The Fur Animals of Louisiana 



55 



the pelts taken was settled by a compromise of $61,842.47, 

 and the specified figures as to the number of fur animals 

 taken was not obtained. Again, in 1927, the raw pelt deal- 

 ers fought the fur tax as unconstitutional when the depart- 

 ment saw fit to exercise its prerogative under the law to 

 audit their books. Again the dealers lost, the contest going 

 once more as high as the United States Supreme Court. 



The following figures are believed to be approximately 

 correct as to the fur animals taken, with the exception of 

 the muskrat, for the seasons of 1918-1919 and 1919-1920, as 

 undoubtedly the raw pelt dealers did not report the entire 

 number of pelts taken from the chief fur animals of Louis- 

 iana, and there was no law at that time giving the depart- 

 ment of conservation the power to examine or audit their 

 books. It has also been necessary to estimate the catch in 

 a number of the other seasons, but it is believed that the 

 figures are, in the main, an accurate compilation of fourteen 

 years of trapping in Louisiana. 



THE FUR TAKE IN LOUISIANA 

 1913 to 1929 



