204 CON SERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 
ers in this western country refuse to go into the sheep industry because of 
the above facts. As I go through the country discussing the sheep and 
poultry situation, every district has numerous men who state they would 
go into the sheep industry were it not for the destruction done by the 
coyote, and they can point out concrete cases where their neighbors have 
been subjected to this pest for years. They declare it remains equally as 
bad at the present time as in the past; therefore, they cannot go into the 
sheep industry, although they would like to. 
“Whole flocks of poultry, such as turkeys and geese, have been wiped 
out after the owner carefully fostered them all summer, and, if not, the 
whole flock has frequently been reduced to 50 or 60 per cent. 
“This pest does not seem to have been seriously taken into considera- 
tion by many of our representative men, such as local and Dominion 
representatives in our Legislatures, as well as men who represent us in 
other capacities.” 
The following extracts from letters that I have received 
are typical of the experiences of many farmers in the 
province: 
Mr. A. A. Titus, Napinka, Man., writes: “All sheep men lose heavily. 
Not one in ten shepherds escapes loss. I lost 25 sheep and lambs last 
year (1917); more than half were pure-bred Shropshires. I lost $200 in 
time watching as well. ‘Total loss close to $1,000. Coyotes eat half the 
turkeys of the country and from 10 to 50 per cent of other poultry, accord- 
ing to district. A few new-born calves are eaten.” 
Mr. James MacField, Two Creeks, Man., writes : ‘We have been bothered 
with them for years around this part of the country. There are no sheep 
farmers to speak of as they think the coyotes would be a great menace, 
but every farmer tries to raise poultry and I may say every farmer loses 
in cold cash anywhere from $50 to $100 every year. The people are doing 
what they can to exterminate the wolf but we cannot afford the time to 
hunt wolves for two dollars per head. This winter (1917-18) there have 
been a great many try their hand trapping but with little success. I 
figure I can trap as well as the average man and I worked my spare time 
all winter and only got three for my trouble.” 
THe NECESSITY OF ORGANIZED CONTROL BY HUNTING 
AND TRAPPING 
The most successful method of destroying coyotes, wolves, 
and other predatory animals is by the organization of sys- 
