THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 



is quite abundant in certain sections of the Willamette Valley and is in- 

 creasing and spreading. It is also found in some parts of eastern Oregon, 

 but not in southern Oregon. 



During the winter of 1912 and 1913 two hundred and twenty-two Cali- 

 fornia quail were trapped and released on the various refuges in the Willam- 

 ette Valley. In future continued effort will be made to trap birds in the 

 winter where they are abundant and turn them out in other sections of the 

 state where such varieties are not found. 



The Game Department is very anxious to get in touch with people who 

 can trap some of these birds in sections where they are fairly abundant, 

 so as to liberate them in other parts of the state. 



Following is the number of California quail distributed during the 

 past year: 



Marion County 120 



Yamhill County 48 



Benton County 28 



Lane County 24 



Umatilla County 2 



222 



FUR BEARING ANIMALS. 



Up to January first 1451 trappers' licenses were issued by the State 

 Board of Fish and Game Commissioners for the trapping season which ends 

 February 28, showing that trapping is one of the important industries of 

 the State. 



The last session of the Legislature passed a law protecting otter, mink, 

 fisher, martin and muskrat, making a closed season during the time the 

 fur is not prime, as well as providing regulations governing trapping which 

 gives the licensed trapper needed protection, such as making it unlawful to 

 disturb traps, etc. This law also provides that the trapper must furnish 

 the State Board of Fish and Game Commissioners with a sworn statement 

 of their fur catch at the end of each trapping season. The object of this 

 report being to determine the value of the furbearers to the people of the 

 State and the best means of conserving this important industry. It is not 

 necessary to have a trapper's license to trap predatory furbearers such as 

 cougar, bobcat and coyote. 



For the benefit of trappers the Oregon Sportsman is publishing market 

 quotations on such furbearing animals as may be found in Oregon. These 

 are based on a general average of the. quotations in the fur markets of the 

 United States. 



Market tendencies during the season thus far has been generally down- 



Pag-e eleven 



