1932 



ANNUAL REPORT, 1931 



Muskrat. — Generally speaking, conditions showed some improvement 

 during this year, as is indicated by the increased catch which compares very 

 favourably with that of previous seasons. 



Otter. — The catch during the year showed twenty-five per cent, decrease. 

 As in the case of beaver, there is some slight improvement in protected areas 

 which is not evident in the far north of the Province where an open season is 

 provided. 



Raccoon. — This species prevails only in that portion of the Province to 

 the south of the French and Mattawa Rivers and Lake Nipissing where con- 

 ditions during the year were rather unfavourable so far as increasing numbers 

 are concerned. Catch declined very noticeably. 



Skunk. — The catch of this species declined very considerably, and while 

 in certain portions of the southern section of the Province conditions show 

 some improvement, such conditions do not apply in a general way. 



Weasel. — The catch has declined rapidly in the past two years, indicating 

 decreasing numbers of this species. 



The following table compares, for the past six years, pelts of fur-bearing 

 animals, other than those which were ranch-raised, on which royalty was paid: 



1926 



1927 



1928 



1929 



1930 



1931 



Bear 



Beaver 



Fisher 



Fox (cross) 



Fox (red) 



Fox (silver or black) 



Fox (white,) 



Fox (not specified). . 



Lynx 



Marten 



Mink 



Mluskrat 



Otter 



Raccoon 



Skunk 



Weasel 



Wolverine 



Total 



1,635 



27,597 



2,618 



4,175 



30,535 



620 



226 



165 



3,884 



3,177 



65,299 



387,022 



4,304 



21,002 



75,503 



63,599 



11 



691,372 



1,472 



20,738 



3,904 



3,502 



26,112 



403 



977 



136 



4,568 



3,261 



37,628 



469,947 



3,168 



15,958 



59,488 



72,645 



15 



1,575 



22,040 



5,400 



4,116 



25,943 



646 



590 



160 



3,845 



3,492 



32,009 



514,161 



4,510 



13,513 



79,442 



79,425 



19 



1,888 



17,348 



4,343 



1,606 



14,550 



197 



16 



132 



1,718 



2,738 



29,893 



714,019 



4,562 



13,653 



75,773 



117,053 



6 



1,594 



17,493 



2,510 



1,188 



11,076 



154 



116 



106 



871 



1,770 



30,226 



643,999- 



3,986 



13,757 



72,667 



99,704 



9 



723,922 



790,886 



999,495 



901,226 



883 



15,304 



1,544 



799 



8,441 



97 



620 



107 



799 



1,191 



34,271 



723,525 



2,998 



10,871 



55,734 



74,295 



9 



931,282 



Information received by the Department shows that these 1931 pelts 

 were worth to the trapper some $1,756,979.32, again showing a considerable 

 reduction in value. 



In addition to the above, the total of ranch-raised silver and black foxes, 

 dressed or exported, and upon which royalty is not payable, was 10,600; 8,233 

 of which were exported from the Province, the balance of 2,367 being dressed 

 in Ontario. It is estimated that these pelts had a value of vS397,818.00, which 

 also marks a reduction in value in comparison with the previous year. 



