quali- trappers in the 1942-43 season ous ktn ds.-lowa State College Photo. (Continued to Page 77, Column 1) IOWA CO N SERVATIONIST PAGE SEVENTY-FIVE Postwar Program Planned will definitely improve conditio;ns In providing maxi for wildlife and recreation and mum opportunities for (Continued from Page 73) which in the opinion of the Com outdoor recreation the mission augment and are in har results the recreation program S t a t e Conservation mony with other phases of an all must be correlated with and be Commission is con inclusive conservation plan. come a part of a comprehensive vinced that the recre land and water use plan in which This proposal is presented in ation program must all use of these resources is dove two parts, the first , relative to be correlated with and tailed into an all-inclusive plan, areas already in state ownership, become part of a com providing an equitable distribu the see.ond covering various ex prehensive land and tion of benefits to all. Such a tensions of the program. These water use plan that plan must include agriculture, plans include research, surveys, provides equitable dis forestry, flood control, hydro planning, acquisition and devel tribution cf benefits to electric power development, pub opment of land and water areas agriculture, forestry, he water supplies, public health, for recreation and forests. recreation, navigation, manufacturing and industries, The outline and estimates for p ow e r development, recreation, navigation, and all work to be done on areas already public health, water other interests. in state ownership are shown in supplies, and all other The Conservation Commission's Table A. interests. From a nar postwar program is to be a con This $7,147,650 program should row viewpoint, industrial developments, such as power dams, are sometimes of great bene tinuation of the Iowa Twenty-five be carried out as fast as fundS fit to recreation, and other times these developments may be disastrous. Year Conservation Plan, revised are available. If recent revenues and extended in the light of ex from hunting, fishing, etc., li balance must come from legisla The second phase of the plan peri~nce and' changing condi censes can be maintained, $250,- tive appropriation. is the extension conservation pro tions. 000 per year can be provided Costs over five-, 10- and 15- gram. Included in this program The Commission recommends from this source for the fish and year periods for the first part of are .purchase and development of the following schedules, which game part of the program. The the plan are shown in Table B. 500,000 acres of unproductive marginal land for state forests Table A and rehabilitation; construction of 50 multiple purpose artificial DEVELOPMENT ON AREAS IN STATE OWNERSHIP lakes; acquirement of 10 state Estimated Material & park and preserve areas; and pur Equipment Total Cost Man Days of Labor• Labor Costs chase of public access on 2,000 Provided Costs miles of the best fishing streams. This program can be· accom FISH & GAl\lE Surveys, plans, buildings, roads, bridges, water supplies, plished as fast as and with what fish screens, flshways, fencing, str eam improveme nt, ever funds are provided. L11bor riprapping state lakes, outlet control dams, habitat im- and cost estimates are shown in provement, etc...... 265,160 $1,325,800 $ 674,200 $2,000,000 DREDGING PROGRAM Table C. Dredging 28 lakes-3,914 acres ...... ••.•••• 167,000 835,000 1,670,000 2,505,000 STATE PARKS & PRESERVES Development on present state areas: Roads, bridges, poweor lines, buildings, sewage systems, water supply, A nnual Fur Bearer Take fencing, dams, timber improvement, landscaping, ero- sion control, etc...... 205,650 1,020,250 248,150 1,268,400 (Continued from Page 73J S T ATE FORE§'!'S On existing forest areas: Roads, bridges, fire trails, !en season reached an all-time high cing, timber stand improvement ...... •••• 174,850 874,250 90,000 964,250 in Iowa and totaled $2,961,462.55. SURVEYS & l\IAPPING Without increasing the number of On state-owned areas: State lakes, marshes, and land to determine high water and property lines ...... •. 37,500 365,000 45,000 410,000 animals that were taken, this fig ure could have been boosted, ac TOTALS ...... • 850,160 $4,420,300 $2,727,350 $7,147,650 cording to reliable authorities, Table B some 15 per cent, or $444,219.38, merely by better handling of the DEVELOPMENT WORK ON AREAS NOW STATE-OWNED• • pelts from the time the animals CONTRIBUTING AGENCY Over 5-Year Period Over 10-Year Period Over 15-Year Period were trapped until the raw fur Per Year Total Per Year Total Per Year Total reached the fur buyer. Fish & Game per Year (Hunting Definite efforts are continu fishing .licenses) .. : ...... ' $ 250,000 $1,250,000 $ 250,000 $2,500,000 $ 250,000 $3,750,000 ally being made to teach the new ConservatiOn Appropnation 221l,510 3,397,650 and remind the old trapper how (Legislative aooropriation) .. 1,179,530 5,897,650 489,765 4,897,650 the • to prevent loss of fur profit by the TOTALS •• 0 ••••• 0 •• 0 •••••• $1.42}J,530 $7,147,650 $7,147,650 $7,147,650 improper handling. Last year for the first time an the Table C Iowa trapper, Clifford Walker oj fUr· THE EXTENSION CONSERVATION PROGRAM ESTIMATES Ogden, won the national sweep stakes prize for the best handled de· Equipment, Land PROJECT Man-days Labor Labor Costs Purchase, Total animal pelt received by one of thE thiS Provided Material Costs Costs outstanding fur houses in Amer· ica. Walker, part-time trapper to 50 Artificial Lakes ...... •...•.•• 750,000 $3,000,000 $2,000,000 $ 5,000,000 and in no sense a professional State Forest & l\Iarginal Land Extension: Pur chase 500,000 acres marginal land at $10.00 per prepared a $2.50 skunk pelt ir. acre, fencing, planting, timber improvement, such a manner that the judge~ buildings, equipment, etc. . .• .....•.. .•••• • • 670,000 3,125,000 . 6,875,000 10,000,000 awarded him the $1,000 firs1 State Park Extension: 10 State Parks & Pre- • serves ...... •.• 197,000 985,000 774,700 1,759,700 pnze. Progrnnt to acquire access to best fishing Of course that $1,000 was ex strcnms : Public access-2,000 miles ...... •.. 210,000 940,000 3,340,000 4,280,000 tremely important to Walker. ThE S un·eys & Plnns: For lake and marsh restora tion, development of artificial lakes, public program to teach fur handlin~ access to streams, marginal land, etc...... • 52,500 519,000 50,000 569,000 that resulted in the prize-winnin~ 1,879,500 $8,569,000 $13,039,700 $21,608,700 has been much more far-reachin~ than is shown by the dramati< GRAND TOTAL OF ALL PROJECTS award. Dollars and cents figure1 Man-days ...... •..•...... • 2, 729,660 cannot be shown, but unquestion· Labor ...... •...... •...... $12,989,300 Equi(J:nent, Land Purchase & Material ...... • 15,767,050 ably the increased value of fun brought to market because of thE $28,756,350 (Continued to Page 76, Column 1) !) • PAGE SEVENTY-SIX IOW A CON S ER V AT I ONIST animal properly so that it is more valuable and acceptable to the fur buyer. This care will pay im portant dividends. There are two methods used in skinning fur animals. Some pelts require one, some the other. The two types are called "cased" and "open" pelts, and operations are commenced in exactly the same way on both. If the animals are dirty, bloody, or burr-covered, they should be cleaned up before skinning. Burrs may be picked out or removed with a coarse comb. The mud or blood stains may be washed out in cold water, after which the fur should be thoroughly dried by The trapper may sell furs either locally shaking or drying with a cloth. or to buyers within the state without secur In the actual skinning opera ing a permit to ship. However, for all furs tion the first step is to cut around sl1ipped outside of Iowa, except by 1:censed the hind paws at the hair line fur dealers, a permit must be secured from and slit the skin up the backs of the State Conservation Commission, lOth & the hind legs to the base of the Mulberry, Des Moines 8, Iowa. tail. Cut through the tail with The cut on the hind legs is made out cutting the skin, except with exactly in the same manner as muskrat and opossum, the tails of for cased pelts, and as with cased which are thrown away. Then pelts care should be taken in re work the skin carefully away moving the skin from the head from the flesh of the hind legs. • without damaging it. For cased pelts the skin is re After the animal has been moved from the carcass by peel skinned, the next step in proper ing like a stocking turned wr.ong fur handling is to remove the side out. The forelegs are pulled fatty tissue that adheres to the through and, except in the case flesh side of the pelt. The rea of certain animals on which the son for this operation is to pre forepaws are left attached to the vent the skin from "heating or skin, the skin is cut through at burning" and causing the hair to the hair line and pulled off the "slip". The most commonly used forelegs. The skin is then care system for fat removal is to slide fully pulled over the skull until the pelt, fur side in, over a small the cartilages in the ears are re fence post that has been anchored vealed. These are cut through horizontally on the workbench. close to the base of the skull with Then, scraping from the nose to out injuring the skin. The eyes, ward the tail with a dull knife, nose, and lips are cut loose in the the tissue and f.at are carefully same manner. worked off. In skinning out the head care In some of the large fur houses should always be taken not to cut where muskrats are the most im through the skin. portant item, great success has P elts that are handled open are been had with fat r emoval by Last year for the first time an Iowa trapper won the national sweepstakes prize for the removed from the carcass by slit running the green muskrat skins best-handled pelt received by one of the outstanding fur houses in America. Here the ting the pelt down the center of through the tight-set rollers on prize-winner, Clifford Walker of Ogden, examines a fox pelt entered in the competition. the belly from the mouth to the the wringer of a washing ma Photo Courtesy of Sears, Roebuck & Co. tail, also down the inside of the chine. front legs, except with beaver. The final step in skin prepara in bootleg markets. Six weeks1 ------ tion is to "stretch" the pelt and allow it to dry. The term Annual Fur Bearer Take later the same skins were bring "stretch" is not quite correct, for (Continued from Page 75) ing more than 10 times as much. fur should not be stretched, but trappers' understanding of what While loss from poorly primed rather blocked. The pelt is constitutes properly prepared fur furs is an important item, it is placed on wooden or wire stretch has been very great. not the most important, for the • ers that will shape it to natural Open seasons on fur-bearing simple reason that most trappers size, skin side out, and as it dries animals are not set so that the are law-abiding and square the skin tightens, taking out the weather will be cold and disa shooters. However, even the slack. The trapper will do well greeable for the trapper, but square-shooters quite often have ' to remember that s t r e t c h 1 n g rather when furs are most nearly considerable loss on furs that are merely means helping the skin prime (that is, heavily furred) marked down for improper skin retain its proper size and shape and of greatest value to the f ur r.ing and stretching. while drying. manufacturers, who in the final ·Exact methods for skinning After the fur has been placed analysis determirre what price various animals have been devel on the drying board and tacked shall be paid for each particular oped by the fur industry so that down, it should be placed in a fur. The trapper who traps before there is little or no waste of raw cool, well-ventilated building for the furs are prime not only vio fur. If a properly skinned mus several day to dry. Do not try lates the law, but also gets less rat provided 100 square inches of to hasten the drying process by in cash for his labor. The early useful fur worth $2.50 and an im the use of artificial heat, and trapped skin may not find its way properly skinned muskrat pro Cl fford Walker's $1,000 pelt was a $2 50 never place a raw skin in direct into a fur garment, or if it does, vided only 80 square inches of skunk skin as shown at the left. The right sunlight. After the skin is thor is of little value. For instance, fur, what trapper could expect to hand pelt, while prime, has been improperly oughly dry, it may be removed last year unprime muskrat skin get $2.50 for the latter? stretched and is almost in the ' junk" class from the stretcher Collection · /; taken illegally brought 25 cents Learn how to skin your trapped -Photo Courtesy of Sears, Roebuck & Co. I OW A CONSERVATIONIST PAGE SEVENTY-SEVEN young rabbits and squirrels, can utes. Add 1 tablespoon hot wa be cooked by dry heat, and are ter, cover tightly and bake in good broiled, fried, baked or slow oven (300 deg. to 325 deg. F.) roasted. Older musquasrh are about 1 hour, turning pieces once better if cooked by moist heat and adding hot water by table ' . for ~ long time as in braising, spoonful, as needed. stewmg, and in casserole dishes ' 4. Arrange on hot platter gar or by grinding the raw or cooked ni_sh with broiled small o~ange meat and using it in dishes such shces topped with a spoonful of as patties, fritters, croquettes, apple or red plum jelly on each burgers, or meat loaf. A few . ' ii, spngs of parsley or water cress. ~ representative recipeS' have been Makes about 4 portions. e; selected. The illustrations are 1\tusquash Sauerbraten ~ • self-explanatory. Those who en ~ 1 musquash 1 medium onion, ~ ;> joy the thrill of a new food i 112 teaspoon salt sl ic'ed good and different, too will do Dash of pepper 1/ 4 cup chopped green I ' a bit of adventuring after pre Dash of nutmeg or pepper or parsley paring these recipes. Here is a ginger 2 tablespoons chopped • suggestion: Substitute musquash 6 tablespoons vinegar celery for chicken or rabbit in favorite 3 tablespoons sugar 112 cup raisins ' recipes. You'll like broiled fried 3 cups water 1 tablespoon flour " ' ' 112 bay leaf 114 cup sour cream or baked young musquash; smoth- 2 tablespoons fat ered, fricasseed, barbecued, or 1. Soak musquash in slightly ragouted older musquash; mus salted water overnight; wash ' . quash burgers, patties or loaf for thoroughly, removing all blood Musquash Sauerbraten is not too different from your favorite meat prepared this way. picnics; left-overs made into pies, Use the recipe for some of the heavier musquash. You ' ll like the modified game flavor. and vi~ible fat. Disjoint and cut casseroles, creamed dishes or in pieces for serving; drain. Try broccoli or green snap beans with parsleyed buttered potatoes as a setting for the even hash. Iowa's annual supply p:eces of musquash.-lowa State College Photo. 2. Rub pieces with mixture of of musquash meat, available as salt, pepper and nutmeg or gin ~uman food during normal years, ger; place in crock or deep pan. _iking for it, even in time become 1s from 250,000 to 500,000 pounds. The Versatile Musq uash a worthy epicurean. The musky Pour 2 cups of boiling hot mix (Continued from Page 74) An excellent protein food of ani ture of vinegar, sugar, water and odor which pervades the flesh of mal origin is wasted when this musquash during the summer bay leaf over meat and let stand ties of the two methods used meat is not used in the diet. 4 to 8 hours. Remove meat and the within the three months the mus months disappears with cold and frost, and. unless the musk glands Breaded Musquash drain; discard mixture in which the quash were held in storage. meat was soaked. The musquash, skinned, and are carelessly removed, the meat 1 musquash 112 tablespoon wat~r 1 • 3. Brown meat in hot fat in carefully drawn to remove the should have very little if any of 112 teaspoon salt 12 cup fine bread 1/a teaspoon pepper heavy frying pan, turning to musk glands with the entrails, it. Before preparing a musquash, crumbs or 1/ 4 cup flour 3 tablespoons fat brown all sides; remove meat to to fell into three rather distinct or in fact any game, and espe 112 egg, or 1 egg yolk cially game that has been held in stewpan. Cook vegetables slow weight groups: The small ones beaten ly in fat in pan about 10 min averaged 13 to 15 ounces; the me storage for some time, it is wise to examine the flesh carefully for 1. Soak musquash in slightly ute~, turning to brown slightly; dium-sized, 17 ounces; and the sprmkle over meat. Add remain large ones, 19 ounces; the heavi any strong odors and discard salted water or weak vinegar these parts. brine overnight or for 24 hours, ing 1 cup of vinegar-sugar mix est one weighed 22 ounces. They The musquash supply superior I changing brine_ once. Wash thor ture to drippings in pan, bring to are muscular rather than fat ani a boil and pour over meat. mals, with well-developed hind proteins to a diet equal in value oughly, removmg all blood and to the proteins in meats, poultry, fat. Di~joint and cut into pieces 4. Co"Ver tightly and simmer legs but short fore legs. Some about 11/z hours, or until tender, fat is distributed around the ab fish and other game. In addition for servmg. they contribute the different min~ 2. Roll pieces in seasoned flour, adding a small amount of hot dominal cavity. The bones are water if needed. Arrange meat ' erals and vitamins usually found dip i~ egg mixed with water and jffi• brittle and! break with a rather on hot platter and keep hot. jagged edge. The flesh is dark in animal protein foods. At pres- roll m crumbs. has ent little or no data on the com- 3. Drop into hot fat in heavy 5. Add raisins to liquid in pan; bv red in color; the fore part is likely t!~icken with flour and sour cream ' position of game including the f~ying pan . and brown on both to be darker and more diffused (Continued to Page 78, Column 1) with blood in the trapped ani musquash are available, and all s1des, allowmg from 7 to 10 min- on statements made as to their actual ------ma· maL The flesh has short fibers and is tender. The musk or food value are general rather ·i ------·---,. rather gamy odor may vary in than specific. ·• and degree in different carcasses and Cooking Musquash Meat term even in different parts of the A preliminary soaking of the for same one; it is usually stronger carcasses overnight or longer, but in the heavier carcasses. Flavor either in a weak brine solution 15' and aroma are closely allied. The (1 to 4 tablespoons salt to 1 quart musquash has a game flavor, of water) or a weak vinegar quite different from most game brine (2 tabiespoons each salt and lj4 drie~ and difficult to describe. Some sugar, and cup vinegar to 2 the liken it to the flavor of the wild cups of water), improves the ap well duck which has fed on marshes. pearance and flavor of the flesh. ing Others think it has much in com The blood diffused throughout the sklll mon with the famous terrapin of fresh is drawn out and the gamy shaPe ~ Chesapeak~ Ba~. Some think odor and flavor reduced. The - 1t gamy and llke 1t very much. vinegar brine definitely modifies • Others will eat it but are not the "wild t•aste" and darkens the especially enthusiastic, and then meat. The members of the panel As the illustration to the left indicates, the aquatic and largely vegetarian musquash there are those who dislike game were divided asr to choice, the ma is a small animal with meaty hind legs and a muscular back, well-developed from swim flavor of any kind. How true is jority preferring the brine treat ming, and small rather under-developed front legs. The large, thin apron-like flank and the old Latin proverb, "There is ment. All blood and visible fat huge chest cavity with its long ribs are extensible to take care of the bulky diet of the no disputing about tastes." Those should be removed and the car mus.quash. who like game will find the fla casses washed thoroughly in run With sturdy kitchen shears and a sharp ~nife, the carcass is easily dismembered into eight vor of musquash different from ning water after soaking. p:eces as indicated to the right. The legs and bac~ pieces make four small or average most anything they have eaten. The methods used in the cook servings. The flank and rib pieces are juicy and good but unattractive as servings. With Excluding strong prejudices, any ing of meats, poultry and fish are bones removed these pieces measure 1 /3 cup {11/2 oz.l solidly packed. One cup from the one who approaches a new food used in the cooking of game of flanks of three musquash will make a delicious meat loaf, patties, and the like.-lowa State with an open mind can cultivate a all kinds. Young musquash, like College Photo. PAGE SEVENTY-EIGHT IOW A CONSERVATION 1ST Mudhen Good for Food Annual Fur Bearer Take Mitchellville, Iowa. (Continued from Page 76) Editor, Iowa Conservationist of furs after they have been taken State Conservation Commission from the stretching boards are • Des Moines, Iowa best held until marketing by • Dear Sir: threading on a wire stretched f After 28 years hunting on Iowa from the ceiling. Leave a space streams and marshes, I have dis of an inch or two between each covered that the American coot, pelt for air to circulate. Under more commonly known as mud no circumstances stack green hen, is very good for food if hides for any length of time. properly prepared. It seems as There are hundreds of local fur though some of us are slow to buyers, as well as many out-of catch on, and I can remember state dealers, any of which will '• •' that on many hunting trips I held be glad to give directions for l the cocit in more or less contempt packing and shipping raw furs. . • • and wondered just why the bird The trapper may sell either lo· ...... ' .. ····· ..... ,...... was ever created.:__half chicken cally or within the state without and half duck. a shipping permit. However, for It is true the mudhen is not a all furs that are shipped to buy bird of great beauty, but it is very ers outside of Iowa, the s~ller, un desirable for the table. I had less he is a licensed fur dealer, always believed that it was thin must secure a permit to ship from without much flesh, but this. is the State Conservation Commis 1.11 Breaded Musquash. These golden brown breaded pieces of meat will keep your guests far from true, and coot are in sion, lOth & Mulberry, Des one guessing. Dress them up with attractive vegetable combinations. Asparagus tips bunched variably in fine condition during Moines. in onion rings, curled crisp celery, and tender celery leaves add to the attractiveness of the hunting season. this platter.-lowa State College Photo. In preparation we cut off the feet and skin by cutting straight The Versatile Musquash beans, or spinach. Makes 6 to 8 down the breast from the neck to portions. the tail. Then with both hands (Continued from Page 77) Baked ~usqu as h Barbecue pull the skin both ways until the mixed to a smooth paste. Pour 1 musquash 112 clove garlic, entire breast and lower . thigh small amount of sauce over meat 3 tablespoons fat crushed joint are exposed. We cut out on platter; serve remaining sauce 2 tablespoons vine- 112 teaspoon salt the breast meat and cut the thighs in bowl. Garnish with toast tri gar 1/a teaspoon black from the back. This completes angles and sprigs of parsley or 2 tablespoons tomato pepper the job, for there is very little water cress. Makes about 4 por ketchup . Dash of cayenne meat then left on the carcass, tions. 1. Soak musquash in slightly and that which is left is strong ~usquash salted water or in a dilute vine and if cooked with the better por I Jugged 2 musquash 114 teaspoon thyme or gar brine for 12 to 24 hours. Wash tions gives the whole dish a 1/3 cup flour 112 teaspoon nutmeg thoroughly removing all blood strong flavor. It is important 'I• teaspoon salt 1;, bay leaf and visible fat. Cut in pieces for that all the strong-tasting fat from 1;, teaspoon pepper 2 medium onions serving; drain. legs and breast be removed be To those poor unfortunates who have 3 tablespoons bacon 6 whole cloves 2. ·Place in greased shallow fore cooking. The flesh from ~ever experienced the thrill of "str;ng.nq drippings lf• lemon pan; baste with sauce made of re 1 cup water 1112 tablespoons each dressed bird will weigh ap steel", the hardship_ and physical punoshment 2 tablespoons chopped ketchup maining ingredients. proximately a pound, exclusive that even a modern-day trapper endure parsley 2 tablespoons butter 3. Bake, uncovered, in moder of the very large gizzard, v.ohich seem fantastic; but trappers as a group are 2 t ablespoons chopped ate oven (325 deg. to 350 deg. F.) many of my friends hold in high the most impatient of all the outdoor en celery for P/4 to ll/2 hours or until ten esteem. thusiasts for their season to open. 1. Soak musquash in slightly der, basting every 15 minutes In cooking c_oot we steam salted water overnight or for 24 with sauce. them, putting the well-salted they fall to pieces and discarded. hours, changing brine once. Wash 4. Place on hot platter, garnish meat with about a half cup of The coot is then served with sage thoroughly, removing all blood with parsley, celery leaves or water in a roaster. In addition, and onion dressing. and visible fat. Cut in pieces for curly endive, and serve with we put slices of white potato cut I think if more hunters tried serving; drain. vegetable combination such as: in long slivers in the pan to ab this dish the American coot 2. Roll pieces in flour seasoned fried onions and carrots; pars sorb the gamy taste. The roast would no longer be called "mud with salt and pepper. Fry in hot leyed potatoes and beet greens; er is then covered tightly and the hen", but would be addressed fat, turning to brown both sides. baked sweet potatoes and green bird cooked at about 300 deg. F. with respect as "Mr. Coot". Allow about 10 minutes. snap beans. Makes about 4 por until done. The potatoes are re Yours truly, 3. Place meat in large bean jug tions. moved from the roaster before (Signed) Thomas S. Wildman. or earthenware pot; add water to ~u s qu ash Burgers dripp~gs in pan and bring to a 1 musquash Dash of cayenne Ducks killed in the boil. 1/a pound suet Dash of sage, thyme early morning flight • 4. Sprinkle parsley, celery and 112 medium onion or nutmeg make splendid decoys 1 stalk celery 112 slice white bread thyme over meat; add bay leaf, for use in midday 114 teaspoon salt 1/• cup hot water or onions with 3 cloves inserted in when the shooting is Dash of black pepper milk • each, lemon (juice and peel), and slow. Here a half- 1. Soak musquash in slightly ketchup; pour hot water with dozen mallards and drippings over all, adding hot wa salted water overnight or for 24 hours. Wash thoroughly and re pintails are stooled in ter as needed to barely cover the front of the blind. A move meat from bones; makes meat. small will ow is pushed 5. Bake, covered, in a slow about 1% cups, solidly packed. into the soft bottom • oven (275 deg. to 300 deg. F.) for 2. Put meat, suet, onion and and broken over about 21h to 3 hours, or until very ten celery through food grinder; run six inches above the der. Half an hour before meat is through the second time for finer water level, the top i.' to done, add roux of butter and 1 grind. Add seasonings and bread end placed between the ducks' jaws and adjusted so that the birds look natural. llizto tablespoon of remaining seasoned soaked in hot water or milk and shallow water one or more of the ducks may be placed in a feeding position similar to t " '• to flour to thicken liquid. mix thoroughly. pintail at the left. This old market hunters' stunt proves particularly effective during l to 6. Serve hot from jug or pot 3. Shape into patties and broil, early part of the hunting season. •I IIJ with parsleyed potatoes and a panbroil or fry in a small amount to mildly flavored vegetable such as of fat 8 to 12 minutes, or until ties. For campfire or picnic Ilarge buns or slices of bread witl to, carrots, squash, peas. green snap well done. Makes about 6 pat- serve between buttered halves of a generous dash of ketchup. IOWA CONSERVATIONIST PAGE SEVENTY-NINE Just a Dog - I now our (Re printed from February, 1941, issue of Field and Stream) Freedom, New Hampshire ut oar November 24, 1940 Ray P. Holland • Editor of Field & Stream otor New York, N. Y. Dear Ray: It was just a dog In the selection of a boat, as in I know this is a kind of unusual just a little female • • the selection of an outboard mo request but I'd like to borrow setter who was very tor, it is in the long run best to some S'Pace in your columns to proud and staunch on rely on the knowledge and ex write an open letter to a ma·n l point, who a I ways perience of others. Buy and use do not know. He may read it if held her head high, the type and size that others have it is in your columns or some ot and whose eyes had found most satisfactory for the his friends may notice his name the brown of October same purposes on the same water. and ask him to read 1t. You see, in them. The one place where all such in It has to do with sport a certain formation comes to a focus is kind of sport. your boat dealer who is also, very The man's name is Sherwood likely, your outboard motor deal G. Coggins. That was the name er, too. A good boat and motor on his hunting license. He lives dealer would rather not sell you at 1096 Lawrence Street, in Low an outfit at all than see you get • ell. He says· he is in the real es L one that h e himself knows is not tate and insurance business in practical or is unsafe for your Lowell. boating conditions. It is well to This weekend, Mr. Coggins, rely on him as well as on infor you drove up into New Hamp mation you get from other boat shire with some friends to go ers like yourself. deer hun ting. You went hunting who was very proud: and staunch there is a flick in the bushes and Probably the most frequently on my property here in Freedom. on point, and who always held her you bring your rifle to your ask ed question is "How fast will You didn 't ask my permission; head high, and whose eyes had shoulder before you know what is it go? " That is similar to asking but that was all right. I let people the brown of October in them. there. "How far is up?" Because there hunt on :trlY land. Only, while We had hunted a lot of alder -Corey Ford. are a lot of factors entering into you were hunting, you shot and thickets and apple orchards to boat speed. One outboard motor killed my bird dog. gether, the little setter and I. She manufacturer has this to say: Oh, it was an accident, of knew m e, and I knew her, and "Boat speeds are governed by course. You said so yourself. we liked to hunt together. We Then, Now and Later numerous variables such as: Boat You said that you saw a flick of had hunted woodcock together Wonder how many of the half design; boat weight and length; something in the bushes, and you this fall, and grouse, and in an million hunters who will sally load and trim; actual motor pow shot it. All you saw was the other week we were planning to forth this month to participate in er; wind and waves; currents and flash of something moving, and go down to Carolina together and the "best hunting year in a dec tides; skill of operation and oth you brought up your rifle and look for quail. But yesterday ade" will take any thought of ers." fired. It might have been another morning she ran down in the human endeavor that has made There are, nevertheless, a few hunter. It might have been a fields in front of my house, and hunting possible in this state 50 very "general" rules which can child r unning through the woods. you saw a flick in the bushes, and years after the prophets of gloom end serve as a guide. The accompany As it t urned out, it was just a you shot her. had pronounced hunting dead for ing table is only that, and no dog. · You shot her through the back, all time. more, so please don't use it as a J ust a dog, Mr. Coggins. Just you said, and broke her spine. This situation did not just hap factual criterion. a little English setter I have She crawled out of the bushes pen. Individuals and organiza It must be explained here that hunted with for quite a few and across the field toward you, tions have been wrestling with from the performance standpoint years. J ust a little female setter dragging her hind legs . . She was the problem of perpetuating fish boats again divide into two class coming to you to help her. She ing and hunting since the danger tion when operated with only es: displacement boats and boats was a gentle pup, and nobody had signals began to fly along late in · five or six horsepower will plane tn that plane on top of the water ever hurt her, and she could not the last century. There was a at considerable speed. Cl Usually, any types of boat for the understand. She began hauling lot of lost motion and mistaken "mu regular use of motors up to Doubling the power on the herself toward you, and looking judgment and numerous mis around six horsepower are dis stern of a purely displacement at you with her brown eyes, and takes in procedure, but out of the placement boats when in opera type boat will increase the speed you put a second bullet through confusion has come restored wild tion; they ride in and through the only a little. But if a suitable her head. You were sportsman life and fish far ahead of the out water. If, however, that same boat can be pushed "over the enough for that. look back a couple of decades. boat has a wide flat stern and is hump" from down in the water I know you didn't mean it, Mr. Considering the vastly increased equipped with a large motor, say to up on top· by getting it up to Coggins. You felt very sorry aft number of hunters and fisher 16 horsepower, then, if the load speed, then at that point the erward. You told me that it men, and the absorption of habi isn't too heavy, it will become a speed may go up 50 to 100 per really spoiled your deer hunting tat by the march of civilization hydroplane. Many of the boats cent. All the racing records are the rest of the day. It spoiled and extended agriculture, the re built especially for lar ge motors made with very small, light my bird hunting the rest of a sources retained for sportsmen • will plane with up to three or weight hydroplanes with motors lifetime . are remarkable. It is such that four people of average weight that have been designed and At least I hope one thing, Mr. conservationists may well be en ages of low-value "kit" pelts.) Aside from possible extremes Let's Have Cooperation Iowa Muskrat Situation of weather that could drastically The boys who catch their fish affect muskrat populations with in the Floyd by means of fish in the next month or two, there traps aren't giving the' rest of the In the Fal! of 1944 are two imperfectly known fac fishermen a square shake. . . . By DR. PAUL L. ERRINGTON