RESERVES FOR WILD LIFE IN CANADA 253 
with white spruce and jack pine. Other portions are cov- 
ered with poplar, and there are quite large areas of open 
grazing land. This reserve appears to be well adapted to 
the preservation of wapiti, which were formerly found there. 
BritisH COLUMBIA 
Comprising as it does one of the finest big-game terri- 
tories on the North American continent, it is a hopeful sign 
for the future conservation of our big-game and wild-life 
resources that the British Columbia Government, during the 
past decade, has taken steps to set aside considerable tracts 
of undeveloped land, consisting largely of mountain and 
forest, as game reserves. The total area comprised in the 
five provincial game reserves—exclusive of the Ashnola re- 
serve for mountain sheep—is nearly 2,867 square miles. 
These reserves, arranged according to the date of their 
reservation, are as follows: 
Elk River Reserve-—This reserve, which was established 
in 1910, comprises an area of 234 square miles, and is situated 
in the southeastern corner of the province, to the west of 
the Elk River. It commences about fifteen miles north of 
Michel, on the Canadian Pacific Railway, and includes 
some of the finest Rocky Mountain goat and sheep coun- 
try in that portion of the province. Grizzly bears and 
wapiti are also to be found in this area of magnificent 
mountain and forest scenery. 
Yalakom Game Reserve-—In 1910 an area of 280 square 
miles, adjoining the North Fork of the Bridge River, was 
set aside as the Yalakom Game Reserve. The south end of 
the reserve is about twenty-three miles northwest of Lil- 
looet. It comprises excellent country for goat, sheep, and 
deer. When the reserve was established these animals were 
plentiful, but since 1912 it has been estimated that they 
have been reduced in numbers by about 80 per cent. 
This reduction is ascribed partly to excessive hunting by 
