318 



The Journal of Heredity 



WORK OF THE BEAVERS 



Figure i8. This dam across a creek in the Adirondacks holds water about four feet 

 above, the original level. Beaver activities sometimes bring them into conflict with man, 

 as their dams have caused flooding of fields and railroad tracks. Photograph from 

 U. S. Biological Survey. 



extremely healthy and hardy, so that 

 actual increase under favorable cir- 

 cumstances is rapid. 



The key to success in beaver culture, 

 however, is going to be selection and 

 improvement of breeding stock. The 

 darkest and handsomest deep ebony- 

 brown beaver fur is found along the 

 south shore of Lake Superior, where 

 skins are worth two or three times as 

 much as those of the paler varieties 

 from the Western and Southwestern 

 States. Skins from this region have 

 sold for as high as $50 in the open 

 market, and choice, bred-up, and per- 

 fectly prime skins should be worth con- 

 siderably more than trapper's prices. 

 Very long and almost black beaver 

 fur comes nearer in general appearance 

 to sea otter fur, the most valuable fur 



in the world, than any other fur known. 

 Moreover, if well kept and properly 

 combed, it is very durable and warm, 

 as well as beautiful. 



Fortiniately there is an ample supply 

 of choice beavers obtainable, so that no 

 one will be able to corner a market on 

 the best breeding stock and run prices 

 to an unreasonable figure. The in- 

 dustry of raising beaver fur should be 

 well adapted to large, as well as small 

 tracts of suitable country, and its great- 

 est value promises to be in the de- 

 ^■elopment of immense areas of north 

 country now considered almost worth- 

 less. Burnt-over and cut-over timber 

 lands usually carry the best growth for 

 beaver food, and while paying a profit 

 in fur these areas can be slowly re- 

 forested with valuable timber. 



