File:Commissioners' report (1892) (14755244532).jpg

Identifier: commissionersrep00onta (find matches)
Title: Commissioners' report
Year: 1892 (1890s)
Authors: Ontario. Game and fish commission Wright, Robert Ramsay, 1852-1933
Subjects: Game and game-birds Game protection Fisheries Fishes
Publisher: Toronto, Printed by Warwick & sons
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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e teeth of the beaver are singularly sharp and the jaws more than or-dinarily strong. An odoriferous substance called Castoreum is secreted intwo glandular sacs near the root of the tail, and gives out a powerful odour. This Castoreum possesses a strange attraction for the beaver and if scented willcause the animal to sit up and squeal with excitement. The trapper knowingthis, usually baits his trap with a twig dipped in the pungent substance, and ifthe beaver once smells it, his capture becomes more than probable. The fur is of a uniform reddish brown and is very valuable, ranking aheadof almost any other fur found in Canada. The young are born in June, and four to six are produced at a litter, beingborn with their eyes open. The flesh of the beaver is good and readily eaten by hunters, the tailbeing considered a great delicacy. The beaver has like all other valuable wildanimals, been mercilessly slaughtered in Canada and there is grave danger thatthe species may soon become extinct.
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331 MUSTELA PENNANTI, (Erxleben). THE FISHER, BLACK CAT, PEKAN, OR PENNANTS MARTEN. SpecifiG Character.—Legs, belly, tail, and hinder part of back, black ; theback with an increasing proportion of grayish white to the head. Length overtwo feet. VertebrfB of tail exceeding twelve inches. Habitat.—Eastern and Central and Pacific regions northward to the Arcticcircle. Average Size.—Equal to a fox about two-thirds grown. Average Weight.—10 to 15 pounds. Average Height.—9 inches. Average Length.—2; feet. Value of Fur.—Per skin, average 82 to $5, The .general appearance of this animal is more fox-like than musteline inthe long head, bushy tail, and large size. The muzzle is quite large, the ears low but very wide; and the eyes verylarge. The feet are short and stout, and well armed with strong claws ; there isa naked ball under the end of each of the five toes, and another V shaped one onthe palm and soles. The tail is long, rather shorter than the body without headand neck, t

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