ANNUAL REPORT, 1942-43 11 



OTTER: — This species is not at all plentiful anywhere in Ontario, and there would appear 

 to be little, if any, c|iange. There was a decrease in the number which were taken by licensed 

 trappers during the open season which prevailed, 



RACCOON -.—These animals are to be found only in Southern Ontario. They are not at all 

 }>lentiful. and there are but few sections in which even slight improvement has been in 

 evidence. The number which is reported to have been taken during the open season which 

 l)revailed in the period under review would represent the average catch of more 

 recent seEisons. 



SKUNK:— While these animals continue to be quite plentiful throughout the entire Province, 

 there was a considerable decrease in the number taken and disposed of by trappers. The 

 number reported taken is only slightly more than fifty per cent of the catch reported in the 

 previous year. It is altogether probable that trappers generally are not greatly interested 

 in this particular species. 



WEASEL:- This species is reported to be fairly plentiful throughout Ontario. The number 

 taken duiing the season shows a considerable decrease when compared with the previous 

 season's total, and it is possible that the demand for weasel was not sufficient to encourage 

 intensive trapping operations. 



The following comparative table shows the numbers of pelts of the several varieties of 

 iur-bearing animals taken by licensed trappers, and which were either exported or dressed, in 

 each fiscal year since 1939-40: — 



1939-40 1940-41 1941-42 1942-43 



Bear 295 



Beaver „ 33,530 



Fisher . '. 1,382 



Fox ( Cross) 981 



Fox (Red) ' 19,925 



,Fox (Silver or Black) 101 



Fox (White) 36 



Lynx 514 



Marten 1,790 



Mink 36,518 



Muskrat 689,706 



Otter 4,101 



Raccoon 14,493 



Skunk 74176 



Weasel 95,832 



Wolverine : 2 



From information supplied to the Department by licensed fur-dealei-s it has been 

 estimated that the value to the trappers of the pelts taken during 1942-43 was $3,545,937.52. 

 The principal species contributing to this total in the order of their importance were muskrat, 

 beaver, mink and the several varieties of fox, the returns from these pelts being ninety per 

 cent of the entire total value. 



I'elts taken from animals raised on licensed fur farms, viz: — silver or black fox, cross 

 fox, blue fox and mink, and disposed of during the year by the operators of such fur farms, 

 were estimated to have realized the sum of $1,489,501.45, an increase of more than $450,000.00 

 a» compared with the results of operations in the preceding year, and thus making the value 

 of tlie total fur production of the province for tlie year 1942-43 the sum of $5,035,438.97, as 

 fompared to a total of $4,207,144.53 for the year 1941-42. 



