GREAT FUR INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 90, 10 January 1935, Page 9

GREAT FUR INDUSTRY

Season’s Results in Canada

Ottawa, December 17.

When Milady, whether she lives in the British. Isles, in New Zealand or South Africa, decks herself in furs during the winter months, does she pause to think of the life of the trapper and hunter who combs the wilderness for her adornment?

Canada is one of the world’s greatest fur-producing countries and a large proportion of her exports go to Empire countries. Earliest reports of fur trade activities in Canada’s Northwest territories during the past season indicate an increase of from 40 to 50 per cent, in the yield of pelts of the Arctic fox, the main fur-bearing animal of the region. After some years of depression, in which the fur trade has suffered with 'all other industries, tills increase is encouraging, particularly as the wellbeing of the aboriginal population of the North depends very largely upon the fur harvest.

In this vast northern region of about 1,310,000 square miles from about 85 to 90 per cent, of the population consists of Indians, Eskimos and half-breeds, and their livelihood depends almost entirely upon the wild life of the region. Annually 1,000,000 dollars (in normal years 2,000,000) worth of raw furs are produced in the North-west, territories. Of this total approximately one-half is from the pelts of the beautiful white or Arctic fox.

With the object of preserving the wild life of the North as a means of perpetuating the sources of livelihood for the native population, important measures are now in effect. (1) Wood Buffalo Park, an area of 17,000 square miles,, has been created. (2) The Thelon Game Sanctuary, of 15,000 square miles, has been established to the east of Great Slave Lake. (3) Four large native hunting preserves, including the Arctic Islands, have been created witli an area of 533,182 square miles. In these preserves only native born Indians. Eskimos and half-breeds may hunt and trap. (4) The number of beaver to be taken by one individual is limited to 15 a season. This is to preserve this animal which in recent years lias been decreasing rapidly. (5) Provision of a complete close season for buffalo and musk oxen. Through this regulation musk oxen, which were on the point of extinction, are said to be increasing at a great rate in the Arctic Islands. —Reuters.