brick plants are getting under way to take care 

 of building requirements. The pottery plants 

 at Medicine Hat are working full time with 

 plenty of orders in sight, and all foundries and 

 steel fabricating works show increasing demands 

 for their products. 



The labor situation has improved, the men 

 being gradually absorbed, and there should be 

 little difficulty in this respect for the balance of 

 the year. 



The fruit industry in British Columbia 

 promises a good season; weather conditions have 

 been excellent, but early yet to predict volume 

 of crop as compared with last season. Small 

 fruits are also slated for a good crop, with 

 potato acreage and other vegetables about up to 

 the usual area. 



Without undue optimism, it can be said that 

 the Western situation is far better than it has 

 been for some years past. There is more con- 

 fidence and a more definite reason for confidence 

 than hitherto has been justified, and there appears 

 to be every reasonable ground for the statement 

 that conditions have improved a,nd that the 

 upward tendency will continue. The close 

 examination which the writer has made into 

 conditions throughout the West as far as the 

 railhead on Vancouver Island, has disclosed 

 steadily improving business, leading one to the 

 conclusion that the turn has now been made. 



Wild Life and Fur in Manitoba 



Before all else the province of Manitoba still suggests 

 to the rest of the world premier wheat, and for many 

 years the popular conception of the economic value of the 

 "postage stamp" province was circumscribed by myriad 

 wheat fields all turning out "Manitoba Hard" and giving 

 the name world renown. It is relatively a short space of 

 time since the same province, hs boundaries extended to 

 embrace the waters of Hudson's Bay, made another bid 

 for world fame by the discovery of valuable minerals in 

 its northern area which, judging by the ever increasing 

 discoveries and in view of the small amount of exploration 

 and development completed, are assuredly of wide range 

 and extent. These are merely two of the province's 

 valuable assets, and there are many others less widely 

 known and not as sensationally advertised because they 

 are longer established and maintain a growth that is free 

 from the spectacular. 



Among these may be mentioned Manitoba's big game 

 and fur producing fauna. These have proved sufficiently 

 profitable and alluring to attract sportsmen and commer- 

 cial trappers in considerable numbers and the northern 

 area would exert a still more potent charm had not the 

 province achieved a greater fame in agriculture and 

 jndustry. It must be borne in mind, however, that 

 industry is yet practically confined to Southern Manitoba 

 and that agriculture has not yet assumed important pro- 

 portions in that northern area which, since being added to 

 the province's area, is developing as a mineral field. North 

 of the line of accessibility by railroad to the shores of 

 Hudson's Bay stretches an almost virgin land of forests, 

 lakes and plains, the range grounds of the wild creatures, a 

 portion of which each year pay toll to the sportsman and 

 trapper. 



Many Varieties of Deer. 



In all parts of Manitoba where there is any extent of 

 wooded or scrub land, many varieties of deer are to be 

 found, the jumping deer, the mule deer and the blacktailed 



deer. Their haunts may be considered accessible without 

 the organization of a regular prolonged expedition. The 

 Virginia deer has come into the province with the plough 

 and is to be found solely in agricultural areas. In fact, 

 it is stated that there are hundreds of this species within 

 thirty miles of the city of Winnipeg. The Wapiti, or elk, 

 handsomest of all the deer tribe, is to be found now only 

 in the heavily wooded hill regions, and it is gratifying to 

 learn that after several years of depletion this prepossess- 

 ing species is on the increase. Undisputed lord of the 

 north roams the gigantic moose. It keeps far from the 

 haunts of humankind, but is plentiful in the north and to 

 the east of Winnipeg. In many districts the moose are 

 increasing, due largely to the greater precautions against 

 forest fires, their worst enemy. Game licenses, issued 

 annually, exceed fifty thousand. 



Many valuable fur-bearing animals range in the un- 

 settled areas of northern Manitoba, among them being 

 badger, bear, beaver, coyote, weasel, fisher, fox, lynx, 

 marten, mink, muskrat, otter, rabbit, raccoon, skunk, 

 wolf, and wolverine. In the season 1920-21 the value of 

 Manitoba's fur production was $1,055,865, taking a posi- 

 tion behind the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta 

 only. The most valuable animals in respect of total 

 catch were in order, muskrat, beaver, mink, marten, otter, 

 weasel, fisher, red fox, cross fox, silver fox and coyote. 

 A more substantial catch is expected to be reported as a 

 result of provincial operations in the past season, it being 

 stated that a million dollars' worth of furs were marketed 

 in The Pas alone, and the entire catch estimated at $2,000,- 

 000. Three thousand Indian trappers supplemented by 

 three hundred white took toll of the provincial wilds in the 

 past winter. 



The Establishment of Fur Farms 



The larger phases of agriculture having, in the past, 

 occupied a practically exclusive attention, fur farming has 

 not yet assumed a very important status, though a success- 

 ful beginning has been made , and the industry will doubtless 

 witness considerable expansion in the future. With all 

 the requisite conditions for successful domestic breeding 

 and the numerous opportunities waiting to be taken 

 advantage of, this supplementary industry to trapping 

 should become a valuable addition to the province's 

 sources of revenue. The 1920 returns of the Bureau of 

 Statistics showed the existence of only two fur farms in 

 Manitoba, the value of whose land and buildings was 

 $86,268 and of the two hundred silver foxes thereon 

 $185,770. 



Several fur farms have been established since the last 

 government returns were compiled and are now in success- 

 ful operation, and considerable interest is evinced in this 

 interesting phase of agriculture throughout the province. 

 Certain parts offer particularly advantageous openings 

 for engaging in the domestic rearing of a variety of animals. 

 For instance, under the rigorous protective measures 

 which have been in force, beavers have increased in 

 numbers to a surprising extent, and according to an 

 authority there are more of thei,e valuable little animals 

 within one hundred miles of Winnipeg than in the whole of 

 Northern Manitoba. 



An extension to trapping activities and the further 

 establishment of domestic fur ranches in the province has 

 been encouraged and stimulated by the establishment of 

 periodical fur sales in the city of Winnipeg, the first of 

 which took place in 1920. Winnipeg is now a barter 

 centre for the provincial catch as well as for skins coming 

 in from other areas. Buyers have attended these sales 

 from all parts of the continent, and approximately half a 

 million dollars' worth of pelts has been disposed of at each 

 auction. 



The fur catch of Northern Manitoba will permanently 

 remain of some volume, as much of the area at present 

 supplying furs will never be wrested away by other in- 

 dustries and against the inevitable depletion stands the 

 growing interest in domestic ranching. Manitoba con- 

 ditions are conducive to the production of the finest furs, 

 and in time the fur farm may vie for renown with the 

 wheat farm in the province. 



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