10 DEPARTMBNT OF GAME AND FISHERIES No. 9 (1944) 



24,194 pelts were taken during these periods of open season, and it has been estimated that 

 their value to the trappers was practically $779,000.00 The average value of these pelts was 

 almost fifty per cent in excess of that received for such pelts during the season of 1941. 



FISHER: — ^These animals are practically non-existent in Southern Ontario, and they are 

 extremely scarce in the northern portion of the Province. But few specimens are taken 

 during the regular trapping season and there has been a steady annual decline in the catch. 



FOX: — This species continued to be very plentiful throughout almost the entire area of the 

 Province. This prevalence was responsible for a condition which was detrimental to the 

 welfare of domestic poultry stocks as well as that of native game birds, with the result that 

 enforcement officers were authorized by the Department to permit the hunting and trappmg 

 of foxes in southern Ontario for an additional fifteen days, or until March 15th, 1943, as a 

 means of further reducing the numbers of these predators. Organized fox drives were carried 

 on thoughout the open season in many of the southern counties, while some Municipal 

 Councils continued to pay bounty on foxes which were killed within the limits of such 

 municipalities. There was a slight reduction in the number of red fox pelts which were 

 taken during the year but increases were reported with respect to the number of cross fox 

 silver fox and white fox pelts which were taken in the prevailing open season, though the three 

 last mentioned varieties of this species are not at all plentiful anywhere in this Province. 



LYNX: — This is another one of the species which are very scarce. As in the case of Fisher 

 tiiey are practically non-existent in Southern Ontario, and trappers are successful in taking 

 but few specimens in the north. There is little variation in the numbers which are trapped 

 from year to year. 



MARTEN: — Continues to be extremely scarce. This is another species which has practically 

 ceased to exist in the south portion of the Province. There has been a steady decline in the 

 annual catch, no indications of any general improvement have bfeen reported, nor does it 

 appear that such improvement can be anticipated. 



MINK: — Favourable conditions continued to exist quite generally throughout the entire 

 Province, and trappers again were rewarded with a measure of satisfactory results from their 

 operations for the taking of mhik. This is one of the species contributing in an important 

 v/ay to the revenue derived by licensed trappers from the sale of pelts of fur-bearing animals 

 taken by them, and the return from the sale of mink pelts taken during the 1942-43 season 

 was exceeded only by such returns from the sale of muskrat and beaver. While it would 

 appear from reports that the number of mink was about normal in the south, some increase 

 in their number is reported from most sections of the north. 



MUSKRAT: — While there was a decrease in the catch of muskrat taken during the period 

 of the open season which preyailed in 1942-43 as compared with that of the previous season, 

 it may be stated that insofar as this species is concerned fairly satisfactory conditions again 

 prevailed. Due to varying conditions which exist in different sections of the Province, the 

 limited period of open season which was provided by Regulation was established in these 

 different sections to coincide with prevailing weather conditions which would be favourable 

 to trapping operations. Muskrat pelts were again the principal source of revenue derived 

 by licensed trappers. 



It has been estimated that in 1942-43 more than $1,446,000.00 was received by trappers 

 from the sale of their muskrat pelts. This amount is slightly in excess of that derived 

 from the same source in the previous year, notwithstanding the fact that the total number 

 of pelts taken was 80,000 less. The sum referred to represents forty per cent of the total 

 proceeds derived by trappers from the sale of all pelts taken in their trapping operations. 



