Trapping records for the corporation as a whole follow: 
Winter Season Furs Sold 
1953-54 49,428 
1954-55 62,807 
1955-56 52,096 
1956-57 45,014 
The trapping program of Louisiana Furs was well managed and trap- 
ping pressure was remarkably constant. It is believed that the 
figures represent a real population decline during 1955, inasmuch 
as field sign in general clearly supported this. 
There were relatively few nutria on Transects D and E. Old 
signs on Transect E attested to previously greater numbers of nutria. 
Vegetation Involved in the Feeding Activity of Nutria 
In our area nutria feed largely upon rhizomes and the basal, 
fleshy portions of stems of many species of plants. These are 
obtained by digging when the ground is bare and soft, or covered 
with a few inches of water. Diggings were usually not more than 
6 inches deep and 6 or 8 inches across. Feeding of one or more 
nutria was often concentrated, so that the soil of an area varying 
in size to an acre or more might be thoroughly disturbed. When 
several inches or more of water covered the ground, plants were 
clipped near the base or the upper portions removed. 
The species of rhizomes dug from the soil provide only cir- 
cunstantial evidence of the feeding habits of the nutria; no 
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