j the georgetown herald wednesday dec 17th 1947 stores for l minute shoppers with the anglers hunters and conservationists c by g h the muskrat the red fox is the only furbear er which can compete with the mnmkrat for the title of canadas moat widely distributed animal but whereas the fox is rare in many lo calities the muskrat is found throughout most of our vast dom inion it is absent from much of tile arctic tundra but does bve north of the arctic circle and has maenad the arctic ocean in the re gion around the mouth of the mac- kensie hirer in earliar times it was unknown in some large dry sections of the prairies but when these were opened np by irrigation projects the mnakrat moved in and fetabttshed itself aler the canals aad the ahore lines of artificial ponds and lakes individually pclte of the marten fisher mink and lynx are much more valuable than the pelt of the muskrat but in spite of this the musk rat is our most important fur bearcre it mikes up in quantity what it lacks in quality and in an average year 80 per cent of tbe wild furbearers harvested in can ada vuj be muskrate and they will constitute 20 per cent of the total cash value of our fur catch if the muskrat were a rare ani mal its fur would be more appreci ated the hair is hard wearing the akin makes a sturdy leather and the soft glossy brown fur lacks no thing in attractiveness it is man ufactured into many different furs one of the best known be ing the hudson seal of the fur- trade the muskrat is not closely rela ted to the brown or house rats of ill fame and it is unfortunate that the odious tcjpi rat was ever applied to our animal actually the musk rat is closely akin to the common meadow mouse and in general build suggests an overgrown mouse with some special adaptions for a life i in the water these consist of a long naked tail flattened on the sides and partially webbed feet with a fringe of stiff hair along each too as aids in swimming and a coat of thick waterproof fur- to protect the animal from cold water the muskrat is partial to the roots bulbs and stalks of water j plants but the leaves of almost any plant growing in the marsh are ac ceptable fare to the muskrat and clams frequently provide a change in this vegetable diet his winter home is made out of rushes plast ered together with mud selecting a suitable spot in shallow water the muskrat scrapes together a pile of rashes and mod from the bottom when this mound rises above the water- ibvel it is hollowed out from underneath and fresh mattr ul plastered on top us the chamber tiuws at firsfr the stiucture is un stable and i acquires freezing temperatures to harden it into a biifc warm inter retreat by spring it is often in a state of near collapse as during the winter the muskrats eat away the rushes from the inside several litters of tare to twelve young are born each year and this prolif lcness is part of the- muskrat s success story but even an animal as widespread and abundant as the muskrat will not stand overtrapping or the des truction of the marshes in which it lives from the cartings conserva tion digest advertise in the herald it pays moulders of canada unlimited bifldoto maun tun tma oefoixnammmmmitmt ikm 1500 dims ii kokaomnjhe kmfucisr ammo kmixs tout yews sum wo yams imsmamt mo too nuts a onwo suck ofwmuuo rjtlll your druggist it exact it is through your druggist care that your doc tors prescriptions achieve the desired effectiveness in maintain ing your health working with extreme exactitude for you and your physician s your druggist exemplifies the devotion to duty which has made canada unlimited 0h9g4f t659 fasoot wm0 of fwmmoas g2 owe snwes in canada oniy graduate fmfjm alsf5 may aana6c ottttte or own a0rog4tdre st georges club prominent qitizen rejects to white christmas at st deorge s club christmas party 1 uestlaj evening one member vvus heard to express bbjcction to a white chifetmab i his was brought out during the playing of bmg crosb s recording of the popular song after questioning the gent leman further it was found that the reason for the objection was simply because it made his fres spin seriously the gentleman is just as hopeful for a beautiful and sac red christmas as any of us at the club meeting following a short business session the evening was turned over tp mrs bill mcnal- ly and joyce bedell who ran off several very interesting games while mothers little helper op erated george walkerca record player providing some fine christ mas music as well as a few hot numbers mrs mary bedell still seems to have the sea food taste in her sysj tern for she and her associates pro vided some excellent clam chowder as a part of the lunch coffee and cookies were also served the next meeting of the club will be january thirteenth when it is hoped all members will be present the club extends to all herald readers best christmas wishes brevking comny tlmitfh notice to creditors and others in th etute of john boyd mackenzie all persons having claims against the estate of john boyd mnckenxie late of the town of georgetown m the county of haltotn gentleman deceased who died on or about the fifth day of october 1947 are re quested to file proof of same i the undersigned solicitor for ths executors on or before the twen ty seventh day of december 1947 after which date the estate will be distributed having regard only to the claims then filed dated at acton this fifth day of december 1947 samuel john mackenzie kenneth alexander mackenzie executors by their solicitor dominion voos iafltrrt ghistma pretest questions editor of farm forum guide and director of research national farm radio forum ruth i mckenzie has been pre testing the quev tionb for the farm forum meetings in advance of the regular schedule of broadcasts last year miss mckenzie pretestcd all the broadcast questions with forum s3 4 at darbngton durham county kmumuwb fresh ground as sold booster altrd richmello coffee 53 peanuts picni iwwi po manor stuffed m in milla mixed pickles v 2t olives 25 w 43 vn for cakes or pastry r n r whole floor 35 dill pickles l mitchell i hem apple juice 2 19 57 sauce 5i oranges 288s29t220s39 grapefruit 6 for 29 cranberries lb 52c celery 22c tomatoes lb 35c mixed nufs lb 39c brazil nuts lb 39t doealato store u ncoadl moitally gnaraateed to tv ietr attrartoe s smith a stone bowling week ending fnday dec 12 1947 press line pansies drafting dipsy doodle rs tool room timbei topple r turning g lasers ganargkj itats possums baked fim tngineers punchers ssembl iris merry pate stock room potter j girls bakelite a aj d 1 offici firl 30 26 i2 22 20 20 20 20 18 15 12 11 10 men high triple i stamp 61 high single i stamp 114 iri s high triple m patter- mji u high single m pat terson ibk h c bailey electrical contra tor electrical wiring fixtures and repairs prompt service chatlea st phone 399w ctchcccocc christmas greetings to all in georgetown y y from the united church of canada if vou are not n communicant b of an partirulai church you 1 j are im ited to the united if church services xmas sunday 3 v and cer suida worship v and hnstmas communion at y v 11am all ho confess the y name of christ are invited to y sit at his table carol suur- y ing and dicken s xmai carol i y at 7 p m there is a class for 9 y our child in the sunday g school at 10 a m ritititttritirriririitiiitttitiriiiitithiiiii christmas trees a limited supply available order early lanes haulage phone 5 1