2 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 
not imply the total destruction of the wild life, but that 
civilization in its true sense signifies the elimination of the 
spirit of barbarism and the introduction of an enlightened 
attitude. 
The problems, therefore, confronting us involve a knowl- 
edge of the following questions: Of what does our wild life 
consist; what is its value; what are the factors that are 
responsible for its reduction and ultimate extermination; 
what steps are we taking to conserve it, and how can we 
improve on present methods with a view to conserving a 
valuable natural resource, the constituent parts of which 
cannot be replaced once they are lost? In the succeeding 
chapters these questions will be considered. It is felt that 
a presentation and discussion of the status of the wild life 
of Canada will afford the best means of securing that wide 
sympathy of the people throughout the Dominion that is 
essential to the success of any measures that have already 
been taken or may be adopted in the future with the ob- 
ject of conserving this resource. While in this matter of 
wild-life conservation we have much to regret in the past, 
we have reason to be proud of the efforts that we are now 
making to remedy past mistakes, and a more general reali- 
zation of our opportunities to improve our national life and 
welfare through these means will undoubtedly lead to 
further efforts. It is desirable that, before proceeding 
further, the classes of animals to be considered in the in- 
quiry should be specified. The term ‘‘wild life” naturally 
includes all the members of our native Canadian fauna, but 
it is obvious that the term must be restricted for our present 
purposes for the sake of adequate treatment and to avoid 
digressions into well-recognized groups of ourfauna. Strictly 
speaking, it would include the game, non-game, and fur- 
bearing mammals, the game and non-game birds, the fishes 
and other members of our fauna. The conservation of our 
fishes will not be considered here; it has been the subject of 
