54 STALKS ABROAD 



as pets. That can all come later, though I imagine 

 that in those localities where the contemplated re- 

 serves are situated, the means of transport will have 

 to be much improved before they become popular 

 resorts such as Banff or the Yellowstone Park. In 

 British Columbia, however, there is one thing which 

 will have to undergo a very radical change before 

 we can hope to see reserves established with any 

 prospect of success whatever. I refer to the " Organi- 

 sation of Districts." To any one who has not studied 

 the question, this requires a little explanation. Sec. 

 12 of the "Game Protection Act," 1898, of British 

 Columbia reads as follows: 



" Sec. 12. The provisions of this Act shall not 

 apply to Indians or resident farmers in unorganised 

 districts of this Province, with regard to deer killed 

 for their own or their families' immediate use, for 

 food only, and not for the purpose of sale or traffic ; 

 nor shall this Act apply in unorganised districts to 

 free miners actually engaged in placer mining or 

 prospection, or to surveying or engineering parties 

 engaged in their duties, who may kill game for food, 

 nor shall this Act apply to the Curator of the Pro- 

 vincial Museum, or his assistant, assistants, or agent 

 (appointed by him in writing), while collecting 

 specimens of natural history for the Provincial 

 Museum. 



" (a) Unorganised districts under this section shall 

 be and mean such portions of the Province as the 

 Lieutenant- Governor in Council may, by proclama- 



