The Kevin review., 1926-12-16
FHE BEAVER 5.s ps9 & % 1+sssss ss s @.%as Ne A .'s M


DHE ABOVE heading has figured
largely in these columns, because
\ of beaver having been the chief
factor in the development of the
Northwest. a whim of fashion made
its devotees crave hats manufactured
from the fur of this little animal,
and, as usual, business organized to
supply the demand, which promised
huge profits to those controlling the
trade This, it is generally known, was
the origin of the Hudson's Bay Fur
Company, with a veritable prince at
its head.
Then followed the building of forts along
Hudson Bay, and the beginning of traffic
which still endures. No longer, however, is
beaver fur the most saleable; mink, which
until. comparatively recently was held to
be almost valueless, and fox skins, once
overlooked generally by the trappers, are
now in greater demand.
For a long time the fur trade was con-
fined to the neighborhood of Hudson Bay,
enough beaver pelts being taken in its
vicinity to satisfy the London gentlemen.
controlling the business. 1t took men living
on American soil to vision possibilities to
warrant the exploration of territory with
out these narrow bounds, and so it chanced
the Northwest +Fur Company was organ
lied by a few merchants of Montreal.
On account of its more liberal policy,
this company drew into it's ranks the youn
ger and the bolder spirits of the, older
company. 1t was then that David Thomp-
son left the HudsOn'S Bay Co. to give
his invaluable services to the Northwestern,
with what results, we know. The new COM
pany pushed out into the little-known, or
absolutely unknown country tC westward
and was richly rewarded for its enter
prise, so richly, in fact that it aroused the
envy of the conservative HI. BIS, who were
soon on their trail. (
The fur trade was hard business, pre-
ffr,o 70 ho Oun xvb
none but the more adventurous were will |
ing to face. How men of culture and re- |
finement could exile themselves for the |
greater part of a lifetime, in asshowlingl
wilderness, with few, if, any associates, but |
Indians, and white men almost as primi !
tive, who were in reality, many Of them,
more savage than the red men, we of today /
find it difficult to understand.
Ali these hardships we're undertaken in
pursuit of little animal, then pleptifuIl
throughout the region b extending 2from1
Hudson Bay to the Pacific, and nowhere
were beaver to be found in greater num-
bers than here in Montana as is evident
from their having survived to the present
day, although they are rapidly becoming ,
exterminated. i
The August number of the Bighorn,
Montana's state sportsman'S journal, has
an article written by Sidney M. Logan, of
Kalispell, which: is a forceful plea for the
preservation of the beaver, and should be
read by every man, woman and child IN
not being listed as sportsmen, and there
fore not likely to see the Bighorn, I shall
take the liberty Of quoting freely from the
Journal mentioned. T.
Mr. Logan begins by stating the at f
founding fact that Last year 1891 beaver
were killed in Montana to enrich a hand
full of ,tTappers and traders and to cater
to the vanity of q. few of the countrys fav-
ored sons and daughters. These little ami
mails were tortured and mutilated by steel
traps before drowning put an end to their :
suffering. They we're taken from the treas,
ury'a Of Montana,s natural resources, and
exploited for the benefit of the favored few.
The number taken is stupendous and the +
exploitation of the resources unwarranted,
and indefensible. The figures
above are from an authoritative source and
certainly come as a surprise and shock to !
the people who are interested in the CON :
servatiotl' of cur wild life We havea
on our statute books a provision to the
effect that where beaver are injuring pri- |
vate property trapping permit may be
to say that less than 20 per cent of the :
beaver destroyed last year were actually =
destroying property. In most instances
or somebody's stenographer t
of beaver, and sinduced some land owner d
to make tie claim that these particular :
animals were fnjuring his property"
So much in explanation for the greater il
number of reasons for the killing of beaver. il
Mr.. Logan says, There is too e
much tendency to commercialize Montana's 1
game resources. The news is broadcasted t.
throughout the world that Montana is a il
hunters paradise. The class of people we
need and want are not mere game killers
and the exploitation of our resources in A
this respect ought to be -curbed rather than w
Sportsnianshfpfs is all right and p
,he killing of game within reasonable a
limits justifiablea :. = II. We are begln7 Ill
ling to realize the folly of the reckless de- ii
,truction of our timber resources and it s.
would be we'll to call halt before the rel v
naming game animals follow in the wake d
If our pine and fir trees. d. c.
''The other day 1 was riding in train
With a gentleman from the East. | had CT
,een describing some of the roads that had G
ecently been built and our plans for fu- s
ure road building. He said, I suppose you it
ire building the roads to attract tourists III
o your state. Your roads will be value re
ess if you continue to destroy your tim m
,er as you have been doing In a. few years az
It the present rate of destruction you will as