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3 of muskrats, The humble muskrat (musquash), being the Cree Indian name, inter- preted, meaning "little brother of the beaver," or, "little helper of the beaver," earning _this sobriquet of "helper" through the- fact that the beaver often commandeers the musk- rat in his work of building dams, and helping with. the. intersticing or , strengthening of same. Not so long ago the, mugkrat pelt could 'only command a price of ten or eleven cents each, but it has now come | into its own and obtains prices from {iwenty to thirty times its original BRAZIL SLABS and MOIR'S' CHOCOLATES, oars "and KODAK FILMS » : c= Morrison' s Drug Store valuation, type of trap. The steel jaw has been It is therefore in the interests of all | proved conclusively to be cruel in the _P ort Parry hd bd - Ontario hu inded people engaged in this | extreme. An animal in its frantic en- . eosusmnm' vast fur f i ind y ; that the | d gs to free itself will twist the .| sons. The animal, when caught, is is shed. The baits numerous, notably among 'them ing the musk of the animal. This is held in place above the platform: necessitating the animal steping on it'in réaching for the bait. Different used to entice the male or female as they are wanted, 'and no time or effort is wasted by the trapper in needless trapping. "The open type trap is indeed the only humane method for many rea- completely caged, no bones broken, no fur damaged and he is not subjected to the attacks of birds of prey, etc., as he surely is when in a wounded con- dition by being caught in a steel jaw methods employed in trapping should : | be of the most modern and. painless i type. | The outstanding reason for so much i | unnecessary pain being inflicted on the H tine by the various trappers would appear to be the monetary element, or the continuous desire to cut down costs in the buying of cheap traps. 8 | These traps, which are of the steel jaw B| spring variety, cost as low as $3.00 per dozen, and while they are effective in the actual catching, the trapper often finds on reaching his "spot" that all that remains is a piece of fur, a | limb, or a part of the tail, telling all (too plainly of the mad fight for life which the poor animal must have en- dured. He has often been known to jump and drag the trap into deep water, suffering 'an ignominious death by drowning. Then" again an animal oft time loses one or more limbs by this steel jaw method, and this is proven conclusively by trappers who later catch animals in a erippled con- dition with one or, two limbs missing, and shows that they must have suffer- ed untold pain and agony after es- caping. Other wanton othods are some- times used by over-zealous and un- scrupulous trappers. The Game and « | Fisheries Department of this province specifically forbids the shooting' or spearing of 'these 'animals at any time. The act also plainly states that no person or persons shall molest, break into or destroy any muskrat house. . There is also a stipulation | against the placing of traps in run- ways or in too close a proximity to the Eat Gerrows' Bread It is the Best Confectionary of all kinds merlin "g H. GERROW & SONS Bakers and Conteotioners, Port Perry, The Peoples' Meat Market We sell everything 'you want in choice, clean, palatable, nutritious and satisfying meats. If you want it good % BERT 'MacGREGOR = will do the rest. Ring up Phone 72. Our stock of Farm and Garden Seeds is now complete. . We have Alfalfa, Red Clover, Alsike, Timothy, and Sweet Clover, all government tested. We will be pleased to supply your needs. Our prices are right. tH P ES |. i GROCERIES, CROCKERY, BOOTS & SHOES, muskrat dwelling. This is done main- a y ly to protect the young from becoming es Always in good supply. : Our motte is quality and service. Viet ond Aig ot es the Hhaghedt 'MOLASSIN E MEAL real sporting chance and avoid over- trapping. A word or two relative to the musk- We 'have a small uantity of Molassine Meal left. If a Wonder food tor all Kinde it wi jay you to do 80, a8 i rat's habits might be apropos." The muskrat, recognized as Canada's out- J a Wonderful feed for stock. as EAS Pn se by F. MCCLINTOCK ing upwards. of 50% of the: furrier's total "demands, is an, exceptionally cleanly animal, washing his food un- der water and washing himself first before eating amd sleeping at all times on a spotlessly clean nest, éontinually 'combing and pruning his fur which, of | course, improves the pelage. His food ; is almost always of the vegetable type "and due to- this diet. he is practically immune from disease. He is, however, 'of a' migratory nature and farming him artifically can only be successful- 17 asso Lt poly BY ho Swati h 1a fre: limb or limbs off or use its incissor type teeth and literally gnaw its way to freedom, resulting in its being a cripple for life, and in all probability ing to be a prog from then on. | smart slap with its tail, somewhat fn The muskrat can be categoried as 'being in the harmless animal class, although he has to be carefully han- dled when trapped. Gloves are manu- factured for this purpose, and bites | from the sharp incissors are thus avoided. We are led to believe by those of us who are higher up in the development the manner of the beaver, and disap- pears beneath the surface instantan- eously, going down head foremost, and reminding one of the quickness and | ease with which some species of ducks and grebes dive when shot at. At the distance of ten or twenty yards, the muskrat comes to the sur- face again, and perhaps joins its com- panions in their sports; at the same time others are feeding on the grassy banks, dragging of the roots of var- ious kinds of plants, or digging under- neath the edge of the bank. These animals seem to form a little com- munity of social, playful creatures, who only require to be unmolested in it is quiet and gentle, and though dom uses them severely on man. The homes of .these rats differ ac- cording to the ground. In marshy soil they build the little mounds above ground, but in stiff clay banks they dig tunnels underground, and open- ings always being under water, and sloping upward. Their habits are very like tHe beavers, housebuilding, slapping the water with their tails, ete. If caught in steel traps, the pped one, when di d, is said to be usually killed by the others. They are also said to carry away the dead body of a companion, if shot. Ontario Finances Comment by 'The Border Cities Star," Independent. Mr. 8. C. Tweed, Liberal member for North Waterloo and chief financial expert of the Opposition, has delivered a thoughtful criticism of the govern- ment's financial statement, one that gives the people of the province some- thing to consider and one, in some in- stances, that it is not easy for the ad- ministration to answer, Specifically and for purposes of division, Mr. Tweed moved that "This House condemn the failure of the gov- ernment to relieve the municipal tax- payers from their 40 percent contribu- tion to the government's share of old age pensions, notwithstanding the in- creasing revenues of the province." This point constituted one of the chief features of the North, Waterloo mem- ber's speech. After taxing everything in sight for its own revenue, Mr. Tweed told the legislature, the govern- ment had placed on the shoulders of the municipalities a large share of the burden of the cost of old age pensions. Under the federal Old Age Pension Act passed in 1927 the Dominion Gov- ernment had assumed one-half of the of scientific lore that environment is cost « of old oge pensions, expecting the the most potent factor in the gradual province to pay the other half. In- change known as evolution. & We are stead Mr. Tweed asserted, the Fergu- son administration had passed on tol' informed that location or envi is responsible for the arctic animal's natural heavy fur and the camels ability to withstand the deserts in- tense heat, ete., etc. We admit that these theories are correct, for we have seen them in actual operation. Nature in her bounteous way, provides for | | the Polar bear, the camel and every one of her countless deni down to the icipalities the responsibility for 40 percent of the province's share. That there has been a great deal of dissatisfaction with respect to this matter cannot be doubted, It was very openly expressed when the atti- tade of the government was made known some time ago. Many of the the most infinitesinal insect. Nature in some of her departments must have asgistance or at least co-operation; and in the propagation of muskrats artifically man's help is necessary. Muskrat environment is always a| place for the congregation of numer- | ous land, water and air enemies, and, while the muskrat is comparatively harmless, never attacking other an- imals, "the reverse side shows that he has very few friends. *Being a mnoc-' turnal animal he is subjected to night birds of prey, mainly the hawk and the owl. Traps, however, are set throughout the ranch at strategic positions to ward these off. In the water, large fish, turtles and snakes have been known to attack, while on land the weasel and mink are his worst enemies. The latter is capable of killing upwards of 20 muskrats in one night and all for the sheer love of blood letting. At the approach of the open season, generally from March 15th to. April 21st, would it not be a wonderful ac- complishment in the interests of all that is humane if the hundreds of boys, both young and old, would use a little more discretion in their trapping methods by using a real trap, remem- bering that for every animal caught that goes free in a wounded condition, the possibility of a next year progeny | of ten is forever destroyed. Let us all help and avoid needless aie icipalities took the stand that the provincial authorities had "passed the buck." It was charged, also, and ap- parently with some reason, that the government had not demonstrated much real enthusiasm for the principle involved and had only taken advan- tage of the federal provision for the paying of old age pensions when it was no longer possible, from a politi- cal standpoint, to evade the responsi- bility any longer. Still another point was discussed by Mr. Tweed was the five cents per gal- lon gasoline tax. During the last fiscal year, the Liberal critic declared, the revenue of the provincial high- ways department including the gaso- line tax totalled $17,016,125, while the expenditure on account of roads was only $4,855,858. What, he asked, had become of the difference--$12,160,272, The difference, he said, was not used to make new roads, because the money for that purpose was raised by de- benture issue. According to the gov- ernment's handling of the matter, it was evident that collections in the highways department offered a very happy source of revenue to cover ex- penditures in other lines. This, Mr. Tweed held, was obnoxious and ob- jectionable «in various ways. Why should the motorists be the ones who had to pay? Unless the revenues se- cured from the sources mentioned | were used for road purposes exclusive- ly, the motorists were being unjustly taxed. Who can find reasonable fault With this position? The excuse for the five-cent gasoline tax--indeed the only excuse for any gasoline tax--is that the money is needed for the improve- | ment and maintenance of the roads of | the province. - If all the money se- cured, via. gas tax, motor markers, licenses, roads should pay for them. Most de- cidedly, however, it is not sound and it is not fair to collect money from the motorists, ostensibly for road pur- poses, and then spend it for other things in which the whole public is concerned. Mr. Tweed, as president of The On- tario Equitable Life and Accident In- surance Co, is an experienced business man and naturally interested in the efficient management of any concern with which he may be connected. He believes that there is room for impro- vement in the administration of the Liquor Control Act. This is a big business; it paid Ontario a profit of more than $8,000,000 last year. At the same time, Mr. Tweed points out, this represents only 18 percent. of the sales, while the neighboring province of Quebec is able to report a 30 per- cent dividend from the operation of a similar liquor business. British Col- umbia, also, he noted, was able to re- poort a profit of approximately 26 percent. If the operation of the Liquor Control Act in Ontario were as the operation of the similar measure in Quebec, Mr. Tweed stressed, the profit of the government would have been approximately double--$16,000,- 000, .what is was. Mr. Tweed took up various other matters in his address--the T. & N. O. Railway, the provincial Treasurer's surplus and so on. The surplus, he said, did not exist at all; it was mere- ly made possible by the int, of a bookkeeping system not in accord with good accounting practice. All in all, the Waterloo member's speech is a valuable contribution to the discus- sion of public business and demon- strates the wisdom of sending to the Legislature men who have had ex- perience in big business and who are therefore in a position to expertly analyze complicated financial state- ments and to properly appraise fiscal claims and policies. Mr, Tweed was elected to the House for the first time armed with such powerful teeth sel- f S 1 from the wi ed the Little Britain Woman's Tnsti- tute on Monday night in the commun- ity hall. The Oddfellows and wives, also the husbands of the members were invited. The hall was beauti- fully decorated. There were five con- tests followed by progressive euchre. Mrs. Garfield Heatlie won the first prize. A' fine lunch was served to about one hundred guests. Every- body voted as having had a most de- lightful social evening and wish they would come oftener, ¥ Sap is now on the run but up to the present has been very light. Everybody wishing for milder weather to come then the sap would run well and make everyone feel spring is here in earnest. Mrs. Mansell Osborne spent a few days in Toronto last week. Several from here attended Mrs. E. Harrison's auction sale on Thursday last. The employees of Mr. E. A. McPhee of Lindsay, are busy taking off the old paper and getting the Zion church ready for papering. Friends are sor- ry to hear that Mr. Bentley, one of the employees had the misfortune to fall from the scaffold while working, and fractured several ribs. We wish him a speedy recovery. Mrs. Wm. Stokes was a visitor at Little Britain on Thursday. Messrs. Bruce Fisher and Carman Rogers, returned home after spending several days in Toronto. Mr. and Mrs. Norman Moase and son Bruce, of Port Hoover, were in Lindsay on Friday. Miss Ada Kitson is spending a few weeks with her sister Mrs. Owen Sweetman. A good number attended the dance in Little Britain community hall on Friday night. The music was furnish- ed by the Collegiate Institute of Lindsay. Lunch was served by Little Britain Women's Institute. A good time was enjoyed by all. Miss Florence Robertson spent the week end under the parental roof near' Lindsay. Mr. Loy Rogers is taking advantage of the snow and is busy hauling saw logs to Little Britain, Mrs. Wm. Kitson is spending a few days with her daughter Mrs. Owen Sweetman. Mrs. Jas. Wilson and Mrs. Wallace THornton spent Friday in inLdsay. Mr. and Mrs. Loy Rogers spent Friday night with Mr. and Mrs. A. Mortimeer. Miss Velma Hall, of Little Britain Continuation School spent the week end at her home here. Friends are glad to hear that Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Foster are feeling much better after their recent illness. last fall; he has already d trated that he will be a decidedly useful member. ID m------ ARE YOU INTERESTED IN LACROSSE? At a meeting held in the basement of the Township Hall, Brooklin, on Thursday evening, March 27th, to dis- cuss the possibility of getting lacrosse started here. It was unanimously de- cided that this burg put forth every effort toward bringing back Canada's National Game to the place. it should have in this country. 'The hope of getting a league formed consisting of Port Perry, Pickering, Claremont, Brooklin, and whatever villages in. the neighborhood, which wished to enter was welcomed, as this would mean some keen competition, and they would all be learning the game at the same tithe. The secretary was asked to write the different places regarding the formation of this league. We hope that the citizens of Brook- i lin and vicinity will stand behind this effort toward giving Canada's Nation- al Game the place it should have in this or any other community, ~ J. BE. MacDuff. 4 ZION on, Marion March FR Rev. Mr. Zion Mm ve, called 'on a number of Wena lag, in fifa sommarity. homes and friends on | A ber are suffering from bad colds. We all hope our friends will soon be well again. Mr. Wilbert Savinac spent Saturday in Oakwood and Lindsay. Mrs. Lawrence Gillson returned to her home on Saturday after spending a month with her parents at West- wood, Ont. Mr. John Cooper, of Zion, and Miss Jean Day, of Valentia, had the nuptial knot tied in Toronto on March 25th. Congratulations. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Hawkins and son of Pleasant Point, spent Saturday in Lindsay. Mr. and Mrs. Francis Stokes, Messrs Wesley and George Stokes, Miss Ellen Mr. and Mrs. Loy Rogers. Mr. Lorne Smith spent Saturday in Lindsay. Choir practice was held at Mrs. S. Hall's on Friday night. The young people are practicing for Easter Sun- day for the morning service. Valentia choir will have charge in the evening. Mr. and Mrs. Loy Rogers spent Sun- day evening with Mr, and Mrs. Stan. Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Short visited with Woodville friends on Sunday. Mr. Ross Goodhand spent Sunday with Mr. Ellis Hill. Miss Elva Hall spent Saturday with, Miss Marion Broad. Mr. and Mrs. Philip Ripley and family, of Oshawa, : visited with friends here on Sunday. Miss ko Mi Deroy spent. testis Dorothy Wilson. Stokes, spent Saturday evening with