September, 1943 Brown & YEAGER: SURVEY OF Fur REsouRCE 
493 
Table 17—Composition of calculated Illinois fur catch, expressed for each region and each 
important species as per cent of total catch for 1938-39 and 1939-40. 
PER 
Fur Musk- | Opos- Rac- Rep | Gray | CENT 
SURVEY ae cone WINKS }PDRUNK) PE Oy WWEASEL as rae OF 
REGION Torat 
Catcu 
Northwest 
Raps eg 5 <5 71.94 8.21 5.14 felt 4.77 Onog O172 1.42 fe25 
Western Prairie | 42.96 | 35.00 8.09 4.91 Wee) 0.16 0.69 0.00 52 
River Bluffs 
and Bottoms.) 12.27 57.49 SoS 7.00 10.24 0.46 1.74 2) ee OnoS 
Northwestern 
Sand Prairie.| 83.08 6.69 2.80 2.98 12S 2216 0.43 O:05%)  1h98 
Glacial Lakes. .| 89.60 heey 4.73 Leo 43 1.42 0.01 0.01 8.31 
Black Prairie...| 90.66 2095 Lei Sek) Oo) 0.74 0.58 0.00 | 37.36 
Central Sand 
obalrie ye ds, 84.11 Be 161 2e10 3736 0.14 .40 0.00 | 10.60 
Gray Prairie...| 34.86 | 42.43 10.00 Des 6.05 ely Lie24 0.00 | 10.15 
Per Cent of 
Total 
atcha .% 3|.68,19 18.31 4.36 3.80 Ricoh) 0.78 0.76 0.41 100.00 
during at least the last two decades. In decade. It is known that comparatively 
about 1920, when catches were larger and 
prices as high or higher, the total annual 
worth of Illinois raw furs was undoubt- 
edly in excess of the income shown for 
the seasons of 1938-39 and 1939-40. 
Prices have a very important bearing 
on catches of certain species. Red fox 
pelts were unusually valuable during the 
period 1927-30, but by 1932 had dropped 
nearly to the value of raccoon pelts, re- 
sulting in greatly reduced hunting and 
trapping pressure on red foxes. This con- 
dition may explain in part the increase in 
the numbers of these foxes during the last 
high red fox populations have prevailed 
since about 1933. 
Despite low prices, the muskrat take 
has continued heavy since the era of high 
prices. ‘This is due to the comparative 
abundance of the animals and the ease 
with which they are trapped and handled. 
The relatively high level of mink fur 
prices since 1935 is undoubtedly responsi- 
ble in large measure for the severe re- 
duction in numbers of this valuable spe- 
cies. Low prices during recent years on 
other furs, particularly on those of opos- 
sums and foxes, undoubtedly resulted in 
Table 18.—Calculated value of Illinois raw furs per square mile in 10 sample counties, 
1938-39 and 1939-40. 
SAMPLE AVERAGE, 
Fur Survey REGION Enea 1938-39 1939-40 ner 
Pemetiwest Hillgc;.) c.g. us..cs00s es To, Daviesse.e.. $18.44 $23.58 $21.01 
BEG CePEDTAIriowes isc hued ees Plancocks. ae . $3435 WEA 15.24 
River Bluffs and Bottoms............. aoa . . ; | see Pan aye 
Northwestern Sand Prairie............. Reeve nine he 27.16 S407 30.87 
ROA 0 aa ee rare Teakeseae ec ee 70.54 62202 66.33 
EP PAI CMe een Fa Seeds shes 6 eo Champaign..... 28.29 vino 24.90 
MeMiiral SAanitisbrairie. <. oisentcee wart: Masons. 4. 20.89 19.95 20.42 
eee Peairt Franklin. 7.2... 12770 8.25 10.48 
RE CURIUICMEA, Hees awe. ie ace ene ned emer 5 12.95 10.46 1171 
