236 A SPORTSMAN'S EDEN. 



protection given to its wild denizens. All penalties 

 of a pecuniary nature inflicted by the game-laws 

 are paid in whole or in part to the prosecutor, 

 whether an individual or a society. This is very 

 necessary, as the protection of game throughout 

 Canada is mainly due to the energy of certain 

 clubs of sportsmen, whose expenses are somewhat 

 lightened by the receipt of such fines. 



Canada labours under many disadvantages in 

 her attempt to protect her great game ; but the 

 greatest of all her difficulties arises from the fact 

 that the Indian still exists, and is not amenable 

 to all the laws as the white man is. Because, in 

 times past, he depended on hunting for his ex- 

 istence, the redskin is still allowed to kill in 

 season and out of season, so long as, ' by reason- 

 able presumption, the game so killed may be 

 deemed for the immediate and personal use of 

 the Indians who kill it, and not for sale or 

 barter.' I believe, however, that this exemption 

 of the Indian from the operation of the law is 

 being daily curtailed. 



There is one beast of whom no mention is 

 made in the game-laws of any of the provinces. 

 I mean, of course, the buffalo. It is commonly 

 reported that this beast, which ten years ago 

 still existed in vast herds, is now as extinct as 

 the great auk. This, in spite of the evidence of 



