202 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 
We have no statistics regarding the actual losses due to the depreda- 
tions of wolves and coyotes, but it is generally stated that they are very 
destructive to sheep and poultry, and sportsmen claim them to be one 
of the worst enemies of big game and ground-nesting game birds and eggs. 
On the other hand, they destroy gophers and field mice which are very 
injurious pests of the farm, and the value of wolf pelts is quite a considera- 
tion at this writing, an average price of $10 being paid for No. 1 skins, and 
extra good pelts have sold as high as $18. 
Present methods of control can certainly be improved upon provided 
the co-operation of the citizens can be enlisted. I doubt very much 
whether the bounty system is instrumental in the killing of more than 
twenty per cent of the wolves for which bounty is paid. In my opinion 
most of the wolves are killed incidentally by farmers in the course of 
their daily duties, others make a practice of hunting wolves in the winter 
for sport, or for the value of the fur. I believe that the money appro- 
priated annually for the payment of wolf bounties would be productive of 
better results were it expended in paying experienced hunters and trap- 
pers to systematically attack this problem. Under their guidance at- 
tempts might be made to comb out the wolves methodically in certain 
districts, the areas being extended in successive units year by year. 
Although this plan would not exterminate the wolves I think better re- 
sults would accrue than have been secured in the past. The pelts thus 
taken would be the property of the Government and sold to help defray 
expenses. 
It is often argued that if the Government would increase the bounty 
it would be an added incentive to kill the wolves. In my opinion the 
present high prices paid for wolf pelts is a sufficient inducement to hunt 
wolves when the fur is prime. It might be advantageous to discontinue 
the payment of bounties under the present plan, and try paying a bounty 
of say $10 on all females killed during the first four months of each year. 
The principle of co-operation adopted to any plan of campaign is un- 
doubtedly beneficial to the project in hand, and far better results may be 
expected than would be secured in the case of individual haphazard 
methods of control. On this ground alone your proposal seems worthy 
of the united support of all concerned, and in my opinion some such action 
as you suggest would go a long way toward the solution of this difficult 
problem. 
The foregoing statement shows that in spite of the ex- 
penditures made in an earnest effort to control these pred- 
atory animals the bounty system has not succeeded, as the 
live-stock men admit. 
