ECONOMIC BIOLOGY 385 



and Louisiana has made research to determine how best to foster the musk- 

 rat, her most valuable asset; yet the catch of muskrats in Louisiana fell from 

 six million in 1930 to two million in 1935; and the catch for 1936, is said 

 to be 40 per cent, or 50 per cent, less than that for last year. 



The American Trappers' Association has a program embodying certain 

 desirable principles such as the elimination of unnecessary cruelty in trap- 

 ping. It opposes the use of poison baits, and unfair methods of capture, such 

 as smoking, den-digging and tree-cutting; it advocates protective laws; 

 and urges the protection and improvement of environment. This program 

 is, however, but a single "voice crying in the wilderness"; the trapping of 

 fur animals is carried on by so many individuals scattered in remote dis- 

 tricts that propaganda can reach only a limited number; and any form of 

 compulsion reaches only a very few. The tone of the voice, moreover, lacks 

 sincerity, threatening as it does any "fanaticism," such as the prohibition 

 of the steel-trap, which might be detrimental to the interests of the trappers 

 and traders. 



Exploitation by the fur trade, together with hunting for "sport" and 

 "vermin control," has either extirpated, or dangerously reduced in numbers, 

 all the more valuable species of mammals indigenous to the eastern United 

 States. The sea-mink and the fisher have been practically exterminated in 

 this territory; the marten has been brought to a state of great rarity; and 

 otters and wildcats of two species persist only in small numbers and very 

 locally. 



The beaver, at one time practically exterminated in our eastern states, 

 has responded to a determined effort to protect it, mainly by the reintro- 

 duction of colonies; so that there has resulted an encouraging increase of 

 beavers in some states. This shows that the public cmi he induced to recog- 

 fiize the plight of the fur-bearers, and can be persuaded to do somethiyig 

 effective to remedy the situation. Strict regulations should protect such 

 animals as skunks, rabbits, raccoons and opossums; beavers and foxes should 

 be given closed seasons that shall last over a period of years, until the animals 

 shov,' encouraging increase. Mink, marten, wolverines, fishers and otters 

 should be given complete protection ^ for an indefinite period. The rare 

 fur-bearers can be preserved, if preserved at all, only by absolute protec- 

 tion requiring that, regardless of value, trappers stay their hands, and deal- 

 ers forego tempting profits. 



Propagation of fur animals is a logical and legitimate means of meeting 

 the demand for furs, but unless a system is devised of confining the mar- 

 keting of rare furs to those actually produced in captivity, and of excluding 

 a boot-legged wild supply, fur farming will not prevent the extermination 



1 "The fur of the marten sells for high prices and always commands a good market. 

 The American Marten is close kin to the famous Russian Sable." — H. E. Anthony: 

 Field Book of North American Mammals. 



In January, 1936, New York State passed a law closing the season on "otter, fisher, 

 marten {sic) or sable." 



