Persons resident more than 25 miles from James Bay may not kill more than 15 

 geese within 25 miles of James Bay during the 1963 season. 



Migratory game birds may be hunted with shotguns not larger than 10 gauge, 

 or with a bow and arrow. Rifles must not be used. 



FUR FARMING 1963 



In early fall it was common knowledge that the mink pelt market would open 

 in December with strong demands for Standard Dark and Pastel mink. Both 

 manufacturers' and retailers' supplies of these types were depleted and fur dealers 

 and brokers were unusually active in visiting ranches with a view to alleviating the 

 shortage. 



The December sales opened with Standard Darks bringing 15% to 20% 

 above last year's prices and the Pastels advancing 10% to 15%. Clearances of 

 these types in all December sales ran from 90% to 100%. 



Buyers attendance at these sales was excellent with one house registering 200 

 North American and foreign buyers at one sale. Owing to the shortage of Darks 

 and Pastels at the manufacturing level, the American and Canadian buyers were 

 determined to replenish these supplies and were forced to outbid very active 

 competition from European buyers who helped create the shortage by their spirited 

 bidding last year. 



While there was a sustained demand for the Darks and Pastel types throughout 

 the season, buyer interest extended over the entire colour range of mink. Particular 

 interest was shown in Violet, Lavender and Hope with good clearances at prices 

 up to 10% over last season. Gun Metal, Sapphires, Pearls and Whites sold at prices 

 unchanged to 5% above last year's levels. By early March, there was a noticeable 

 decrease in the volume of pelts offered on the Canadian sales and it was estimated 

 that 90% of the 1963 Canadian ranch mink crop had been sold. 



It is almost incredible to think that the Canadian production of ranch mink 

 which approximated the 1,300,000 mark for 1963 should be virtually sold in the 

 first 3Vi months of the selling season. This no doubt is due in part to the natural 

 beauty and variety of colours in which ranch mink is available, but it also points 

 up the creditable job being done through advertising mink by Canada Mink 

 Breeders and the other national mink association which creates the desire for mink. 

 There is no doubt that mink dominates the entire Fur Trade as it has for the 

 past decade or more. Its long tenure as the top fashion fur is without parallel in 

 Fur Trade history. 



It is estimated that the trimming trade purchased approximately six million 

 mink pelts during the season. This is a substantial portion of the world production 

 which is estimated between 16 and 17 million pelts. This use of mink is an 

 important factor in absorbing large quantities of unlabelled pelts and stabilizing 

 prices of the better quality pelts. The importance of the trimming trade is recognized 

 by the major Mink Breeders Associations of the world who are considering ways 

 of stimulating interest and preserving the demand for mink from this segment of 

 the trade. 



Canada Mink Breeders in addition to the $225,000 alloted to advertising 

 and promotion for this year has levied a $.01 per pelt deduction from the sale of 

 members' pelts for research purpose. It is hoped that the sum of $10,000 will be 

 collected from this source and will be available in the form of grants to leading 

 research stations for mink research projects. 



The Ontario Fur Breeders Association held 12 regular Directors meetings as 

 well as the Annual Meeting of the members, a winter short course, a field day 



91 



