The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-12-28
CANADA PROTECTS
It's BEAVER

~ iNuhAoh Iultl 6dluc WdIueH lOI Al
berta, today issued instructions to
ttrappers and hunters that the closed
season for beaver, protected since
1908, has been extended from Deem
lber, 81, 1912, to December 81, 1915.
He reports also that the beaver,
which had an important part in the
romance of the early history of North
America, has multiplied rapidly dur
ling the last four years, notwithstand-
ing raids by law-breakers. The reg
ular hunters and trappers in the north
country, he adds, have not killed game
out of season. but have assisted in
Ienforcing the laws,
There are many who believe that
the beaver, the standard by which all
other furs are rated in western Can.
ada until a few years ago, is doomed
to extinction. Evidences of it's fast
approaching determination are seen
in the decaying stumps, the broken
dams and the deserted lodges along
1.-THE upper waters of the Fraser and
Peace Rivers, which for more than
two centuries, contributed largely to
Canada's most substantial advance.
ment and stimulated enterprises and
laid the foundation for strong CONNER
cial deyelopement
The beaver scientifically known as
Castor Canadenis, is the largest of
the fur-bearing rodents. Perhaps no
animal in the world has been more
wildly utilized, for as protection from
cold the use of its pelt dates to prim-
tive man. The rarest peltage is pure
white, fawn and brown sprinkled with
silvery hair. Less than a score Of
such pelts have been found in an ex.
portation of 100000 skins Black
beaver are more abundant. Generally
/ the color ranges from pale yellowish-
brown to ehesnut The body measur-
es from II inches to three and half
feet in length and the paddle-shapad
tail, covered with scale, is from nine
to twelve inches in length.
The external features Of the beaver
are amang its chief charistics, begin
ling with its wonderful teeth and end
ling with its perfectly unique tail. The
iincisor teeth are strong and well de.
veloned and are set in circular sock
Ct The sharp teeth were used as cut
lting instruments by the Indians, who
also attach much value to white skins
converting them into medicine bags.
The beavers head resembles that Of
a rat, though the nose is flatter and
makes the head appear shorter and
broader. The eyes are dark blue and
small in proportion to the size of the
animal. They are highly convexed
thus enabling the animal to use them
under water. The ears are small,
quite round, and concealed in the fur
and hair When the peltage is prime,
a shaggy. loose growth of long hair
covers the head and body to the base
of the tail, diminishing on the lips,
eyelids, feet and legs.
The anterior feet are so dexterous
as to favor comparison with the hands
of the monkey The creature uses
them in building the dam and lodge
and for excavating the burrow They
are also used to convey the food to
the mouth in a truly astonishing man
ner Though the front feet are not
usually employed in swimming, there
I is a pereeptible web joining the third
and forth digits, which does not seem
fitted for any apparent purpose, unless
Lit might be to facilitate the handling
of mud in the plastering of the lodges
or dams
The powerful hind feet, with the de-
velopment of web extending to the
extreme points. afford the ideal model
for aquatic life The large heel-pad
and strong nails enable the animal
when on land to stand upright firmly,
a position generally assumed when at
work. On the second toe there is a
most remarkable double claw or nail,
which apparently is only used for
combing the fur.
The gait of the beaver is waddling
and slow, owing to the shortness of
its limbs and to the outward direc-
tion which is given to its heels to
enable its feet more efficiently to full
fill the function Of paddles in swim
ming The toes alone of the anterior
feet and the surface of the sole in
the posterior are applied to the
ground in walking.
The awkwardness of its appearance
in this action is, moreover, heightened
by the clumsiness of its figure and by
the difficulty which it seems to ex-
perience in dragging after it its cum
brous tail. generally trailing upon the
ground, though sometimes is slightly
curved inward and is occasionally |