FUR-FARMING IN CANADA 



Notes on the Table. — 1. The increase in the price of pelts during 

 the past twenty years has been general. 



2. All pelts, except those of skunk, have decreased in numbers during 

 the past ten years. 



3. Pelts considered of little value twenty years ago are being hunted 

 to the verge of extinction; e.i/., fisher, lynx, marten, mink, cross fox, and 

 ev n muskrat, show signs of failing. 



4. The increase in numbers of pelts fifteen years ago was caused by 

 keener hunting. This was inspired by the rising values. 



The extent to which these influences have diminished the number 

 of furs marketed is well put in the Fur News Magazine, for November, 

 1912, which says : 



" We present elsewhere in this issue a record of the collection 

 of all fur skins centreing at London, and the majority are sent there, 

 for the years 1911 and 1912, both secured under the terrific pres- 

 sure of a strong demand and record-breaking prices which induced 

 strenuous and persistent trapping to the limit — and past good 

 business judgment. 



" The figures are remarkably interesting, and definitely serious, 

 as showing the marked decrease in quantity straight down the 

 column with rare and insignificant exceptions; in most instances 

 the declines are very great and invite careful attention, particu- 

 larly as it is perfectly true that every possible effort was made the 

 country over to effect the opposite result, and which surely would 

 have been noted if the fur-bearers were present in usual numbers 

 in their customary haunts or new and unusual retreats. The few 

 exceptions, where there is an increase instead of a decrease, include 

 cross fox and fisher, both of which were so high in value that it 

 paid better to catch one a week rather than waste time catching 

 other animals twice a day every day; but the total increase for 

 both is only thirty-two hundred for the entire year and country; 

 wolf is the only other fur of moment showing an increase in catch 

 over 1911, and the difference is due to a general impulse to effect 

 extermination, and not to the fact that there were more wolves 

 than in the preceding year. Not a few 1911 skins were held back 

 and came forward in this year's sales. 



" A study of the figures further shows the same general de- 

 crease in collections of Russian, German, Japanese and Australian 

 skins. Every fur skin caught anywhere this year will have a value, 

 and not a skin anculd be sacrificed." 



