12 DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISHERIES No. 9 (1944) 



FUR-FARMING 



A declining market for raw furs during the pelting season in the fall of 1941, an increas- 

 ing cost of feed a;nd a scarcity of nece.ssary help caused some further recession in the fur 

 farming industry in the year under review. Dujing this period there were some 1,475 fur 

 farmer's licenses issued, a net decrease of nine per cent. In spite of the unfavourable pros- 

 pects mentioned 154 of these licenses were for newly established fur farms. 



As is indicated in the following table, mink and foxes are ajid have continued to be the 

 principal species propagated. Experiments in connection with the raising of fisher, marten, 

 muskrats and beaver were negligible and devoid of definite results. Mink were raised on 

 981 farms, and while silver foxes are still the principal other species, there is considerable 

 interest being displayed in the new type foxes, i.e. white marked foxes which were raised on 

 122 fur farms, and platinum foxes which were raised on 62 fur farms. 



BREEDING STOCK ON LICENSED FUR FARMS 

 as at Januarj'' 1st. 



1940 



Beaver 4 



Fisher 27 



Cross Fox 168 



Red Fox 96 



Silver Black Fox 18,327 



Blue Fox 209 



♦Platinum Fox 



♦White Marked Fox 



Lynx ' .2 



Marten ^19 



Mink 31,989 



Muskiat 235 



Otter 2 



R accoon 243 



Skunk ^ : 10 



*New type foxes previously included with silver bla^ck foxes. 



Transactions undertaken by fur farmers during the year 1942-43 as recorded with the 

 Department, show disposition of pelts from stock raised on such licensed premises, as follows: 



85,493 Mink, 79,244 of which were exported, and the remaining 6,249 dressed witliin the 

 Province. 



27,563 Silver Black Foxes, 18,254 of which were exported and the remaining 9,309 dressed 

 within the Province. 



' 1,333 Blue Foxes, 1,296 of which were exported, and the remaining 37 dressed within th? 

 Province. 



166 Cross Foxes, 122 of which were exported, and the remaining 44 dressed within the 



CROWN GAME PRESERVES 



During the period under review the only addition which was made to the system of 

 Crown Game Pre,serves prevailing throughout the Province was the establishment of an area 

 in the District of Patricia as a beaver sanctuary. This area is designated as the Albany River 



