236 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 
not only of preserving areas of incomparably magnificent 
scenery in which recreation may be sought by our people, 
but also of protecting the wild life that such areas contain. 
In most cases the double function is combined; in other 
cases areas have been reserved for the sole purpose of pro- 
tecting our wild life. 
As the Dominion Government only ‘controls the crown- 
lands in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Al- 
berta, and the areas known as the “Railway Belt” and 
“‘Peace River Block”’ in British Columbia, the Dominion 
parks are restricted to such provinces. In fact, these parks 
are mainly in the Rocky Mountain region of Alberta, the 
management of the wild-life reserves in the greater portion 
of these western provinces having been left to the provin- 
cial governments, as will be shown subsequently. The 
Dominion parks are administered by the Parks branch of 
the Department of the Interior, under the direction of the 
Commissioner of Dominion Parks. 
All the Dominion Parks are absolute preserves for wild 
life, hunting being strictly prohibited within their borders, 
and fishing is allowed under special regulations (see p. 275). 
Jasper Park.—Jasper Park is the largest of the Dominion 
parks. It was established by Order in Council of September 
14, 1907, and comprises an area of approximately 4,400 
square miles. Within its confines are to be found magnifi- 
cent ranges of mountains and incomparable peaks, one of 
the most beautiful of which is Mount Edith Cavell (11,033 
feet), which was named in honour of that brave English 
nurse who died a martyr to German brutality, of which this 
mountain will be a lasting reminder. The park affords un- 
excelled and extensive natural range for practically all the 
big-game animals. Mountain sheep and goats are increasing 
in numbers, grizzly and black bears are not uncommon, 
and will multiply with the absolute protection they now 
enjoy. Moose were abundant before the advent of the 
