GAME AND FISHERIES FOR 1929 



Fur farmers' licenses issued by the Department during the past five years 



are as follows: 



1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 



624 783 986 1,148 1,360 



Animals Stocked on Licensed Farms at December 31st 



1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 



Beaver 29 100 142 98 93 



Fisher.' 2 28 48 54 67 



Fitch 



Fox (Cross) 



Fox (Red) 



Fox (Silver Black) 



Fox (Blue) 



Lynx 



Mink 



Muskrat 



Otter 



Raccoon 



Skunk 



Bear 



Marten 



Weasel (Ermine) 



Badger 



Total 13,936 *8,887 tl3,345 tl7,686 t24,255 



*Exclusive of Muskrat. 



tExclusive of muskrat and beaver in semi-captivity. 



Experimental Fur Farm 



Considerable progress was made during the year 1929 in the various lines 

 of activity carried on at the Experimental Fur Farm. Silver fox, cross fox 

 and red fox, beaver, raccoon, mink and skunk were all successfully bred and 

 raised to maturity. The beaver are among the first reported to be bred in 

 captivity. The wild life at large on the Farm, including red deer, Canada geese 

 and wild ducks, also reared young. 



The Farm this year was in the position to pelt for revenue fifty-seven 

 foxes and thirty-nine raccoon, the maximum number of these animals which 

 is considered desirable to keep for breeding stock having been retained. Fifty 

 pairs of foxes, including red, white, silver and cross fox, are on hand. Raccoon, 

 at present pelt prices, would not appear to be a profitable branch of fur farming. 

 Feed costs and overhead expenses absorb any profit from the sale of pelts. 



Mink raising is attracting wide-spread attention from all parts of the 

 Dominion and is rapidly becoming one of the major branches of research work. 



During the year two pair of marten were added to the stock and will be 

 studied in regard to their breeding habits and nutritional requirements. 



Many enquiries are received in connection with muskrats, both for the pen 

 and enclosed area type of farming. At the present time, the Farm is not in a 

 position to encourage the pen farming of muskrats. Heavy losses in breeding 

 stock having been met with due to parasitic infections, which are very commonly 

 found in muskrats in the vicinity of the Fur Farm. The enclosed marsh is still 

 purely a speculative enterprise, and if overcrowding of the animals takes place, 

 disease can be expected to take a serious toll of the muskrat population. 



While the initial construction work connected with the Farm is completed, 

 additional fox and mink pens were built to accommodate the increase in young. 

 It was also found necessary to extend the laboratory facilities in order to meet 



