THE CANADIAN BEAVER 317 
as soon as the new house was completed they at once 
set to work to scratch out a “ canal ” in the run, and 
managed to fill it partly with muddy water. 
If the beaver is to be saved from extermination, 
some means for its artificial preservation must be 
found, though, from the failure of the attempts 
made in Prussia and elsewhere in Central Europe to 
save the species— so late as 1725 an edict was 
published in Berlin prohibiting the destruction of the 
beavers of the Elbe — -Mr. Martin is not hopeful of 
success, even in Canada. Lord Bute’s colony in the 
island from which he takes his title appear to have 
been less fortunate than was at first supposed. In 
1883, when it was desired to send specimens to the 
Fisheries Exhibiton, it was found that their numbers, 
as estimated by the work done, had been much 
exaggerated, and the enclosure was completely ran- 
sacked before a couple could be secured. One 
hundred and eighty-seven large trees were cut down 
by the beavers between 1874 'and 1878. In that 
time they dammed a pool seventy-eight yards long, 
and constructed seven dykes, one having an embank- 
ment of one hundred and five feet. But in spite of the 
difficulties which their engineering industry presents 
to their would-be preservers, proposals for a “ beaver- 
ranch ” are still being discussed in Canada ; and though 
experience forbids the hope that they can be kept for 
profit, sentiment may yet succeed in preserving the 
creature which has been adopted as the “ totem ” of 
the pale-faces’ colony by the great Lakes. 
