The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1921-10-20
FOR THE TRAPPER.
Information of Value to Him If
He Is to Trap This Season.


Information of Value to Him If
He Is to Trap This Season.
The trapping season in Louisiana
opens November LIST and continues until
the 31st of January. The fur industry
In Louisiana Is no small item In the
production of the state, in the most
favorable seasons amounting to two or
three million dollars. The season last
closed was not a favorable one, owing
to the high price OF furs during the
war period and the sharp decline dur
ing 1920 New Orleans dealers lost 75
to 50 per cent on the stock left over.
while the new catch brought only one
third the price Of the previous year.
The result of this sharp decline was
that only about 0ne-f0urth of the trap
pers Of the state engaged in the occupa-
tion. most of them being well suulied
with money from the high prices of the
two or three previous years. and being
unwilling to tap for the lower prices.
The catch, while much smaller, was
superior in quality, for trappers were
advised beforehand Of the fall in price,
and began to trap late in consequence,
knowing that only prime furs would
bring anything like remunerative
prices.
Louisiana produces more fur pelts
than any section Of the world Of like
area. and New Orleans is the largest
fur market in America for such staple
f,lrs as racOon, mink and muskrat. st.
Louis being its nearest competitor.
One fnr house receives shipments OF
flrs from all parts of North America,
including every province of Canada,
Newfoundland and Alaska, and has
now EN- route a consignment Of furs
from the interior Of Russia. The fur
dealers OF New Orleans rank. with the
largest in the United States. and have
connection with the principal fur
markets of the world.
New York City Is the great manu-
| featuring center of the country. hand
ling 81 per cent Of the domestic busi-
| ness. In these manufactures large
quantities Of Louisiana furs are used.
though they lose their identity as
Louisiana products. bringing larger
prices when labeled us coming from
more porthern localities. There are no
mink sets sold as Louisiana mink.
| though in fact 25 per cent Of the mink
sets originate In Louisiana. Similarly.
the popular but high priced !. Hudson
seal z Is in reality Louisiana muskrat.
! While it Is true as a general PROPOSE
ton that furs from more rigorous eli
mates are better In Crude than those
from Louisiana, for reason quite OBJ
i vfous, Louisiana mink and otter are
worth as much as those caught ON the
coast Of British Columbia and the
lower coast Of Alaska.
j So 1t is to be seen that the BOssier
Parish trapper has an even break with
other sections Of the state and that the
4 state as whole affords good field for
his trade, with as good a market as
j might be desired. However, one
\ should, before engaging In the business,
familiarize himself with the present
laws Of the state regulating trapping,
the shipment Of furs, etc. The one
dollar license sold to residents of the
state Is good anywhere in the state and
licenses one to both hunt and trap.
They may be obtained from the several
sheriffs Of the state.
A paragraph relating to fur buyers
and dealers licenses. taken from a
folder being circulated by the State
Department Of Conservation, reads:
"a fur buyers license costs s., and
permits the holder to buy and sell skins
and ship them within the state. A res
ident dealers license costs $25, and
permits the holder to buy and sell skins
and ship them out OF the state, after
payment Of the severance tax. A nOn-
resident Dealers license costs $50. and
permits flle holder to ship skins out Of
the state"
| Three other paragraphs Of general
interest, taken from the same source,
read:
TAX ON FURs AND SKINS.
"A tax of 2 per cent ON the value Of
skins OF alligatOrs and fur-bearing AMI
mails must be paid before they may bt
shipped ont of the state. Such ship
ments must be tagged with a specia
n tag, which may he obtained only aftel
payment Of the tax.
SHIPPING OF GAME.
a.All game shipped within the stat.
must he tagged, showing the kinds ant
numbers of birds or animals In tn,
package, the consignor and consignee
and the point from which shipment i
made. Skins and ftlrs shipped within
the state must be tagged also. Prope
tags may be obtained from the delart
ment. A licensed nonresident ma.
carry ont OF the state with him the bal
permitted for one day. No game ma.
be shipped out Of the state, however
SALE OF GAME.
The sale OF all wild birds and OF al
wild game animals. except rabbits an
!, squirrels, Is entirely prohibited. Gam
/ birds and animals propagated In cor
finement may he sold under gan,
! breeders license. as provided by At
!. 219 Of 1916. The meat Of raco0ns an
!. other fur-bearing animals may be sol
!, by the holder Of resident hunting an
training licenSpS7