ANNUAL REPORT, 1940-41 



I 



GEESE: — This species does not play an important part in the general scheme of hunting 

 in Ontario. Conditions remained pretty much the same as has been stated in Depart- 

 mental annual reports for the past several years. Successful hunting of this variety 

 of wild water-fowl is restricted, in Ontario, to the shores of James Bay in the far north 

 and to the extreme southwestern Counties. In other sections they are seen only in 

 flight during the fall and spring migration periods and provide very little sport in 

 the way of hunting. 



WOODCOCK: — While these birds, generally speaking, are not too plentiful, they con- 

 tinue to provide a measure of satisfactory sport for interested hunters in various 

 sections of the Province, and more particularly in some of the Counties along the 

 shore of Lake Erie and immediately to the north thereof as well as in the southeastern 

 counties. 



SMPE: — These birds are not very plentiful in any portion of Ontario and are there- 

 fore not hunted very extensively. While general conditions are not favourable reports 

 state there has been some improvement and resulting increased numbers in a few 

 widely separated areas. 



PLOVER: — There are but few sections in which these birds can be described as any- 

 thing but scarce, and little improvement has been observed. Plover are protected 

 throughout the year by regulations provided under the Migratory Birds Convention 

 Act. 



FUR-BEARING ANIMALS 



Conditions as they apply to fur-bearing animals throughout the Province are 

 summarized in the following references from reports submitted to the Department 

 by members of the Field Service Staff: — 



BEAVER: — This very desirable species of fur-bearer is quite prevalent in most sec- 

 tions of the Province except some of the counties in the extreme southwestern 

 peninsula and in eastern Ontario. In Northern Ontario and in some of the northern 

 districts in Southern Ontario reports would appear to indicate that conditions were 

 such as to warrant the provision of a limited open season and restricted catch. The 

 regulations governing this open season specified that it would be effective from 

 December 1st to December 21st, 1940, both days inclusive in the territory lying north 

 and west of the French and Mattawa Rivers and Lake Nipissing, including the District 

 of Manitoulin, as well as in the Districts of Parry Sound and Muskoka. Licensed 

 trappers were permitted to take not more than ten pelts during this open season and 

 it was further specified that trappers were to dispose of the pelts taken on or before 

 December 31st. According to returns submitted to the Department some 21,605 beaver 

 pelts were taken during this open season, and it has been estimated that the value 

 of these pelts to the various trappers concerned was in the neighborhood of half a 

 million dollars. 



FISHER: — These animals are extremely scarce throughout the entire Province, and 

 reports indicate that they are practically extinct in the southern portion. The catch 

 is diminishing quite rapidly. 



FOX: — Generally speaking it would appear that this species was not too plentiful 

 during the year under review, though reports show some increase in different sections. 

 There was quite a reduced catch in comparison with previous years. 



LYNX: — This species has become non-existent in Southern Ontario, and it is extremely 

 scarce in the north. No improvement is reported from any section, and the annual 

 take continues to show a decrease. 



