tf-uA, Sectixui 



The restoration and increase of the fur re- 

 sources of the state is an essential part of any 

 broad wildlife program. The depletion of the valu- 

 able fur species is not a new problem. Trappers 

 followed quickly on the heels of the explorers in 

 the West; by 1850 the cream of the fur crop had 

 been taken. Since that time it has become in- 

 creasingly difficult to make a reasonable liveli- 

 hood from this activity. The majority of the furs 

 now taken are secured by trappers who use this 

 merely as a seasonal occupation during slack 

 periods of their regular work. There has been 

 little incentive to trap only the yearly increase, 

 thereby to leave sufficient breeding stock to as- 



sure a sustained yield. The fur harvest of the 

 more valuable species has therefore fluctuated 

 markedly; years of heavy take have been of 

 necessity followed by periods of scarcity and 

 closed seasons. 



It is clearly evident that a resource as po- 

 tentially important to the economic welfare of 

 the state should be handled upon as sound and 

 orderly a basis as possible. It is realized that a 

 great deal of fundamental information is neces- 

 sary as an aid in restoring and maintaining the 

 numbers of fur-bearing animals at a maximum; 

 in regard to their food supply and the other uses 

 of the land. In an effort to obtain this information, 



The following- record 



observations were recorded by Fieldmen White and Helleng-a from the Red Meado 

 This is a typical example of the field records kept by the crews 



No. Marten 



Timber type 



rabbit, squi 

 rabbit, squi 

 rabbit, squi 



[70] 



