98 KEPOET OF THE No. 3 



in great abundance everywhere, not only in the Park, but also on all sides out of 

 the Park limits, nearly all hunting parties getting their number in a few days. 

 One old hunter this morning, who belongs to a party whose rule is not to kill a doe, 

 remarked that he must have seen fifty deer in one week, while the Barnet party at 

 Lake Louise shot eight in one day. This certainly goes to prove that the Park is 

 a great feeder for the surrounding country. 



Notwithstanding the fact that we took out over three hundred beaver over a 

 very small area this year, I find, upon careful personal examination, that there 

 are still a large number on the same waters. Few stop to consider how enormous 

 must be the aiinuiil increase of will life in w over this vast area, or the valuable asset 

 this is to the Province. I have before me a carefully prepared estimate of the 

 number and value of the different fur-bearing animals actually sold in Canada and 

 the Fnited States in the five years between 1899 and 1905, all kinds of which we 

 have here in abundance. As it may not have come under your notice, I thought it 

 might interest you, as it shows the value of an asset that most people overlook: 



Beaver 3^75,500 skins valued at $3,390,550. 



Bear 123,500 " " " 1,018,875. 



' Fisher 35,400 " " " 317,710. 



Foxes 537,415 " " " 3,641,730. 



Canadian lynx 366,000 " " " 1,663,500. 



Martin 727,000 " " " 6,361,350. 



Mink 3,525,000 " " " 7,196,350. 



Muskrat 33,800,000 " " " 4,756,000. 



Otter 213,000 " " " 2,609,250. 



Raccoon 3,485,000 " " " 3,066,800. 



Skunk 7,000,000 " " " 6,735,500. 



Weasel and ermine 144,000 " " " 139,550. 



t Wolf 498,000 " " " 673,300. 



Wolverine 8,350 " '' " 47,175. 



making a total of nearly forty and a half million dollars, and values have ad- 

 vanced very much since these dates. The above estimate is by Andersch Brothers, 

 of Minneapolis, Minn., while the report of the United States Commission of Fish 

 and Fisheries shows that since the year 1908 the yield of mink is of much more 

 value than that of seal. 



Fishing has been excellent during the past year. I would, however, recom- 

 mend stocking Cache and White's Lakes during the coming season, as these lakes 

 furnish sport for visitors who cannot go further afield. 



Partridge and ducks are much more numerous than in former years. This 

 year a quantity of wild rice and celery has been sown with a view to increase the 

 food i^upply of ducks. Capercailzie are also increasing, and some young birds 

 are reported seen by our rangers and others. 



Visitors to the Park have been much in excess of former years. 



We have erected new shelter houses at the following points: Island, Mcin- 

 tosh, Misty, Cfedar and Eagle Lakes. These are all substantial, well-finished build- 

 ings. A good deal of trail cutting has been done and a lot of general improve- 

 ments made. The houses at headquarters have been painted and enlarged. Some 

 of my men also accompanied your bush rangers while making an estimate of the 

 timber on the berths held by the Munn Lumber Company. This firm commenced 



