Woodcock: 



8 per day, 1 6 in possession. 



Persons resident more than 25 miles from James Bay may not kill more than 

 15 geese within 25 miles of James Bay during the 1964 season. 



Migratory game birds may be hunted with shotguns not larger than 10 gauge, 

 or with a bow and arrow. Rifles must not be used. 



FUR FARMING 



The Canadian mink pelt market opened in December with a mixed pattern of 

 demand. Top quality dark mink were off slightly compared to last year, however, 

 good and ordinary quality declined 25%. Pastel male mink were off from 10% to 

 15%, but pastel females showed a slight advance of about 5%. Most other muta- 

 tions showed an advance of about 10% over last year. There were good clearances 

 at most sales and while there was some resistance in dark mink of ordinary quality, 

 there was a strong demand for the lighter shades. Violet, Hope, Pearl, Sapphire, 

 Blu-Iris and Silverblu attracted spirited demand from European buyers. Female 

 pelts in all mutations advanced 10% in February and March. By the end of Feb- 

 ruary, 85% of the 1964 Canadian crop of ranch mink was sold. 



Fur auction sales in New York and in the Scandinavian fur centres experi- 

 enced early clearances of huge quantities. It was estimated that by the end of May 

 most of the world production was sold. This is indeed a remarkable accomplish- 

 ment when one considers that world production is approaching 19 million mink 

 pelts. The buoyant economy of the European countries especially West Germany 

 and Italy was the prime factor in stimulating the demand from European buyers. 



As in the past, the trimming trade purchased large quantities of the unlabelled 

 pelts and in so doing helped to stabilize the prices of the better quality pelts. It is 

 estimated that about 35% of the Canadian crop was absorbed by the trimming 

 trade. 



In may the Province was visited briefly by officials of the French Fur Trade 

 among whom were the Presidents of the French Fur Designers Association of Paris, 

 and the Manufacturers, Furriers and Fur Dealers Association, and their wives. A 

 tour of two large mink ranches in southwestern Ontario was conducted by the 

 Department which proved to be an unique feature of their tour which took the 

 group of twenty-six officials through eastern Canada and the United States. 



This group, which was on fact-finding and goodwill trip, contained some of 

 the most influential people in the French Fur Trade. From the letters of appreci- 

 ation that have been received by the Department, Canada Mink Breeders and the 

 Ontario Fur Breeders Association, it is believed that they returned to France with 

 a most favourable impression of Ontario and our fur resources, both wild and 

 ranch raised. 



The Ontario Fur Breeders Association, in addition to the regular monthly 

 meetings of the Directors, held a Spring Short Course, a Field Day and a Live Mink 

 Show as educational programs for the members. Three delegates represented the 

 Association at the Annual Meeting of Canada Mink Breeders. 



About the middle of May, reports were received from mink ranchers in the 

 Windsor-Wheatley-Blenheim area, that great numbers of mink kits were dying one 

 or two days after birth. Specimens of both females and kits were taken to the 

 Ontario Veterinary College for examination and tests. 



It soon became apparent that similar losses were being suffered by nearly all 

 the ranches in the above area. Pertinent information was gathered from all ranches 

 with a view to determining the cause. This information covered the number of 



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