30 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 
place, Mr. Charles Barber, the chief game warden for Mani- 
toba, informs me that they are increasing in numbers and 
that the females appear to predominate. He believes that 
there are approximately six or seven hundred animals at 
the present time. These are to be found in the following 
districts: four or five hundred are in the vicinity of the 
Riding Mountains, and about one or two hundred are sup- 
posed to be roaming in the territory between Lakes Winni- 
peg and Manitoba. 
The Province of Manitoba is to be congratulated on the 
action it took in 1917 in amending its game laws to provide 
for an absolute close season on wapiti. Such a wise and 
public-spirited step will undoubtedly assist this most de- 
sirable game and meat animal to regain somewhat its former 
numbers in those portions of the province so admirably 
suited to its needs, and unsuitable for agricultural develop- 
ment. 
In Saskatchewan Mr. F. Bradshaw, chief game guar- 
dian, stated in his annual report for the year ending April 
30, 1916, that the Game Act has been amended to limit 
the bag of this animal to one male only. ‘‘This step is in 
the right direction,’’ he states, ‘‘but the elk is so desperately 
near the danger zone that a close season for a number of 
years would be in the best interests of this animal. The 
number of elk killed this year is 200, which is a slight in- 
crease over last year’s figures.”’ In his annual report for 
the year ending April 30, 1917, Mr. Bradshaw reported on 
the wapiti as follows: 
In our last report we made reference to the fact that the elk are in 
danger of being exterminated, and suggested that it would be in the 
interests of these animals, and of all persons concerned for the future 
welfare of the elk, to close the season for a period of years. This is the 
opinion held by all game conservationists who are familiar with condi- 
tions as they prevail in Saskatchewan. Naturally if there were any ob- 
jections against prohibiting the hunting of elk for a number of years 
