Raccoon are normally taken in the southerly part of the province but seem to be 

 extending their range a bit more northerly each year. 



Dealers, especially at the fur auction, appear quite interested in wolf and bear 

 pelts offered. Some trappers have received as high as $25.00 for timber wolf pelts. 

 Bear skins sold up to a high of $75.00 paid for each of three of very good quality. 

 In previous years, these pelts were of so little value apart from collecting bounty, 

 that trappers seldom removed the pelt from the carcass. 



Squirrel and weasel remain of little importance in the trapper's economy. 

 There has been a growing interest in a by-product of beaver trapping. Castoreum, 

 (beaver glands) are removed from the skinned carcass and properly drier, they sell 

 for up to $6.00 per pound. A pound of castor can be recovered from three or four 

 large beaver. 



Of real concern is the diminishing mink production. Until lately, Ontario 

 mink constituted a major portion of the Canadian harvest. This past season only 

 25,705 were taken and is the lowest catch ever recorded. The decrease has been 

 gradual and province- wide. An exception to this has been the Geraldton district. 

 Their harvest rose from 866 in 1964-65 to 1,345 in 1965-66. This is a rather 

 substantial increase for any district. It is felt that more attention could be directed 

 to mink research to determine the cause of the depletion, if any. Up to the present 

 time, Ontario has had an average take of 53,000 mink per year, more than twice 

 the past season's catch. 



The Ontario Trappers' Association must be commended on the forward steps 

 it has taken. A major advance was the erection of a building on its property at 

 North Bay of 140 x 40 feet. The building was completed and equipped to house 

 its Fur Sales Service activities. Beginning in December, sales were .held monthly 

 until June. Interest and support by the trappers was such that the present building 

 proved too small. An additional floor area of 120 x 24 feet is already under con- 

 struction. The addition will include a 40 x 24 cold room so that furs on hand can 

 be kept at suitable temperatures. Sales grossed $1,605,000.00 compared to 

 $851,566.00 for the previous year. Valuing Ontario's fur harvest at 

 $4,170,921.57; 38.4 percent was marketed through the Sales Service. Orderly 

 marketing of fur is necessary to ensure the trapper the full value of his produce. 

 Interest has been shown by other provinces and a few states in the Ontario Trap- 

 pers' Association's development. In addition, trapping equipment is available at 

 cost price and less sales tax, a saving of some thirty percent to most trappers. In 

 all it may be said that Ontario trappers are leading the way to some measure of 

 prosperity. 



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