12 



DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISHERIES No. 9 (1943) 



SKU\K: — This is a species of fur-bearing animal which continues to experience no 

 difficulty in maintaining itself in practically undiminished numbers. They are reported 

 to be quite plentiful in practically every section of Ontario and there was a considerable 

 increase in the numbers which were taken during the trapping season of 1941-42. They 

 may be taken at any time during the period in which trapping licenses are valid. 



WEASEL: — The prevalence of this species varies in different sections. As in the case 

 of skunk they may be taken at any time during the general trapping season. The total 

 catch during the season of 1941-42 was just average, and it is quite possible that the 

 small returns derived from the sale of these pelts did not encourage trappers in their 

 efforts to take these animals. 



The following is a comparative table showing the numbers of pelts of the several 

 varieties of fur-bearing animals taken by licensed trappers, and which were either ex- 

 ported or dressed, during the fiscal period covered by this report, as well as similar 

 figures for the three preceding years: — 



Bear 



Beaver 



Fisher . . , 



Fox (Cross) 



Fox (Red) 



Fox (Silver or Black) 



Fox (White) 



Lynx 



Marten 



Mink 



Muskrat 



Otter 



Raccoon 



Skunk 



Weasel 



Wolverine 



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 



1940-41 



274 



21,605 



858 



722 



15,059 



67 



91 



383 



1,439 



38,976 



739,224 



3,931 



11 973 



72.005 



53,719 



2 



1941-42 



384 



25,197 



884 



1,780 



32,215 



206 



114 



537 



1,652 



63,996 



722,387 



3,880 



13,499 



94,656 



80,776 



3 



Some ten thousand licenses were issued by the Department of Game and Fisheries 

 during the 1941-42 season to authorize the trapping of fur-bearing animals, and from 

 reports received by the Department from various licensed fur dealers it has been esti- 

 mated that such trappers received a total of $3,170,790.45 for the various pelts taken 

 by them during this trapping season, which is an increase of more than eighteen per 

 cent over the estimated valuation for the previous year. In order of importance the 

 principal sources of this increase were mink, fox, skunk, beaver and weasel. 



Pelts taken from animals raised on licensed fur farms, viz: — fox (silver or black, 

 blue and cross), and mink, and disposed of during the year by such fur farm licensees 

 have been estimated to have realized the sum of $1,036,354.08, a decrease of some 

 $210 000.00 as compared with the operations of the previous year, making the value of 

 the total fur production of the Province for the year 1941-42 the sum of $4,207,144.53. 



FUR FARMING 



The propagation of fur-bearing animals in captivity continued during the year, 

 though these operations were confined principally to mink and foxes. Disturbing in- 



