FUR-FARMING IN CANADA 91 



facture of beaver hats, but, later, this use declined owing to the advent 

 of the silk hat. At the present time, the fur is mostly plucked in dress- 

 ing and sold for use in coats, stoles and muffs. The largest and finest 

 skins are not worth more than $15 to $20, large Xo. 1 skins being 

 quoted at $12. 



The beaver cannot be farmed because of the wide extent of terri- 

 tory required to furnish food and also because it usually makes trouble 

 for all neighbours in the same water area, whose lands have aspen, 

 poplar, willow or other trees that furnish food. The only possible 

 method is to enclose a large tract for both the forest and beavers that 

 could be produced on it. Patrolling would be necessary and a certain 

 number of beaver would have to be taken each year to maintain the 

 proper supply. Possibly the range of the animals might be limited 

 by fencing across the valleys. Trappers have said that the beaver will 

 eat cultivated crops {e.g., turnips), but no proof of this stat-ement 

 could be found. If it eats such crops, ranching the beaver is feasible. 



^, ,. . The logical method to perpetuate the beaver is to create 



National . ^ '^ 



Game Preserves national game preserves under constant patrol. This 

 plan has proved successful in the Algonquin National 

 Park, Ontario, where a considerable revenue is now derived from the sale 

 of their skins. A system of national parks where the beaver and mu.«k- 

 rat would be efficiently protected and where other wild life would be 

 propagated as well as protected is advisable. Protective laws, particu- 

 larly in the case of the beaver, do not protect. During the years when 

 the beaver was contraband in Ontario and Quebec, bales of furs fre- 

 quently contained a number of beaver skins. The bale was sold as it was 

 packed, or another customer was sought. Thus, many Montreal furriers 

 testified that they purchased beaver skins continually and could not 

 avoid it, if they wished to continue to buy raw pelts. 



For the information of those who desire to keep a few pairs of 

 these interesting animals, it may be stated that when two years old, 

 the beaver mates for life, mating taking place in February. The period 

 of gestation is about three months. The litter usually consists of 

 two or three, but may be larger. The young are weaned before they 

 are two months old and taught to eat tender shoots of the raspberry 

 and other plants. They accompany their mother the whole season. 

 Foundation stock may be obtained from the Department of Lands, For- 

 et'ts and Mines, Toronto, Ont., at about $50 a pair. Success is easily 

 achieved where water and the proper food are available. 



