3.6 — THE FUR INDUSTRY 



O'Neil and Linscombe (no date) studied the fur industry 

 of Louisiana and found that the state leads the United States 

 in fur production, amounting to 40 to 65 percent of the nation's 

 annual total harvest. Fur trapping began in Louisiana in the 

 18th century with the founding of New Orleans. Furs were 

 transported to the city and shipped to all parts of the world. 

 Mink, raccoon, otter and alligator were hunted in Louisiana 

 coastal marshes during the 1800' s Burning of the marsh to 

 make alligator habitats more accessible to hunters, and other 

 factors such as salinity changes, caused alterations of the marsh 

 vegetation. These man-induced changes to the marsh produced 

 a favorable environment for the muskrat . During the early 

 1900' s efforts were begun to trap muskrat in large numbers. 



Nutria were first brought to Avery Island, Louisiana, 

 in 1938 from Argentina by Mr. E. A. Mcllhenny. During 

 captivity, some nutria escaped and others were intentionally 

 released. This resulted in the establishment of a sizeable 

 population in south Louisiana by 1943. The presence of 

 nutria has offset changes in marsh vegetation and has 

 consequently caused the muskrat population to decline (O'Neil 

 and Linscombe, no date : 23). The nutria is now Louisiana's 

 most valuable fur animal. The Louisiana fur catch was tabulated 

 for the 1974-1975 season (Table 3.5). After processing , its 

 value was greater than $30 million (Louisiana Wildlife and 

 Fisheries Commission, no date). 



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