BEAVER HABITS, BEAVER CONTROL, AND BEAVER FARMING. 17 



Young beavers are easily tamed and probably are the best stock to 

 start with, but even adults have become thoroughly tamed and suffi- 

 ciently gentle to be handled by those accustomed to animals. With 

 plenty of clean water, good sleeping quarters, and a suitable food 

 supply they can be kept in either large or small areas, and there seems 

 no reason why they should not thrive and multiply in a satisfactory 

 manner. 



VALUE OF FUR. 



The first question in regard to raising any animal for fur is whether 

 the price its pelt will bring will be sufficient to pay the cost of raising 

 and to yield a profit. Beaver fur has been generally considered low 

 priced, and some of it is, but few animals vary more widely in value 

 according to geographic areas. Skins from the lower Colorado River 

 and Rio Grande are the palest, lightest furred, and lowest priced, the 

 lowest recent quotations being $6 to $8 each, while the heavy-furred, 

 clark-brown skins from Canada and Alaska in 1921 brought $20 to 

 $25, and rare " black beavers " were quoted as high as $38. In north- 

 ern Wisconsin choice skins have recently sold as hig*h as $50 each. 

 Obviously, if beaver farming is to be a success, only the choicest stock 

 should be selected to start with, and this should be improved by 

 selective breeding until the most beautiful fur of the highest grade 

 and highest price is obtained. That $50 beaver skins can be produced 

 in captivity seems probable, as in recent years the best beaver fur has 

 not been legitimately in the market. Were actual values of beauty, 

 warmth, and wear considered, choice black beaver should bring a 

 much higher price. . Under such conditions a reasonable profit would 

 be assured. 



SELECTING A LOCATION. 



The longest, heaviest fur is produced in cold climates and the best 

 beavBr country is found in the Canadian and Huclsonian Zones, 

 regions usually of relatively little agricultural value. In the United 

 States these zones cover parts of the northern tier of States and extend 

 farther south in parts of the colder mountain regions. The range of 

 the aspen or poplar tree ^ is a good index to suitable beaver climate 

 and conditions. (See map. Fig. 1, p. 3.) The aspen also furnishes the 

 best beaver food and at present has relatively little commercial value. 

 It grows naturally across the northern part of the continent from the 

 barren grounds of Canada and Alaska south to the northern parts 

 of the United States and, in the mountains, to northern Mexico. 

 Wherever this tree is found, if other conditions are favorable, beaver 

 farming might be successful. 



Much of the best beaver country is in localities where, after the 

 original timber has been lumbered off and the ground burned over, 



^ Populus tremtiloides and varieties. 



