The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-12-23
Have Multiplied Rapidly During Past
Four Years But Are Making
Their Last Stand.
FUR STANDARD FOR ALL OTHERS
Has Contributed Greatly to the Up
building of The American and
Canadian Northwest.
Special to The Pioneer.

Edmonton, Alta, Dec. 23.-Benja-
min Lawton, chief game warden for
Alberta, today issued instructions to
trappers and hunters that the closed
season for beaver, protected since
1908. has been extended from Deem
her 81, 1912, to December 81, 1915.
He reports also that the beaver which
had an important part in the ro-
nance of the early history of North
America, has multiplied rapidly dur
ing the last four years, nOtwithstand-
ing raids by law-breakers. The regu-
lar hunters and trappers in the north
country, he adds, have not killed
game out of season, but have assist
ed in enforcing the laws.
There are many who believe that
the beaver, the standard by which all
other furs was rated in western Can
ada until few years ago, is doomed
to extinction. Evidences of its fast
approaching determination are seen
in the decaying stumps, the broken
dams and the deserted lodges along
the upper waters of the Fraser and
Peace rivers, which may be consid-
cred the last home of the patient
animal. which for more than two
centuries, contributed largely to
Canada's most substantial advance
ment and stimulated enterprises and
laid the foundation for strong COM
mercial development.
The beaver, scientifically known as
Castor Canadenis, is the largest of
the fur-bearing rodents. Perhaps 40
animal in the world has been more
widely utilized, for as a protection
from cold the use of its pelt dates
is pure white, fawn and brown,
sprinkled with silvery hair. Less than
a score of such pelts have been found
in an expectation Of 100000 skins.
Black beaver are more abundant.
Generally the color ranges from pale
yellowish- brown to chestnut. The
body measures from twelve inches to
three and a half feet in length and
the paddle-shaped tail. covered with
scale, is from nine to twelve inches in
length.
The external features of the beav-
ct are among its chief characteristics,
beginning with its wonderful teeth
and ending with it's perfectly unique
tail, The incisor teeth are strong
and we'll developed, and are set in a
circular socket. The sharp teeth were
used as cutting instruments by the
Indians, who also attach much value
10 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 pei
1age is prime, a shaggy, loose growth
of long hair covers the head and body
to the base of the tail, diminishing on
she 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
the lodge and for excavating the bur-
row. They are also used to convey
food to the mouth in a truly aston
ishing manner. Though the front
feet are not usually employed in
swimming, there is a perceptible web
joining the third and fourth digits,