oyster fishermen settled along the bayous, bays, and lakes southeast of New Orleans. In 

 time they were joined by other Balkan immigrants (Evans 1963). Germans, Irish, Italians, 

 Spanish, Lebanese, Filipinos, and Chinese settled within the coastal wetlands. These 

 "folk" became farmers, laborers, oystermen, shrimpers, trappers, and truck farmers. As 

 a result, the regional economy was established by the diverse ethnic mosaic that typifies 

 the coastal zone. The mixing of nationalities resulted in a milieu that is absolutely 

 unique in the United States (Evans 1963) and a subsistence lifestyle based on the folk 

 occupations established by these original settlers— trapping, fishing (both for sport and 

 profit) and farming. 



Trapping; A Multimillion Dollar Industry 



Few people recognize that North America's most productive fur-producing region is 

 Louisiana's alluvial wetlands. The fur business dates to the I 700's, but the State did not 

 become a significant fur producer until the twentieth century. At its height, the 

 trapping industry provided employment for at least 20,000 people. Now less than a third 

 of that number are licensed trappers. Severance tax records reveal these individuals 

 account for nearly half of the Nation's fur harvest. In less than 50 years, the marsh 

 dweller transformed Louisiana's alluvial lowlands into the country's pre-eminent fur- 

 producing region, with an annual yield often greater than that of the remainder of North 

 America. This extensive near-sea-level habitat has been responsible for as much as 65% 

 of the country's yearly fur harvest (Davis 1978). 



In the early 1800's, alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) , mink (Mustela vison) , and 

 raccoon (Procyon lotor ) were valuable hide and furbearing animals^ These species, 

 although important, did not account for the state's spectacular growth. Two small 

 mammals are the industry's principal furbearers—the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus ) and 

 nutria ( Myocastor coypus) . For more than 50 years, the muskrat was the largest fur 

 producer; in a good season, more than 5 million animals would be trapped. Unlike the 

 indigenous muskrat, the nutria was accidentally introduced into the wetlands; it is an 

 exotic. This Argentinian rodent is a prolific animal that diffused throughout the State. 

 In less than 30 years, it supplanted the muskrat and became Louisiana's most important 

 furbearer. 



Trappers harvest approximately 1.5 to 2.5 million nutria annually; since the early 

 I940's, more than 100 million have been removed from the marsh. Originally considered 

 worthless, the animals' presence has resulted in a multimillion dollar industry. With 

 yearly pelt sales that vary from $2 million to $24 million. The fur industry generates 

 inconsistent income since between two successive seasons, pelt sales can differ by as 

 much as $12 million. Although muskrat and nutria are the backbone of the industry, 

 trappers also add to their income by harvesting raccoon, mink, otter and, since 

 reclassification, the alligator. Each of these animals contributes to the economic 

 survival of the remaining trappers within the coastal zone. Consequently, trapping is an 

 important "folk" industry that continues to be a significant source of income. 



The fur business is tied to the marsh, which Penfound and Hathaway (1938) 

 conveniently divided into four vegetative types: saline, brackish, intermediate, and 

 fresh. Various maps (O'Neil 1949; Kolb and Van Lopik 1958; Chabreck et al. 1968) 

 document the elongate patterns of these vegetation assemblages. In general, the bands 

 parallel the coast in an east-west direction. The areol limits are not stationary, but 

 change with various edaphic factors, disrupting the vegetation and contributing to a 

 decline in the furbearing population. 



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