The Fur Animals of Louisiana 53 



was lengthened 15 days, viz, November 1 to February 15, 

 inclusive. 



Those in the department studying the situation be- 

 lieved that further cutting of the open season was neces- 

 sary and made this recommendation to the legislature in 

 1926. The proposal was for a 60-day season starting 

 December 1, and ending January 31. Opposition from 

 trappers and other interests developed and a 75-day sea- 

 son was enacted, starting the season November 20 and 

 ending it February 5. 



In 1928 another effort was made to make the open 

 season December 1, to February 15, but the suggestion 

 was not adopted. 



It is the mature decision of those having the best in- 

 terests of the fur industry of the state at heart that no 

 fur animals should be trapped before the first day of De- 

 cember and, if it is necessary to have a 75-day season for 

 the taking of fur animals, that the season should end 

 February 15. 



The Fur Shortage 



According to information gathered throughout the 

 country by the bureau of biological survey in the United 

 States Department of Agriculture there is at present a na- 

 tion-wide shortage of furs but that this is not due entirely 

 to trapping nor trapping methods. Much of it is caused by 

 our characteristically American wasteful methods of hand- 

 ling important natural resources. Conspicuous among these 

 are the indiscriminate felling of virgin forests, drainage of 

 marsh lands and such activities whereby fur producing 

 areas have been tremendously reduced. 



"Trapping out of proper seasons is another cause for 

 the shortage, and the trading of pelts so taken by dealers, 

 too, has contributed to the present day shortage," warns 

 the biological survey. "The defect in most conservation 

 laws is the length of the legal open seasons, and the most 

 serious drawback is that most laws permit trapping before 

 the pelts are prime in the fall. It has been estimated that ap- 

 proximately 45 to 55 per cent of the pelts reaching the raw 



