Report of the Department of Lands and Forests for 1950 No. 3 



DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE 



WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT: 



General 



Hunting pressure on big game species has increased steadily in recent years. 

 A special study of moose hunting revealed a concentration of hunting in remaining 

 accessible areas of moose abundance. 



Upland game species showed gratifying increases and the open season on grouse 

 was extended. An exception in this case is the European hare (jack rabbit) which 

 is scarcer than at any time since it first became generally distributed in southern 

 Ontario. 



Fur-bearing animals were generally in satisfactory numbers. Lynx, fisher and 

 marten are still scarce, however, and a close season was established on marten. A 

 serious die-off of beaver took place in the Severn River drainage of Patricia District, 

 from causes not yet definitely established. 



Trap-Line Management 



The organization of registered trap-lines under trap-line licence was extended 

 to Patricia District, where practically all trappers are Indians. The number of trap- 

 line licenses issued during the year was 4,736, of which 3,008 were issued to Treaty 

 Indians. 



Co-operation With Wildlife Management Institute 



The Department continued to co-operate in the Wildlife Management 

 Institute's Pheasant studies on Pelee Island. 



Restocking 



A total of 42,650 pheasants were distributed from Departmental bird farms. 

 Of these 6,266 were day-old chicks. Subsequent care and release of all birds was 

 generally carried out by rural municipalities. 



Fur Farming 



The recession in the raw fur market which occurred during the latter part 

 of 1946, continued in 1948, and became progressively worse for the fox rancher. It 

 is attributed to the lack in popularity and demand for long-haired furs and the over- 

 abundance of inferior quality pelts which have flooded the market and forced prices 

 down. Two main factors have been responsible in enabling fox ranchers to withstand 

 the recession and remain in business, namely, the protection afforded under The 

 Agricultural Products Co-operative Marketing Act, and the fact that many of these 

 ranchers were also producing mink for which fair prices were received. However, 

 mink pelt prices have been on a gradual decline and have now reached the point 

 where prices received for average to good quality standard mink, have been only 

 slightly above production costs. In addition, the rancher has been faced with an 

 increase in production costs during the recession of from 20% to 25%. 



The general condition of the industry was reflected in a net decrease of 85 

 ranches in the Province, during 1948. The total number of licenses issued was 1,694 

 with 1,421 beings renewals of previous licenses, 229 for newly established ranches, 

 many of which covered only a few mink, and 44 licenses were issued with retroactive 

 provisions to legalize the possession of fur-bearing animals during the previous year. 



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