ANNUAL REPORT, 1945-46 



13 



desirable species of game birds, to which we have been devoting a considerable portion 

 of our time and energy. 



While the value of fox pelts taken during the season showed a large decrease as 

 compared with the price which was secured for fox pelts taken during the previous 

 season, reference to the comparative table which appears later on in this report will 

 show that the number of foxes taken in 1945-46 varies but slightly from the number 

 taken in 1944-45. 



LYNX: — This species continues to be extremely scarce. There has been no increase in 

 the number taken and no improvement has been reported from any section. These 

 animals are not protected by any closed season and they may be taken at any time 

 during the trapping season. 



MARTEN: — Here again, as in the case of fisher and Ijmx, we find a species which is 

 quite scarce, and w^hile the catch in 1945-46 exceeded that of 1944-45 by more than 

 sixty per cent, it may be remarked that the total reported as having been taken, viz., 

 2,727, is quite meagre, and this increase should not be construed as an improvement to 

 that extent. 



MINK: — This species continues to be fairly plentiful and is available in many sections 

 of the Province. The financial compensation derived by trappers from the sale of these 

 pelts constitutes a considerable portion of their revenue. It has been computed from 

 information which has been supplied to the Department that the value of mink pelts 

 taken by trappers represented twenty-two per cent of the value of the entire fur catch 

 resulting from trapping operations during the season which prevailed in the period 

 reviewed in this report. 



MUSKRAT: — Conditions applicable to muskrats continued to be favourable throughout 

 most of the Province. There are, of course, areas in which environment suitable to the 

 propagation and development of this species does not exist with the result that in these 

 sections their numbers are very limited and trapping is, therefore, restricted. It has 

 been estimated that at least thirty per cent of the total value of the e-ntire fur catch of 

 1945-46 was attributable to the sale of muskrats. 



The open season for the taking of muskrats is provided by Regulation, and while 

 this open season, due to varying climatic conditions which require varying periods in 

 different sections, generally speaking commences during the latter part of one fiscal 

 year and finishes during the early part of the succeeding fiscal year, it may be desirable 

 in accordance with the practice which was instituted in the previous Annual Report 

 to record the open season which prevailed for muskrat, and details of the areas and 

 periods of open season applicable thereto as provided in 1945 are appended hereto: 



Period of Open Season 



