8 DEPARTMENT OF GAME AJ^D FISHERIES No. 9 



Apart from the nutritional condition of the animals there was a distinct tend- 

 ency for the fur to be dry and scanty. It appears that quantities of fresh food must 

 be fed to fur-bearing animals if the best results are to be obtained. Particularly 

 does this apply to breeding stock, for if females are fed mainly on dried products 

 they may breed and give birth to pups but they will invariably dry up during the 

 lactation period and many pups will die at the fourth week as a result. 



During the summer, regional meetings were held at Guelph, Owen Sound, ,Am- 

 prior, Ridgetown and St. Mary's which were well attended and many and varied 

 discussions arose during these meetings. In October a Field day was held , at the 

 Experimental Fur Farm at which time the foxes and mink were judged for. quality 

 and value by competent authorities on the subject. This meeting was highly suc- 

 cessful and breeders attended from all parts of the Province. 



CROWN GAME PRESERVES 



The idea of Crown Game Preserves had its origin in the desire to prptect and 

 perpetuate the natural' wild life resources of the country. The Department lias not 

 been slow in recognizing the value of protected areas for the natural propagation of 

 game, and has continued to give increased attention to this phase of its conservation 

 programme. In Northern Ontario, where the population is still sparse, and big game 

 as a consequence more abundant, advantage has been taken of the fact that much 

 Crown Land was available and large areas were in previous years established as 

 Game Preserves. The ten largest of these, viz; — The Abitibi, Burwash, Chapleau, 

 Goulais River-Ranger Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mississauga-White River, Nipigon- 

 Onaman, Nipissing, Pipestone Lake and Superior, represent a total area of approx- 

 imately 8,593 square miles. At the present time there are some 84 Crown Game Pre- 

 serves in the Province, representing a protected area of close to six million acres. 



During the period under review the Department has extended its game preserve 

 policy to include a larger portion of southern Ontario. It is intended with the co- 

 operation of private land owners to set aside as Game Preserves a number of small 

 areas, each of about one thousand acres or so, located at strategic points in each 

 County. While all species of game will be protected in these areas, they will be 

 primarily useful as refuges for game birds, (migratory and non-migratory). The 

 underlying idea in connection with these small Preserves is the same as in the case 

 of the larger areas where big game is being successfully propagated. Given pro- 

 tection for a period of years game birds and animals, provided there is a foundation 

 stock in the area, will increase in numbers and the overflow will serve to populate 

 the surrounding districts. Fourteen of these Preserves have already been established 

 in various Counties, (see tabulation). All of these areas are well suited for the 

 purpose and most of them are already supplied with upland game birds. It is the 

 intention of the Department however, to place the larger portion of its available 

 adult birds on these Preserves for re-stocking purposes. 



It is generally acknowledged that where the wild life is allowed to propagate 

 with a minimum of human interference and in surroundings which provide natural 

 food and cover, there will in time be a return to the normal conditions set up by 

 nature. This means not olily increased game in the protected areas but a general 

 Improvement in conditions throughout the Province. 



So far as the general public is concerned these Preserves serve a dual purpose. 

 From the standpoint of the sportsman they provide more game of all kinds and 

 therefore better hunting. For those whose chief pleasure in the wild life is aesthetic. 

 Crown Game Preserves will increase their pleasures by providing havens for the 

 different species where they may be found in their natural state. In addition they 

 will ensure that future generations will not be deprived of either the recreational or 

 the aesthetic advantages which we now enjoy. 



The following tabulation shows the Preserves added during the year in addi- 

 tion to several which have been either renewed or amended. 



