those returns accurately define the distribution of the
fur-bearing animals for that year. These irregular lines across the
map were drawn after an examination of the annual returns from all the
posts for the last forty years. Publish it? No, siree, that would
never do!"

But the Inspector's remarks did not end the subject, as we began
discussing the greatest breeding grounds of the various fur-bearers,
and Mr. Bell presently continued:

"The greatest centre for coloured foxes is near Salt River, which flows
into Slave River at Fort Smith. There, too, most of the black foxes
and silver foxes are trapped. The great otter and fisher centre is
around Trout Lake, Island Lake, Sandy Lake, and God's Lake. Otter
taken north of Lake Superior are found to be fully one third larger
than those killed in any other region. Black bears and brown bears are
most frequently to be met with between Fort Pelly and Portage La Loche.
Cumberland House is the centre of the greatest breeding grounds for
muskrat, mink, and ermine. Manitoba House is another great district
for muskrat. Lynxes are found in greatest numbers in the Iroquois
Valley, in the foothills on the eastern side of the Rockies. Coyote
skins come chiefly from the district between Calgary and Qu'Appelle for
a hundred miles both north and south. Skunks are most plentiful just
south of Green Lake; formerly, they lived on the plains, but of late
they have moved northward into the woods. Wolverines frequent most the
timber country just south of the Barren Grounds, where they are often
found travelling in bands. The home of the porcupine lies just north
of Isle a la Crosse. Forty years ago the breeding grounds of the
beaver were on the eastern side of the Rockies. Nowadays that region
is hardly worth considering as a trapping ground for them. They have
been steadily migrating eastward along the Churchill River, then by way
of Cross Lake, Fort Hope, to Abitibi, thence north-easterly clean
across the country to Labrador, where few were to be found twenty-five
years ago. Don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying that beaver were
not found in those parts years ago, but what I mean is that the source
of the greatest harvest of beaver skins has moved steadily eastward
during the last forty years. Strange to say, the finest marten skins
secured in Canada are not those of the extreme northern limit, but
those taken on the Parsnip River in British Columbia."

WANTED, A SON