ANNUAL REPORT, 1939-40 



11 



Generally speaking trappers had a fairly profitable season, particularly in 

 areas where the special open season for beaver prevailed and having in mind the 

 increased muskrat catch. 



The following comparative table shows the numbers of pelts of various species 

 of fur-bearing animals which were exported from and dressed within the Province 

 during the year under review in addition to the three years immediately preceding. 



Bear 



Beaver 



Fisher 



Fox (cross) 



Fox (red) 



Fox (silver or black) 



Fox (white) 



Lynx 



Marten 



Mink 



Muskrat 



Otter 



Raccoon 



Skunk 



Weasel 



Wolverine 



1936-37 



476 



238 



2,117 



4,156 



35,232 



360 



17 



2,081 



1,464 



33,930 



170,239 



3,779 



14,243 



87,950 



78,643 



2 



1937-38 



496 



235 



1,463 



2,426 



24,912 



201 



•47 



1,284 



1,709 



22,766 



343,972 



3,737 



13,194 



61,576 



79,853 



5 



1938-39 



363 



1,366 



1,467 



2,164 



22,366 



131 



142 



785 



2,074 



25,111 



508,893 



3,764 



9,493 



89,100 



93,488 



3 



1939-40 



295 



33,530 



1,382 



981 



19,925 



101 



36 



514 



1,790 



36,518 



689,706 



4,101 



14,493 



74,176 



95,832 



2 



According to information compiled in the Department from reports received 

 from various fur dealers it has been estimated that fur taken by trappers during the 

 season of 1939-40 was worth the total sum of $2,343,648.95, which is more than 

 twice as much as the proceeds of trapping operations produced in the previous 

 season. A large percentage of this increase was of course attributable to the proceeds 

 received from the sale of 33,530 beaver pelts involved which pelts have been es- 

 timated to be worth $581,745.50, and it may be interesting to note that practically 

 all these beaver pelts were exported from the Province. 



In addition to the $2,343,648.95 derived from the sale of pelts taken by trap- 

 pers, it has been estimated that the sum of $1,050,463.55 was received by fur 

 farmers from the sale of their product, so that in all the entire fur production of the 

 Province was worth $3,394,112.50 



FUR FARMING 



During the year this industry continued to flourish, 1920 fur farms being 

 licensed, an increase of seven per cent over the premises licensed in the previous 

 year. Declaration of war just prior to the pelting season created some uncertainty 

 and while only a few ceased operating entirely there was a general tendency to 

 reduce breeding stock, especially silver fox. 



Fur farming comprises, almost entirely, the propagation of foxes and mink. 

 This year the mink gained an ascendancy over the silver fox. There were 1,000 fur 

 farmers raising silver foxes in 1938 and 906 raising mink, whereas in 1939 there 

 were 1,116 raising mink and only 918 raising silver fox, and while breeding stocks 

 of silver foxes were reduced by twenty per cent mink increased in excess of five 



