Merrier. — Protection in Quebec 5 



based upon a proper observance of closed breeding seasons, 

 is necessary to the maintenance of the supply. Propagation, 

 in the shape of fur farming, has been encouraged since 1913 by my 

 Department. In that year we published a small handbook 

 on the subject, for the guidance of farmers who desired to add this 

 branch of industry to their farming operations, and we also issued 

 permits for the capture, at any time, of a limited number of fur 

 bearers for parent stock. Previous to 1913 only a few isolated 

 attempts at fur farming had been made in Quebec Province. 

 At the present time, there are over fifty private ranches there 

 for the propagation of fur bearing animals, and some of them 

 have been extremely successful. 



In the Province of Quebec, matters connected with fish and 

 game have always been under the control of one of the Ministers 

 of the Crown, responsible to the Legislature. At present, and 

 for some twelve years past, it has been under the management 

 of the Department over which I have now the honor to preside — 

 the Department of Colonization, Mines and Fisheries. The 

 Fish and Game Branch is one of the principal divisions of this 

 Department. 



Outside of my departmental assistants in this branch, we have 

 a large and efficient staff of fish and game guardians. Of these 

 no fewer than 138 are salaried by the government. There are 

 55 voluntary guardians without salary, (that is, sportsmen and 

 conservationists) who because of their attachment to the cause, 

 have asked to be sworn in as provincial wardens for the protection 

 of fish and game, and who render efficient service without public 

 reward of any kind. The 512 lessees of fishing and hunting rights in 

 Quebec employ and pay 600 club guardians, making a total of 

 793 official fish and game wardens. All of these, including the 

 club guardians, have commissions as fish and game wardens 

 issued by the Department. Every one of them has the power 

 of a constable. 



Just here a word of explanation is necessary concerning the 

 512 lessees of fishing and hunting rights above referred to. The 

 Province of Quebec is the only one of the Dominion which offers 

 to sportsmen the practically exclusive privileges of fishing and 

 hunting over large tracts of forest, lake and river territory. These 

 privileges are leased to residents and non-residents alike. Non- 



