The Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1927-1930, 1928-09-06
NO DANCER OF
FAMINE IN FURS
Trappers Believe Mankind's
Oldest Industry Will Last
as Long as Man.

olympia, WaSh.-The almost uni.
versal use of furs has led newspapers
and magazines to predict a speedy
end to wild life supplying pelts; but
those who are familiar with regions
whence come the skins believe the
Oldest industry of mankind will last
as long as mankind does.
Buffalo were nearly exterminated
when small herds were segregated in
national parks; beaver were on the
wane when game laws came to their
succor; sea otter had entirely disap-
peared and congress fastened closed
period on this fur bearer and what
might have happened to the fur seals
In the north Pacific but for the inter-
national protectorate against pelagic
killing.
Beaver Colonies Elsewhere.
But look at the results today. Buff
falo have multiplied from few hun
dreds to many Thousands, both In the
United States and Canada. Beaver
colonies are everywhere in their Sc
cluded haunts and near civilization
are becoming something of nuisance.
Sea otter are reported numerous
among the islands of the Aleutian
archipelago and in a few years will
again vie for place at fur auctions,
while the Alaskan fur seal herd has
come back to stay. The seals which
had dwindled to about hundred
thousand now number close to a mil
lion in spite of the annual crop Of
about thirty thousand.
All fur markets are amply supplied
with pelts of mink, muskrat, skunk,
raccoon, fox and otter and as fast as
man encroaches on their domain the
more rapid is the increase of the little
animals. More abundant food supply
makes it easier to rear large filters.
A few years ago prominent New
York fur trader predicted fur farms
would not succeed. But today there
are 900 fur farms in the United States
and nearly as many in Canada, while
over 800 islands along Alaska's coast
are sites of farms, with blue fox, mink,
AQl tCu anu at uOul
Plenty of Open Spaces.
There are immense areas unfit for
human habitatfOn and In this never
to-be-redeemed region wild life of
many species abounds and always WILL
Trappers work with the idea Of leav-
ing enough breeders for future crops.
Even Indian trappers are natural con-
servationists and lift their traps when
signs show certain fur bearers are
getting fewer.
In Alaska white men have been de-
stroying wolves and coyotes, natural
enemies of rabbits and mice. Every
time wolf bites the dust, declares
one trapper, enough rabbits are saved
to rear three filters of foxes or ten
filters of marten.
This winter furs continue to come
from collecting posts in Alaska In as
great volume as any past year, but
quality of the pelts is better. Trap
pers have learned to wait patiently
until winters blasts have darkened
and thickened the furry coats before
batting traps Thus fewer furs have
higher values.
There is little danger, the trappers
say, of furs declining for some time.
The fur islands are sending to market
more skins each year. Natural habi-
tats of fur bearers are being farmed
by intelligent trappers and game laws
are doing marvels in harboring wild
life In sanctuaries where climate and
swamp forbid the advance of civiliza-