THE ENEMIES OF WILD LIFE 199 
not only have they practically cleaned up all the stock of 
grouse, killed fawns and the deer themselves by the hun- 
dreds, but they have made the keeping of sheep in some 
parts of the interior almost an impossibility at the present 
time, and the number of domestic fowl they have killed 
would total a good many thousand dollars. The whole of 
the Dry Belt simply swarms with these pests... .”’ Over 
$50,000 was paid by the provincial government in bounties 
on these pests, and in spite of this expenditure the evil was 
not abated. 
This demonstrates most conclusively that as a means of 
destroying predatory animals the bounty system is a failure. 
Alberta.—In response to my inquiries, Mr. B. Lawton, 
chief game guardian and wolf bounty inspector for the Prov- 
ince of Alberta, has furnished the following information with 
regard to the payment of bounties by the provincial govern- 
ment for the destruction of wolves and coyotes, and the 
extent of the damage caused by these predatory animals: 
1. Since the formation of the Province in 1905, bounty has been con- 
tinually paid for the destruction of grey or timber wolves. In the years 
1907, 1908, 1909 and 1917 bounty was paid on prairie wolves, or coyotes. 
2. The amount of bounty paid each year is as follows: 
OU eae ar wln: «hte ars rave ce ia $1,860.00 TEES Meare atink Gon gtatstecraterand $2,141.30 
MRROE 2 Gisteye ale oes ie ales .. 2,940.00 BOGS Ae 51.) y richntiisele 2,984.75 
Mea wean soe se eos es 26,701.32 DOE ie craved ik deen eee ohanee 4,208.30 
Me ga he) nic 2 ok le «ele 25,231.28 ROLE ae Aa Uh lene are 4,188.70 
BEM Reed WA wy ya ea ook 3,005.30 OPO She, he ble Sane 409.48 
BPEL Toye rh st as a 1S0 ok 5h 2,763.90 TOU ee oats Ph Rasa: 1,160.15 
3. Grey or timber wolves are very destructive to game in the mountains 
and in the northern part of the province. In the ranching districts in 
the southern part of the province a limited amount of damage is caused 
by timber wolves. Quantities of poultry and some calves, colts, sheep 
and lambs are destroyed by the prairie wolves; they are also very destruc- 
tive to game and other birds. They appear to be much more plentiful 
at times; this is more noticeable when there is a scarcity of rabbits. At 
such times they are compelled to come into the settlements to obtain a 
