FUR MANAGEMENT 



The 1965-66 trapping season has been the best season experienced since the 

 late forties and early fifties. Though the beaver harvest was down by about 10%, 

 the rise in value of 52% more than compensated the trapper on his loss. The 

 light freeze followed by heavy snows created a very hazardous condition for the 

 trapper over most of the province. Later in the season, the very thick ice build-up 

 hindered the trapper further in his efforts. 



Regardless of the above-mentioned circumstances, Ontario harvested some 

 148,000 beaver pelts and this compares favourably to the objective of 150,000 

 considered for the fur management programme. 



Field information at present still indicates no decrease in the beaver popu- 

 lation on a province-wide basis. Fisher, with a harvest of 3,116 pelts, was up 

 about 20% over last year. Average price per pelt rose from $7.04 to $16.54, 

 and the larger dark pelts were much in demand. Ontario produces about half of 

 Canada's fisher harvest. Red fox proved very popular during the entire season. 

 A crop increase of 75% was supported by a price average of $11.72, an increase 

 of 88% over last year. 



There have been reports of Japanese interest in all phases of Ontario's col- 

 oured fox. Some promotional work is being done with this in view. 



There was considerable excitement at prices bid for lynx. A good number 

 sold at and over the fifty dollar mark, which was responsible for the pelt average 

 of $39.43 for the season. Production was down by 11%, a drop from 1,690 taken 

 in the previous season to 1,503 from the year 1965-66. 



The province has never produced any great quantities of lynx. Over the years, 

 a take of 4,743 in 1962-63 remains a record catch. They range principally in the 

 northeastern section of the province, though lately a few are being taken from as 

 far south as Algonquin Park. 



During the 1963-64 season a record catch of marten was taken, numbering 

 13,783; 1965-66 records show 19,131 trapped. Previous to the mentioned years, 

 marten catches barely averaged 4,000. 



The districts of Geraldton and Kupuskasing recorded takes of 4,690 and 

 4,544 as named, followed by Port Arthur 1,864; Cochrane 1,372 and White River 

 1,222. A substantial increase in average price per pelt from $6.46 to $10.91 was 

 recorded. 



Concern was indicated in last year's report about the low harvest of muskrat 

 in the southerly part of the province. Catch figures for this season show an in- 

 crease of approximately 65% The number recorded is still much below normal, 

 but encouraging to the trapper. Like most other furs, the price rose though not 

 as strongly and an average per pelt of $ 1 .94 compares to the price received in the 

 late forties. 



Otter remains the same, both in production and price. There has been little 

 variation in harvest and pelt price average since the early fifties. Ontario trappers 

 usually take about 50% of the otter figure for the whole of Canada. 



Raccoon stepped into the picture of the fur trade rather handsomely, with a 

 production of 20,389, more than double the previous season's catch. Pelt price 

 average rose from $2.61 to $5.09, the highest amount since 1943-44. Lake Huron 

 district trappers accounted for 13,781 or roughly two-thirds of the raccoon harvest. 



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