58 STALKS ABROAD 



such a state of affairs to have existed, and until 

 they, in their superior wisdom, see fit to take the 

 matter in hand, it seems useless to talk of the care 

 of wild game, or the proper establishment of reserves. 1 



1 Since writing the above I have received a long letter from Mr. 

 Williams. Acting on his recommendation the Government have estab- 

 lished a large game reserve in the Yarlakan district. The game seem to 

 have discovered that they are safe there, and sheep and goats are already 

 on the increase. Reserves are also in process of formation in East 

 Kootenay and Vancouver Island. Altogether the question of game pre- 

 servation seems to be in a much more hopeful condition than when I 

 was in British Columbia. The Government grant for Game Protection 

 in 1908 was at the rate of $13,000.00, and the bounty on cougars and 

 wolves has been raised to $15.00 per head. A grant of $9,000.00 lias 

 been set aside in the estimates for this purpose. 



