192 Arthur Wille y, 



Bischoff. it is possible to take advantage even of occasional op- 

 portunities to add a f'act or two to the sura total of science. 



The beaver coramences to breed after attaining its third year 

 according to the best authorities (Thompson Seton and Lewis 

 Morgan); it breeds once a year and the period of gestation is 

 strictly defined between February and the beginning of May, that 

 is to srj from the middle of winter to the commencement of spring. 



During the winter months the beaver leads a subterranean and 

 subglacial life. The lakes beside which it rears its lodges are 

 completely covered with thick ice. and the rivers except at the 

 most rapid points are likewise icebound. 



A special characteristic of the beaver in which it differs from 

 some other Rodents is that it recedes before the advance of culti- 

 vation. It would be practically impossible to keep beavers in con- 

 finement for the purpose of rearing them. This is also indicated 

 by the fact that, notwithstanding the value of their für, it has 

 been found impracticable to farm them, although they are noted 

 for their docilit} T . These two facts account for the danger of ex- 

 terminating the beaver, in consequence of which it has been found 

 expedient to place it under Government protection. Unfortunately 

 for the beaver its dam-building instincts run counter to the migra- 

 tory instincts of the large brook trout which have a very high 

 sporting value in Canada. 



Under the System of protection which has been in force for a 

 number of years, the beavers increased to an extent which appeared 

 to be beyond bounds, i. e. out of proportion to their ränge. It 

 therefore became desirable to reduce their numbers under official 

 direction. This intention having been made public, I took steps to 

 obtain ministerial permission to accompany a Government inspector 

 (Thomas Fortin) on bis rounds in April 1911 to the Government 

 Reserve called the Laurentides National Park in the uplands of 

 the province of Quebec. 



For their kind assistance in facilitating the arrangements for 

 the journey beyond Quebec (which was done partly by sleigh, partly 

 on snowshoes), I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to Dr. C. 

 Gordon Hewitt, Dominion Entomologist at Ottawa; and to Mr. W. 

 C. J. Hall, Superintendent of the Forest Protection Branch at 

 Quebec. 



In Eastern Canada the Laurentian mountain ränge is the 

 watershed between Hudson's Bav and the St. Lawrence river, and 



