Evening star., 1939-08-13
Fast Work
May Save
Industry
Raising Silver Fox
And Mink Among
Enterprises
By II. E. G. Bryant

BY II. f.. L. Bryan
The fur industry of the United
States is being destroyed and unless
better means OF conservation are de-
veloped a very substantial natural
resource, which has been in use for
nearly 300 years, will be lost. Today,
instead of being the worlds chief
source of fur supply, as it was for
generations, this country does not
produce enough to meet more than
q third of its own demand. The
otter, the marten and other valu-
able fur bearing animals are on their
way to determination.
The United States Biological Sur
vey, which on July was transferred
under the Presidents reorganization
plan from the Department of Agri-
culture to the Department Of the
Interior, is making strenuous efforts
to conserve and propagate fur ami
mails. -
Secretary Ickes has promised to
assist in the development of the
Bureau of Fur Resources into ona
Of the leading units of his depart
ment. 1t is now hoped by those in
terested. in the production Of fur
that a national policy for the use of
the resources will be adopted and
the conservation work centralized
In the Department of the Interior.
A united effort might save an in
dustry which now brings to farmers,
trappers and dealers $50 100000 for
raw pelts and to those who condi-
ton them for the markets, $780,
100000. 1t is contended that the
eentralization of the Government
work under a single agency would
result in economy of administration
and supervision, as we'll as efficiency.
Made National Luxury.
Fur conservationists assert that
the wild life conservation movement
during the last Is years has been
handled as national luxury-the
spending of money for intangibles-
pleasure, sport and recreational
values, rather than as an economic
problem.
Oficials of the Biological Survey
hold that in this very materialistic
world sooner or later conservation
will have to stand the economic
test-"does 1t pay in dollars and
sents?" There has been serious
conflict between those who would
produce furs for consumers and
those who would hunt fur-bearine
animals for sport.
"This Nation DR.. Ira N. Gabriel
son, chief, Bureau of Biological
Survey, told committee of Con-
gress, considered as fur conser.
vationist, might be compared to 6
man who in his youth came into
q great heritage, and in middle agt
found himself in the unhappy po'
sition of having largely squanderee
his wealth. He must take steps tt
save and conserve the remnants O.
his inheritance or lose all. Th'
people of the United States hav'
squandered their natural supply O
furs and now face the alternative
Of becoming more active in the worl
Of fur animal conservation and res
toration, or becoming still furthe
dependent on furs of foreign origin.
DR.. Gabrielson pointed out tha
1t was not until after the discover
of North America that the fur trad
of the world, although more thai
$500 years old, really got into it
stride" and that it early becam
an enormously profitable bushes
to the fur traders on this continen
Is attested by the fact that an In
dian trapper could often be induce
to part with his winters catch
worth hundreds of dollars, for
blanket or two and bottle of run
No attention was paid to the ques
ton of possible exhaustion of tn
resource.
Property of States,
Fur animals are generally recos
nized as the property of the ind
vidual States and State law must (
enacted to maintain supplies. Son