ANNUAI^ REPORT, 1937-38 



PHEASANT: — During the year reported upon the Department intensified its 

 pheasant re-stocking activities insofar as they applied to live birds, with the 

 result that the distribution of eggs was to that extent curtailed. Departmental 

 records reveal the fact that only 303 settings, or 4,545 eggs, were distributed to 

 interested applicants, while live pheasants numbering 5,076 in all were liberated 

 in suitable areas, 4,703 of which birds were placed in various Regulated Game Pre- 

 serve areas, a scheme of protected areas inaugurated during the year, and to which 

 scheme detailed reference is made later on in this Report. 



The following references concerning the earlier efforts in connection with 

 the re-stocking of pheasants will probably be of sufficient interest to warrant 

 inclusion in this Report. 



It seems rather a hopeless task to definitely determine the time and circum- 

 stances when the English ring-necked pheasant was first introduced into this 

 Province. The only official record to be found is in the published reports for the 

 Department. It is strange that while reference is made in some of them to con- 

 ditions, no information is included as to when they were planted or by whom. The 

 first reference found is in a report of the Ontario Game and Fish Commissioners for 

 1895, and concerns Mongolian and English pheasants, viz:^ — 



"There is an increasing feeling among sportsmen that further and greater 

 efforts must be made in the near future looking towards the restocking of game 

 covers, and quail seems to be the only bird which offers a fair compensation for 

 the outlay of time and money. As is well known, none of the other native birds 

 admit of propagation so that restocking with them is out of the question. Some 

 ardent sportsmen have introduced the Mongolian pheasant and also the English 

 pheasant but sufficient time has not yet elapsed in which to test the success of 

 the experiment." 



The report of the same organization for 1896 mentions the fact that a number 

 of English pheasants, about 120, were reared at Rondeau during the year. 



And again in 1901: — "It has been suggested in consequence of the English 

 pheasants that have been liberated on Point Pelee having done so well, that the 

 Point should be made a preserve and no shooting or hunting at any time be allowed 

 on the Point." 



Finally.-^reference is made to an open season, and the following is quoted 

 from the Ontario Game and Fisheries Commission (Special Committee) Final Report, 

 1910, — "The open season for pheasants which was declared during the past year, 

 resulted apparently in the satisfactory discovery that the birds were more plentiful 

 than had been supposed, and most excellent sport would appear to have been 

 enjoyed. Sufficient time, however, has not yet elapsed to enable a determination 

 to be arrived at in regard to the advisability of repeating the experiment of an 

 open season during 1911. Careful investigation should be made at this point by the 

 proper authorities, for the pheasants in some localities have become so well acclima- 

 tized and are thriving to such an extent that it would be a grievous mistake to 

 allow their numbers to become unduly diminished." 



HUNGARIAN PARTRIDGE: — These birds are not very plentiful anywhere in 

 the Province. So far as the north is concerned their numbers are negligible though 

 evidence of their existence is reported from certain sections of Thunder Bay, Algoma 

 and Temiskaming. They are most numerous in the very extreme southwestern 

 counties, while reports indicate they are becoming more plentiful in some of the 

 eastern counties. During the year 102 of these birds were distributed by the 

 Department in selected areas. 



