NATURAL AREAS AND REGIONS 



301 



were shot and the remainder except for 

 a few small scattered herds have emi- 

 grated to Quebec. The black bear 

 (Ursus americanus) is of frequent occur- 

 rence; numbers are trapped each year. 

 Throughout the entire region the Vir- 

 ginia deer (Odocoileus virginianus borea- 

 lis) is plentiful and forms a good portion 

 of the food supply of many of the back- 

 woods families. Among the smaller 

 animals, the beaver (Castor canadensis 

 group), red fox (Vulpes fulva), marten 

 (Maries americana), fisher (Martes pen- 

 nanti), otter (Lutra canadensis}, weasel 

 (Mustela cicognanii), Canada lynx (Lynx 

 canadensis}, and bobcat (Lynx rufus) 

 are still more or less abundant in certain 

 parts of the province. Birds are those 

 of eastern coniferous forest. 



Fish 



New Brunswick can reasonably be 

 proud of her rivers with the different 

 species of fish that they support. Prac- 

 tically all of these bodies of water 

 contain game fish in large numbers 

 while the Bay of Fundy and other 

 bordering salt water bodies furnish a 

 large supply of food fish for domestic 

 consumption. The principal fish of the 

 fresh water streams and rivers are the 

 speckled trout and the salmon; the 

 lakes contain trout, some bass, and 

 numerous smaller species. The sea 

 fisheries are located on the north shore, 

 the Bay of Fundy, and on the islands 

 at the mouth of the latter body of water. 

 Haddock, herring, cod. smelt, shad, and 

 mackerel comprise a few of the many 

 kinds taken from the sea and the tide- 

 water portions of the larger rivers. 

 The lobster industry is also a consider- 

 able one. 



II. PRESENT BIOTIC CONDITIONS 



The comparative isolation of New 

 Brunswick, together with a lack of 

 density of population has done much to 

 prevent the complete destruction of 

 many areas and the extinction of a 

 numerous and diverse animal life. 

 Thus far the necessity for the preserva- 

 tion of areas in order to conserve the 



vegetation and animal life has not 

 been given the attention that it at no 

 far distant date will demand. Attempts 

 along this line are hampered to a certain 

 extent by local opinion which feels that 

 reservations will hinder progress and 

 development in the locality. 



The lack of specific information makes 

 it difficult to give an exact statement 

 as to the presence of all of the remaining 

 natural forest areas. Some natural or 

 virgin stands of deciduous tree species 

 are to be found in small areas scattered 

 over a good part of the province. There 

 are according to the information already 

 gathered in the progress of the New 

 Brunswick Forest Survey some isolated 

 patches of virgin coniferous forest in 

 inaccessible parts of the north. Ob- 

 viously it is of importance that wherever 

 possible these areas should be set aside 

 in their present condition. 



The animal life has fared well con- 

 sidering the vigorous hunting and trap- 

 ping to which it has been subjected. An 

 occurrence that should be viewed with 

 regret is the practical disappearance of 

 the caribou from the north central 

 barrens. They will never return except 

 as a few well-protected herds. Further- 

 more, the number of fisher, beaver, and 

 marten have in the past few years been 

 noticeably less and further steps in more 

 conservative and workable trapping 

 laws are needed. In spite of the above 

 there are few regions in the East which 

 have an animal life so numerous and well 

 represented as this province. 



Naturally enough those areas which 

 offer the best opportunity for the study 

 of either the flora or the fauna lie in the 

 most unsettled and wildest districts 

 which are located in the north and 

 central regions. They are for the most 

 part accessible only by tote road or by 

 canoe ; any naturalist who is going in for 

 the first time will do well to engage the 

 services of a competent guide. Of 

 course there are areas of untouched 

 marsh and barren in many localities. 

 These are likely to remain so, and con- 

 sequently they do not need immediate 

 attention as regards reservation. 



