FUR MANAGEMENT 



The year 1963-64 saw more records broken in wild fur production. The 

 number of beaver harvested was the highest ever recorded for Ontario, while its 

 value continued to rise. Fisher were harvested in numbers unequalled since 

 1928-29, but their value still remains away below that of only a few years ago 

 despite a rise in value over last year. The harvest of marten was unprecedented, 

 exceeding by some 3,500 the previous record set in 1961-62, which was in turn 

 several thousands higher than any other year. The value of marten remains 

 comparatively low, however, slipping down somewhat from their value in the 

 previous season, but not sinking nearly as low as the period 1955-56 to 1961-62 

 when they were nearly worthless. The "old reliable" of the fur industry, otter, also 

 presented us with a harvest unprecedented while its value was the highest since 

 1945-46. 



Some other staples of the trappers' income slipped a little. Lynx production 

 was down significantly, as might be expected with a cycle of roughly ten years 

 following the snowshoe hare cycle. The latest "peak" in population was in 1962-63. 

 The value of lynx rose significantly at the same time, though not in the same 

 proportion as the drop in production. Mink continued its downward trend in 

 numbers at about the same rate as last year, but this year slipped in value as well. 

 The number of muskrats trapped increased somewhat while their value fell, though 

 not significantly. Muskrat production is still far below the desirable harvest that 

 populations indicate. 



The Ontario Trappers Association (O.T.A.) Fur Sales Service at North Bay 

 experienced another highly successful year in 1963-64. The total volume of fur 

 sold at the sale increased by about 56-per-cent over 1962-63. Not only did the 

 total volume increase, but the proportion of the total provincial harvest sent to the 

 O.T.A. sale increased by about 5-per-cent, indicating increased participation in the 

 fur sales. 



The total value of all the wild pelts harvested by the trappers of this Province 

 can be calculated by using the seasonal average price received at the O.T.A. sales 

 for each species. We then arrive at an approximate value of $4,309,182.00 for the 

 year 1963-64. This is an increase of 19.9-per-cent over last year's figures of 

 $3,593,281.00, at the same time the total volume increased from 614,724 pelts 

 in 1962-63 to 776,385 pelts in 1963-64, which means an increase of 26.3-per-cent. 

 Hence it is obvious that the increase in total value has not quite kept pace with the 

 increase in total harvest, but the industry was nevertheless in a comparatively stable 

 and healthy condition in 1963-64. 



TRENDS IN TOTAL SEALED PELTS AND VALUES 



Total Total Average* Average* 



Sealed Sealed % Change Value Value % Change 



1962-63 1963-64 Volume 1962-63 1963-64 Value 



Beaver 167,408 182,933 + 9.3% 12.67 14.03 +10.7% 



Fisher 2,830 3,779 +33.4% 10.27 13.61 +32.5% 



Lynx 4,743 3,220 -32.2% 13.28 14.80 +11.4% 



Marten 7,748 13,796 +77.8% 6.61 6.13 - 7.3% 



Mink 43,048 39,356 - 8.6% 12.21 11.73 - 3.9% 



Otter 8,326 9,194 +10.4% 23.82 30.98 +30.0% 



♦Average for all g^rades and sizes throughout season at O.T.A. fur sales, North Bay. 



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