FUR-FARMING IN CANADA 



31 



greater zeal than ever because trappers hoped to receive larger prices 

 for the live animals than they could obtain for the pelts. The business 

 of the trapper has changed from that of securing pelts to the capturing 

 of the animals alive and the fur buyers of the district have simply trans- 

 formed themselves into live stock salesmen. An estimate of the number 

 of wild animals shipped to Prince Edward Island in 1912 and in 1913 

 (till November) is as follows : 



Inasmuch as Prince Edward Island protested against the importa- 

 tion of foreign stock in July 1913 and induced the Federal government 

 to establish a quarantine on all importations, many animals imported 

 to Eastern Canada remained in New Bnmswick and Nova Scotia. 

 Probably more " imported " stock is held there than on the Island. 



RANCHING PRACTICE 



While it is legal to keep fur-bearers in captivity in those provinces 

 in Canada where there is no close season provided for them, it is unlaw- 

 ful in most provinces to keep protected fur-bearers during the close 

 season. In the close season, in all provinces except Prince Edward 

 Island, it is also unlawful to catch fur-bearers for ranching purposes. 

 Apparently it is lawful in Saskatchewan and Quebec to hold the animals 

 during the close season, provided, they have been caught in the open 

 season, or brought from a point outside the province. In all the other 

 provinces, no ranching can be legally done without a permit from the 

 provincial department charged with the care of game and fur-bearing 

 animals. 



The various provincial authorities should encourage fur-farming 

 by amending their game laws so as to allow the issue to residents of 

 permits to catch fur-bearers at any season and to hold them in cap- 

 tivity for breeding purposes. Requiring annual returns of production 

 would prevent any abuse of this privilege. 



If foundation stock of excellent quality has been secured, 

 the^Ran^h ^^® ^^^^ most important question to be considered is 



the selection of a site for the ranch where the quality 

 of the stock can be maintained from generation to generation. Climatic 



