The Cordova daily times. [volume] (Cordova, Alaska) 1914-1947, 1919-10-06

that many caught this fur bearer. who
hitherto never bothered setting a trap
for it,
Muskrat is one article that probably
has been forced too high. Prices ap-
peared to be off somewhat in the lat
ter part of April and May from those
| paid earlier in the season. Large
| quantities are used in making gloves,
gauntlets, fur coats, robes, Innings,
etc, while others (mostly the finest,
silkiest Ones) are dyed to initiate seal
for which purposes large quantities
have been used during the past two
years.
The Alaska fur seal herds have
wonderfully increased during recent
years. About 10000 skins were sold
last April and probably $4,000 will be
| sold this fall. Prospects are that
larger quantities will be sold each
year as the herd is now estimated to
contain about 100000 head. Perhaps
the reason Of a somewhat weak under
tone in muskrat value for some time
is the losing out somewhat in the
place it has been holding-a substi.
tute for genuine seal, but with greatly
increased seal supply in sight musk
rat will probably continue to ease off
even more
Now is surely a splendid time to
learn all you can about wolves and
coyotes. Pelts are selling we'll, and
every one destroyed means a ranch
and game pest less. Trappers who
have caught various kinds Of fur ami
mails say that the timber wolf and
coyote are the shreWdest of all, yet
at last spring sales more than 100000
pelts were sold Prices ranged from
about $25 for for a few of the best
No. l fine furred skins down to 20
and Is cents for Nos. 8 and f. Per-
haps half of the total Offering was
! No. 2 or lower, which indicates that
this animal is killed regardless of fur
condition much omre than other fur
bearers. Many thousands are also
! killed whose pelts are not taken al
though scalped.
Many fur animals, the pelt of
which does not mean nearly so much
to trappers as does the coyote, are
rapidly decreasing. Coyotes live
largely in the open country, are
trapped, shot, poisoned, hunted with
dogs, but still seem to be numerous.
Their pelts during the past year or
so have been selling at much higher
prices than usual. Quantities sold
dealers and in the various sales have
been much larger than formerly. Just
what this means is as yet unknown.
1t may mean greatly reduced numbers
caught season of 1919-1920 with pre-
vious seasons. If prices hold to last
years figures and catch is equal then
the supply has not been greatly re-
duced by trappers making an extra
effort after coyote.
Close observers of the raw fur
supply find that when any article ad-
vances much over former values
the supply is soon diminished.
Take mink, for instance, which several
years ago greatly advanced when
trappers went after mink as never
before. In a few years the supply
was greatly reduced. Coon and
muskrat were both high last season
and much sought for Reports in,
dictate short supply for the coming
season.
Can coyote Withstand the usual
onslaught and the increased catch
and kill by hunters and trappers
Other fur animals have not been able
to do SO for any length of time. True
bounty, offered in some states, has
been as much or more than the fur
value for years, but it seems that a
trapper would rather catch coyote and
sell the pelt for SO to a fur dealer
than to scalp and secure $40. In
some states there is considerable red
tape required before the $40 bounty
is secured. Fur dealers, on the other
hand are usually prompt in sending
returns including check.
Coyote are fond of beef, mutton
pork and poultry. They are also fond
Of horse flesh and often eat tainted
flesh readily Many coyote are caught
at "blind sets" without bait or scent
by experienced trappers, although
good scent has drawing qualities.
The following is recommended: Place
a half pound of raw beef or venison in