First Annual Report 



OF THE 



GAME AND FISHERIES 



OF THE 



Province of Ontario. 



To THE Honourable J. 0. Reaume, 



Minister of Public Works. 



Sir, — I have the honour to transmit herewith report of the work of the 

 Department of Game and Fisheries for the year ending Slat December, 1907. 



This being the first report of the consolidated department of Game and 

 Fisheries, it will be in order to refer to the cause or reason for merging what 

 had previously been two departments. During the Session of the Legisla- 

 ture of 1907, an Act passed and entitled "An Act respecting Game, Fur-bear- 

 ing Animals, and Fisheries of Ontario," which enacts as follows, viz. : "The 

 administration of this Act, and of all matters relating to fish and game in 

 the Province shall be under the control and direction of the Minister, and 

 shall constitute a branch of the public service, to be known as the Game and 

 Fisheries Branch." The Act further enacts : "The Board of Game Commis- 

 sioners of the Province is hereby abolished." It is further provided that 

 the administration of the Game und Fisheries Branch shall, under the Min- 

 ister, be in charge of the chief officer thereof, who shall be known as the 

 Superintendent of Game and Fisheries. I, having the honour to be appointed 

 to the responsible position of Superintendent, have under somewhat difficult 

 circumstances endeavored to perform the duties of the position to the best of 

 my humble ability, and I trust in some measure satisfactory to you. 



The usual statistics, so far as procurable, representing quantities and 

 values of the fisheries, plants, etc., with other matters pertaining to the 

 fish and game of the Province, will be found in the usual order. 



The Department, with one Inspector and one Acting Inspector, and a 

 full staff of seven Game and Fish Wardens in charge of districts, has been 

 able to obtain a large amount of valuable and much needed information for 

 use in the future administration of Game and Fisheries. The duties of 

 these officers have been faithfully performed, with credit to themselves and 

 to the Department. 



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