The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-01-14
THE PRESERVATION THE
BEAVER IN NORWAY.


Ell by the fair sex. Although few
survive i'm the Rhone and Rhine, while
more numerous colonies are found in
parts of Russia. the beaver has been
practically swep: away from most Eu-
ropean counties, though place names
frequently bear testimony to its form
er presence. Among the countries
where it still maintains a foothold is
Norway, but of late years little infor-
nation has been forthcoming as to the
approximate number of beavers in the
country, or their mode of life
The Norwegian beaver began to de-
crease in numbers from the early part
or middle of the last century, and by
1900 had disappeared from most parts
of the country, with the exception of
the northern districts of Finmark and
Nordland, and the southern province
Of Nedenas, or Christiansand. The
work of determination went on more or
less rapidly till the year 1915, when it
was somewhat checked by the enact
ment Of protective statutes; but either
these could not have worked very eff
fectually, or the war of determination
had been only too we'll carried out, for
in 1880 the number of individuals sur
viving throughout the country was es-
timated at only about three score.
Three years later the number of head
was put down roughly at a hundred,
md since that date it is probable that
the lumber has been fully maintained,
If, indeed, it has not actually increased.
The statutes which have been enact
ed for the preservation of the beaver
i'll Norway are not, for the most part,
of a very effectual nature, and have de-
cidedly feudatory smack. The sta
tute of lS45 provided that no beaver
at all shoui - killed for ten years,
and then only by the proprletors of the
estates on which they arc found. This
was admirable as far rs it went, but as
from the beginning of 1856 proprietors
again allowed to KILL without either
restriction as to the time or number, it
is ob;.ious that the good results of the
first enactment might very well have
been speedily lost Probably this was
found to be the case, as in 1868 fresh
statute was propoundcd, establishing
close time and fixing limitation in
number. According to this statute,
beaver were only allowed to be killed
during the months of August, Septem-
Der and October, and then only by
owners of estates, who were permitted
to kill but one individual annually to
each separate estate. Two much m ,re
effectual statutes have, how ever, re-
Gently come into operation: the one
dated August 81, 1894, protecting all
the beavers in the Amt of Sondrc Ber-
genius til the end of 1904, and the
other, dated September 3, 1895, doing
the same for the colony of Aamli till
end of 1905. The penalty for illegal
ly killing beaver is a fine of eighty
kronors (about - los }, which can be
inflicted on tn participators in the of:
fence.
Burrows are the first refugcs form
ed by the beaver when taking posses
sion of Il fresh spot, and they may ac-
cordinglv be likened to the rude sheds
erected by wor&men employed on build
inc mansion. Probably each lodge
is tenanted by only single couple and
their young family; the young beav-
ers. when able to do without parental
assistance, either ,iling down tempo
rarilv in burrows in the immediate
neighborhood, or wander away to form
new colonies Small lodges construct
ed in kind OF jerry building fashion
appear to be run up 10y the bachelor
beavers WHO have not yet ventured to
take upon themselves the responsible
ties of a wife and family. There may,
! however, be also spinstcr beavers to
whom such accommodation is also e.
cessary-it is to be hoped only tenn
porarily. Dams are constructed where
beavers have quartered themselves by
the sides of gently flowing streamiets,
or small posts through which 4 cur
rent. in order to obtain water OF sufli-
cient depth and maintaininga a constant
level. The ''pund,' is substantially
built and difficult to dcmolish. One
examined in 1898 was constructed at
the outflow of small stream through
a forest marsh; and where there was
formerly but a small pool, a pond OF
lake of some hundred yards in diane
ter soon resulted from the labors o.
these indefatigable rodents. The
"bund," which was about fifteen feet il
length, with cross section of some
two feet. was entirely made in the