New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1920-03-20
FUR-BEARING ANIMALS
BRING FIVE MILLION OR
MORE TO LOUISIANA.

An industry that has apparently
been overlooked. but annually has
circulated millions of dollars IN
Louisiana, is just now receiving
It's merited recognition.
Three letters only are needed to
spell the little word-Fur.
Few Louisianians realize that
the fur-bearing season this year
will bring nearly ten million dol
lars to the trappers. Yet, the fig
ures won't lie. Already over five
million dollars have found their
way from the greatest markets OF
the country to the trappers of the
Pelican State. And the end is not
yet. Those protesting to know,
say that ten million dollars would
not be too high an estimate to
place on the season s output
A grave situation faces the traE-
pers. It may REQUIRE an act Of the
legislature to modify the game
laws before any relief is felt.
While the enormous amount re-
ceiyed for furs this season should
normally represent a huge catch
of fur-bearing animals, it is just
the opposite. The decrease of
these animals has been SO pro-
nounced for the past three years,
that the great fur markets Of the
United States have placed a price
on hides that actually appears
prohibitive
"Why2" dc you ask.
The answer is found in the fact
that these prohibitive figures paid
for furs has caused an increase Of
trappers, to the extent that nearly
every foot of the lands where the
animals thrive, is covered by|
traps. set to catch the warmintsI
Of the forest whose hides are al
most priceless.
What does Louisiana derive|
from this industrv2'' Merely al
license Of SO per. season.
AT present the season is too long,
according to leading trappers.
Another serious obstacle IS the
lax enforcement Of the law re-
garding the protection Of these
animals. They are not giveaI
enough latitude between seasons
for successful propagation, the
CONSEQUENCE being that the young
animals are killed off. Thew
should he allowed to mature Whenl
their skins would DE worth double
the money.
The attention Of Commissioner
Lee Alexander has been called Co
the trapping situation. He conf
cedes the fact that the law should I
be modified SO that d shorter seal
son may result. He promises CO.
operation in any fight that Tangi-
pahoa and lower parishes care to
make in the next legislature. He
knows the great value Of the fur
crop to Louisiana trappers. and
he realizes quite forcibly that I'M
less something is done for the
preservation Of these fur-bearingi
animals, that it is only a question
of time before the fur industry
will become extinct.
Present market prices for all |.
kinds Of fur-bearing skins is the
greatest ever known, for reasons
asc above stated-the decrease In
the number of animals and the in
crease IN the number of trappers.
One buyer already this season has
handled $4,000 worth of skins,
another has handled $36,01ol
worth: still another $25. 900. This
means that the season netted these
buyers several thousand dollars
each, but it means pitiful slaug-
ter of animals to derive the ben
efits.
With the clearing of the great
forest south Of Ponchatolla re-
Gently purchased by F. B. VII
liams, and comprising about 3d.