Report of the Department of Lands and Forests for 1950 No. 3 



as for the thousands of visitors from outside our boundaries who annually visit this 

 great Province for a period of rest and healthful recreation. Without such attractions 

 to stimulate and develop this traflic within Ontario our loss from the financial 

 standpoint would be inconceivable. 



It has been necessary that Conservation Officers, in the course of their patrols, 

 should provide action in the case of those with whom they have come into contact 

 while in the act of committing some infraction of our legislation and regulations. 

 Such action has been subsequently followed by prosecution, and the statistical details 

 which follow will indicate in a degree some of the activities of these officers and the 

 results which have accrued therefrom. 



Seizures 



During the annual period covered by this review, extending from April 1, 1948, 

 to March 31, 1949, an examination of our records maintained in the Enforcement 

 Section reveals the following information. 



There was a total of 2,915 cases in which equipment was seized by reason of 

 the fact that the same was being used in various ways which apparently constituted 

 infractions of the legislation and regulations. 



Table No. 12 

 Details of the officers who were responsible for these seizures are as follows, viz: — 



Conservation Officers — - 2,713 cases 



Provincial Police Constables - - - IS cases 



Deputy Game Wardens 3 cases 



Joint Action: 



Conservation officers and O.P.P - 16 



Conservation officers and D.G.W. - 162 



Conservation officers and Municipal Police - 6 



184 cases 



2,915 cases 



In 280 of these cases the seizures were made from unknown persons, prin- 

 cipally involving traps and fishing gear which were set in an unlawful manner, and 

 in which cases it was impossible for the officers concerned to develop definite evidence 

 regarding the ownership of these articles. The seized equipment in these cases was 

 confiscated to the Crown. 



Table No. 13 

 The articles seized in these 2,915 cases included: — 



Game animals (or portions) 



and birds in 319 cases Traps and snares in 224 cases 



Firearms in 1,292 cases Water craft in 44 cases 



Fish in 389 cases Outboard motors in — — 11 cases 



Nets and fishing gear in __. 241 cases Motor vehicles in 8 cases 



Angling equipment in .._ 492 cases Lights (artificial) in 52 cases 



Spears in .._.. 85 cases Aeroplanes in 2 cases 



Pelts and hides in 1,926 pieces Miscellaneous articles 345 pieces 



Further details concerning these various seizures are enumerated in the following tables: — 



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