11

Muskrat ranches were first established in the late 1930s as a conservation measure. Years of indiscriminate trapping and unethical practices by white trappers, like the use of poisoned bait, had caused a sharp decrease in muskrat pelts. In 1902, 600,000 muskrat pelts were trapped in this region, but by 1930 the number had dropped to 10,000 pelts. (The Pasquia Land Settlement Project Interim Report No. 1)

Tom Lamb, the "Muskrat King," pioneered muskrat ranching with the development of the Summerberry Fur Rehabilitation Block east of The Pas. Through a series of irrigation ditches, he was able to control water levels to prevent dry marshes. Muskrats thrived, and trappers were provided a steady income - attracting hundreds of men to go work the muskrat ranches.

12

Muskrat ranchers enroute to Tom Lamb's muskrat ranch being pulled on a barge by the "Skippy L".
20th Century
The Pas, Manitoba

Credits:
PP93.18.467

13

Muskrat hunters enroute to trapping area at Lamb Ranch.
1941
The Pas, Manitoba

Credits:
PP93.18.468

14

Rudi Streit skinning a rat.
1947
The Pas, Manitoba

Credits:
PP93.18.469b

15

Rudi Streit with a day's catch of 65 rats, Saskeram Lake area.
1949
The Pas, Manitoba

Credits:
PP93.18.470a

16

Supplies bound for Summerberry Marsh spring muskrat trapping
1942
The Pas, Manitoba

Credits:
PP94.18.9

17

Summerberry Marsh landscape.
1942
Summerberry Marsh, Manitoba

Credits:
PP94.18.10

18

People gathered for muskrat trapping at Summerberry Marsh
1942
Summerberry Marsh, Manitoba

Credits:
PP94.18.11

19

Two men observing a trapped muskrat.
1942
Summerberry Marsh, Manitoba

Credits:
PP94.18.12

20

A man skinning a muskrat.
1942
Summerberry Marsh, Manitoba

Credits:
PP94.18.13

21

A First Nations family preparing muskrat skins at a tent.
1942
Summerberry Marsh, Manitoba

Credits:
PP94.18.14

22

Trapping Muskrats
23 July 2008
Opaskwayak, Manitoba

23

A group of trappers during spring trapping at Summerberry.
1942
Summerberry Marsh, Manitoba

Credits:
PP94.18.16

24

Tom Lamb (right) and Jack Berg sorting through piles of muskrat pelts.
20th Century
The Pas, Manitoba

Credits:
Murray Mckenzie
PP2003.1.3