FUR CULTURE ON TIIK NATIONAL FOKrvSTS 599 



for a distance of about five miles within the Forest, with the idea that 

 it would give the remainder room to increase without working down 

 upon the ranches and causing an immediate recurrence of damage ; 

 (3) to leave those on the upper courses of the stream unmolested with 

 the idea that, if the trapping proved too heavy or caused the beaver to 

 migrate to another locality, they would work down the stream as they 

 increased, thus restocking the portion trapped. 



There was no actual evidence that heavy trapping might cause the 

 animals to migrate, but the work being new and in a somewhat experi- 

 mental stage, it was thought best to leave them undisturbed on a por- 

 tion of the stream. In fact, the result of the past spring's work indi- 

 cate the contrary, as will be discussed later on. 



Ice prevented operations when the trapper arrived, so he put in his 

 camp and looked over the ground in preparation for the work. He 

 started trapping about the first of May and trapped until the first of 

 June. During this time he caught 132 beaver with Xo. 4 Xewhouse 

 traps, using twenty. 



In regard to costs it is regretted that actual figures can not be given 

 as the local forest officers did not know definitely whether the trapper 

 was paid a salary or was allowed a part of the hides. However, re- 

 gardless of how the State handled the matter the net revenue must 

 have been considerable, in view of the size of the undertaking. The 

 local forest office was informed that some of the hides brought as high 

 as $33, and that the total gross returns were $3,000. Assuming, how- 

 ever, that the State was able to hire the trapper for $100 per month, 

 and that the expense of the trip was about $100 in addition, which 

 seems reasonable, the cost of trapping the beaver would be about 

 $1.50 each. 



The trapping was not sufficiently thorough, on and in the immediate 

 vicinity of the ranches, in that the beaver were not completely exter- 

 minated. Some have been left, and they may again become a source 

 of damage. However, if trapping can be done at frequent intervals 

 on the stream, this will likely be obviated. In other words, with 

 some attention to quash destructive tendencies beaver may continue to 

 occupy this locality. 



Along the five-mile stretch within the Forest, there is a noticeable 

 reduction in the number of beaver, but this is not as marked as might 

 be expected. Observations made the following fall indicate that with 



