1908 GAME AND FISHERIES. 11 



liberally endowed. I have had the pleasure of meeting numbers of deer 

 hunters on their return from their annual hunting trips, many of them 

 farmers from the older settled parts of the Province, and many of whom have 

 enjoyed these annual outings for forty or fifty years. One grand old man 

 in particular, in his eightieth year, said it was only the anticipation of going 

 the next season that kept him alive from year to year. As a rule, by the 

 first of November farmers have completed their fall work, enabling thousands 

 of them to enjoy their annual deer hunt, and looking forward to it with each 

 recurring year as one of the most enjoyable events of their lives. 



RxjFFED Grouse — Partridge. 



The close season of 1908 for ruffed grouse, better known as partridge, 

 had the expected beneficial effect. This, in conjunction with a favourable 

 nesting season, resulted, except in the older settled districts, in a large and 

 satisfactory increase in number of these grand and valued game birds, to the 

 extent of justifying an open season for 1909. To what extent open seasons 

 may prevail in the future depends upon the self-denial practised by sportsmen 

 and hunters in general. It may be necessary in the near future, as in the case 

 of quail, to reduce the open season to one month. 



Quail. 



The wisdom of having close seasons and re-stocking was apparent last 

 season, when these grand little game birds were fairly numerous in the south 

 western counties. As I have stated in former reports, it rests to some extent 

 with the sportsmen whether the quail in the Province are perpetuated or 

 exterminated, as in some of the States. It may be necessary to even further 

 reduce the present open season to make the protection of quail more effective. 



Ducks. 



Ducks were abundant all over the Province, but in consequence of the 

 prevailing fine weather, with few exceptions, they were enabled to stay out 

 in the open waters, by so doing affording only moderate sport. Ducks were 

 more numerous during the present winter in the vicinity of Toronto and 

 Hamilton Beach than ever before during the winter months. 



Woodcock. 



vSome very fine bags of these beautiful game birds were made in the 

 Province during the past open season, much to the surprise and pleasure of 

 those who delight to hunt these beautiful and elusive birds. 



Snipe and Plover. 



These birds were found as usual fairly numerous, and afforded in many 

 localities sport equal to that of past years. 



Capercailzie. 



Mr. G. AV. Bartlett, Superintendent of Algonquin Park, reports that 

 several broods of these magnificent birds were seen by the rangers in the 

 Park during the past summer. That more adult birds have not been seen is 

 in a large measure due to their shyness and retired habits, the old birds 

 retiring to the dense and most inaccessible woods. 



