To make the law more useful in the management of wildlife resources, the 

 greatest possible degree of flexibility was sought. This led to considerable 

 dependence on regulations made under powers granted by the Act. The Minister 

 may make regulations concerning the open season for fur-bearing animals, the 

 setting apart of waters as fish sanctuaries, and regulating the use of fish huts. All 

 other regulations must be made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. These 

 include, in part, provision of hunting and fishing licences and their conditions, 

 setting most of the game seasons, prescribing many of the hunting rules, and 

 setting out the hunter safety training program. 



The new statute will come into force on a day to be named by the Lieutenant 

 Governor by his proclamation. 



Law Enforcement 



The first responsibility of a law enforcement officer is to prevent violations. 

 During the hunting and fishing seasons, conservation officers meet many thousands 

 of sportsmen, and it is an essential part of their duties to determine whether or 

 not there has been any infraction of the regulations. Indications are that not 

 more than two per cent of those checked have committed any offence, although 

 it is necessary to warn approximately five per cent of those interviewed, that 

 they have come close to difficulties. 



Many sportsmen seem to lack understanding of the hunting and fishing laws. 



The results of actions by enforcement officers are summarized for the past 

 three years as follows: 



1959-60 1960-61 1961^62" 



Number of seizures 2,318 2,424 2,050 



Number of convictions 2,192 2,160 2,019 



Cases dismissed 80 126 56 



Convictions reported by the R.C.M.P. 3 47 30 



re Migratory Bird Regulations 



Seized from persons unknown — 139 37 



Licence offences, including hunting, fishing and trapping without a licence, 

 or transferring licences continue to be of most frequent occurrence. 



Convictions for licence offences: 



1960-61 % Frequency 1961-62 % Frequency 



Fishing 183 8.5 69 



Hunting 482 22.3 311 15.4 



Trapping 16 0.7 5 0.2 



Total 681 31.5 385 19.0 



Per cent frequency is based upon a comparison with the total of all con- 

 victions for the year. While there has been a drop of more than 12 per cent 

 since the previous year, conclusions are hardly justified for the data presented. 



The most frequently occurring offences for angling and hunting are recorded 

 below. It is very important to realize, however, that comparison with similar 

 data presented in earlier Annual Reports is not justified, because of the constant 

 revision of fishing and hunting regulations. For example, the very specialized 

 fishing regulations which were in effect for many years in the Counties of Durham, 

 Northumberland, Peterborough and Victoria have been changed or eliminated 

 during the last five years. Offences against these regulations accounted for a 

 considerable proportion of all of the fishing offence convictions in the Province. 

 Less spectacular, but quite as effective, in rendering comparisons from year to 

 year invalid, are the general amendments to both hunting and fishing regulations 

 which have been made almost every year. 



115 



