more farmers are convinced of the advisability 

 of adding a small flock to their stock. From 

 1915 to 1920 the sheep population of the Do- 

 minion increased from 2,038,662 to 3,720,783. 

 Greater interest yet will doubtless be evinced in 

 the future with the opportunities of grading and 

 marketing, and the rising reputation of the Can- 

 adian product where good wool is appreciated. 



Outlook in Western Canada 



By John Siv:e!iii!*, ItiJu.-lri.il Agent, Western 

 Linss, C.P.R., Winnipeg. 



Western people arc beginning to be more sanguine as 

 to the possibilities of fall trading. The dead level of the 

 past few months is now showing a tendency upward and 

 reports from commercial men tell that-buying, while not 

 large in volume, is consistent, brought about by the belief 

 that for the present at least, no break of any magnitude is 

 likely to take place in the price of commodities and also 

 by the fact that stocks are low and must be replenished. 

 There are possibilities of good fall buying for although 

 some districts have spoiled crops from various causes, 

 yet the total volume will be large and the purchasing 

 power of the West should be on a par with most years to 

 take care of the people's requirements. There will be a 

 good many unemployment problems to be solved as win- 

 ter approaches, from the present outlook, rather more so 

 than is usually thj case in \Vestern Canada, but on the 

 other hand there are possibilities of development along 

 various lines that may considerably ameliorate the situa- 

 tion. 



Western cities have already started to make a study 

 of the situation and are intending to get together with a 

 view to a programme dealing with any difficulties that 

 may arise. I am inclined to think that the problem is 

 being approached in the right way and that the West will 

 have little difficulty in taking care of requirements. 



In British Columbia, the mining people are talking 

 better times in that industry. Reductions in cost of sup- 

 plies and labor has lead to more activity after a 10- months 

 period of stagnation and mines that have been closed 

 down are re-opening or likely to re-open in the near fu- 

 ture. Sales of copper, lead and zinc to China and Japan 

 has helped to relieve the stock of unsold metals: coal min- 

 ing has been more brisk and there appears to be a better 

 demand for materials used in construction. There are 

 possibilities for large expenditures in mining machinery, 

 buildings and equipment and the outlook generally, ap- 

 pears to be in much better shape than for some time past. 

 Apples, grain and hay crops are good, somewhat above 

 the average, and whilst lumber production has 'mostly 

 been for export, the mills have been kept running and it 

 is quite likely that the prairies will demand a consider- 

 able amount during the fall months. 



Construction and Immigration 



In the Prairie Provinces construction this summer has 

 been at a minimum. It is difficult to say whether some 

 improvement will be shown during the fall or not. Capital 

 is not available apparently for such purpose. There has 

 been a fairly large number of residences built under the 

 housing schemes but there are still many thousands to 

 be constructed to take care of requirements. 



Immigration, in view of the various restrictions, is 

 necessarily of small volume, but we are getting a good 

 class of agriculturist and home maker, who is adaptable 

 to Western requirements and of great advantage to the 

 country.'" Moreover, enquiries show that the present 

 period of " inactivity is temporary and that many thou- 

 sands of people are awaiting a favourable opportunity to 

 settle in Canada and to invest capital in this country. 



It 'appears to be reasonably sure that the next twelve 

 months will show a marked revival in all lines, the begin- 



ning of another great flow of prosperity in which the West 

 will largely share new markets as new channels for trad- 

 ing are being opened up. Efforts are to-day being made 

 by various organizations of producers to take care of 

 Empire requirements with apparent success and this 

 movement is likely to bring stability in prices, a freer 

 movement of merchandise and a more elastic scheme of 

 credits. 



The outlook is certainly encouraging and there does 

 not appear to be any reason to doubt that conditions are 

 shaping towards better business, more construction and 

 greater development with an era of prosperity at no great 

 distant date. 



Wild Life in Nova Scot?a 



The Maritime province of Nova Scotia, one 

 of the earliest settled regions of the Dominion 

 and long past the worry attendant upon the 

 development of more recently explored and 

 youthful areas, offers nevertheless, a peculiar 

 combination of the calm, cultivated mien and 

 leisurely progress of the old world with the 

 primitive untamed wilderness where wild life 

 follows out its existence for the greater part 

 unmolested by the advent of man and where 

 conditions are as unchanged and natural as 

 when the first discoverers arrived at the At- 

 lantic shores. Whilst these wilds have attracted 

 the trapper, the hunter and the sportsmen as 

 well as hosts of tourists, to the serious menace 

 of extinction of the province's wild life, vigorous 

 precautionary measures and methods of con- 

 servation have been adopted to ensure their 

 preservation. This has resulted in a mainten- 

 ance of numerical status in practically all species 

 and in the case of certain species occasioning 

 considerable increases, despite the heavy annual 

 toll taken. 



As a big game country Nova Scotia is eclipsed 

 only by its sister, New Brunswick, and each 

 year sportsmen from all over the continent are 

 attracted to its woods in large numbers. Re- 

 ceipts from the sale of licenses in 1920 amounted 

 to $4,843, practically all of which were non- 

 resident, indicating the wide favor of the hunt- 

 ing grounds of the province. The moose re- 

 ported killed in the 1920 season numbered 1,361, 

 an increase of 96 over the previous year and of 

 120 over the kill for 1918. Deer killed in 1920 

 numbered 125, a decrease from the previous 

 year's record of 198 which was however, abnor- 

 mally high as can be seen from a comparison 

 with 1918's bag of only 69. No trace of cariboo 

 were reported last year except in the extreme 

 north of the province and it may be assumed, 

 according to the game wardens, that they are 

 practically extinct further south. 



Domestic Ranching Increasing 



Any diminution of the fur supply is adequately 

 guarded against in Nova Scotia by the establish- 

 ment of domestic ranching which is ever assum- 

 ing greater proportions. It may not be gener- 

 ally known that this has become a thriving 



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