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254 THROUGH T H E MACKENZIE BASIN
poration. For more than a decade subsequent to 1821, each
beaver district in the chartered and licensed territories of
the Hudson's Bay Company was annually restricted to the
collection of a certain fixed number of beaver, which course
eventually proved of much benefit to all concerned. By this
means the perpetuation of the beaver was ensured in sections
where reckless slaughter had almost exterminated it, while
the resulting expansion in moTe forward localities naturally
followed. With the view, however, of reconciling them to
this enforced mode of preservation, the natives were strongly
urged and encouraged to devote their best energies to the
trapping of martens and other fur- bearing animals. After
tho leaver were known to have largely increased in numbers,
and still sold well, the above rule was gradually relaxed; and
as the wants of the Indians in those days were comparatively
few, they never experienced any particular hardship from
tho limit thus imposed upon them in the general interest.
It may be here mentioned that the Company never encouraged
the hunting of beaver or any other pelt out of season.
On the contrary, they strictly prohibited the killing of
beaver in summer, and would only reluctantly accept the
skins of such animals as they were assured had been absolutely
necessary for food purposes.
The introduction of nutria and silk in the manufacture
of hats in the early forties of the last century struck a deadly
blow at the value of beaver, the chief staple fur of Canada
and the North- West for two centuries, from which it has not
yet quite recovered. For nearly half a century thereafter,
the prices annually obtained for pelts were some 60 and 70
per cent, below the average which had previously ruled.
Since the Alaska fur seal, however, has come into " fashion,"
very much better rates have been realized by the smaller
quantities of ljeaver sold in recent years. With the view
of obtaining better prices in England, as well as for its future
increase in numbers, the Company naturally favoured a continuation
of its beneficial policy of restriction; but owing
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| Title | Page 278 |
| OCR | 254 THROUGH T H E MACKENZIE BASIN poration. For more than a decade subsequent to 1821, each beaver district in the chartered and licensed territories of the Hudson's Bay Company was annually restricted to the collection of a certain fixed number of beaver, which course eventually proved of much benefit to all concerned. By this means the perpetuation of the beaver was ensured in sections where reckless slaughter had almost exterminated it, while the resulting expansion in moTe forward localities naturally followed. With the view, however, of reconciling them to this enforced mode of preservation, the natives were strongly urged and encouraged to devote their best energies to the trapping of martens and other fur- bearing animals. After tho leaver were known to have largely increased in numbers, and still sold well, the above rule was gradually relaxed; and as the wants of the Indians in those days were comparatively few, they never experienced any particular hardship from tho limit thus imposed upon them in the general interest. It may be here mentioned that the Company never encouraged the hunting of beaver or any other pelt out of season. On the contrary, they strictly prohibited the killing of beaver in summer, and would only reluctantly accept the skins of such animals as they were assured had been absolutely necessary for food purposes. The introduction of nutria and silk in the manufacture of hats in the early forties of the last century struck a deadly blow at the value of beaver, the chief staple fur of Canada and the North- West for two centuries, from which it has not yet quite recovered. For nearly half a century thereafter, the prices annually obtained for pelts were some 60 and 70 per cent, below the average which had previously ruled. Since the Alaska fur seal, however, has come into " fashion," very much better rates have been realized by the smaller quantities of ljeaver sold in recent years. With the view of obtaining better prices in England, as well as for its future increase in numbers, the Company naturally favoured a continuation of its beneficial policy of restriction; but owing |
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