THE DESTRUCTION OF WILD ANIMALS. 145 



Such reservations could be easily created now. If left for another 

 genei'ation they could only be formed at very great expense. 



Our neighbours across the line have set a good example in this 

 respect. The Yellowstone National Park or Reservation in the 

 United States was set apart by Act of Congress in 1872. It is 

 under the control of the Seci-etary of the Interior, who is authorized 

 by the Act " to provide for the preservation from injury or spoliation 

 of all timber, mineral deposits, natui'al curiosities or wonders, within 

 the said Park ; and against the wanton destruction of tlie fish and 

 game found within the said Park, and against their capture or des- 

 truction for the purposes of merchandise or profit." 



The Park lies between "Wyoming and Montana Territories. Its 

 length north and south is sixty-one miles, and its breadth fifty-three 

 miles, its total area being a little over 3,000 square miles. The 

 district compi'ised within its boundaries is 6,000 feet above the sea 

 level and the greater portion of the land is covered with magnificent 

 pine forests. A report recently presented to Congress recommends 

 that all shooting be prohibited within the Park, and that visitors to 

 it shall not even be allowed to carry firearms. 



It would, perhaps, be better to form in Canada several such Reser- 

 vations of moderate size, rather than one veiy large one ; for there 

 is another object in making these reservations besides that of protect- 

 ing wild animals — the rainfall of a country or district is consider- 

 ably afiigcted by the destruction of its forests. 



The gradual diminution of forests in the Adirondack Mountains 

 has seriously aftected the water supply of New York State. The 

 volume of some of the rivers has decreased from thirty to fifty per 

 cent, within the memory of man. 



The Yellowstone Park is a watershed whence several lai-ge rivers 

 have theii- source, hence one reason for its selection as a permanent 

 forest. 



Look at a map of Canada and you will find several districts about 

 fifty miles square, from each of which a number of important rivers 

 have their source. 



There is one such in the northern part of New Brunswick ; one 

 in Ontario about one hundred miles northwest of Lake Nipissing ; 

 one near the Kicking Horse Pass in the Rocky Mountains. 



These would seem to be appropriate spots for forest reservations. 



