ANNUAL REPORT, 1943-44 19 



7MM, and 57 calibres, 82; rifles of .25, .25/. 20, and .25/. 30 calibre, 4; revolvers 5; 

 and air-guns, 18. 



Details of confiscated pelts of fur-bearing animals are as follows: — 



Beaver 304 



Fisher 7 



Fox 61 



Marten 12 



Mink 49 



Muskrat 389 



Otter 8 



Raccoon 107 



Skunk 2 



Squirrel 124 



Weasel 54 



Wolf 5 



Deer and moose hides 30 



Included among the miscellaneous articles which were seized were 14 axes 



and hatchets, 2 hammers, 13 pack sacks and dunnage bags, 4 haversacks, 8 shovels, 



8 duck decoys, 5 car batteries (used for the operation of artificial lights), 3 tents, 

 3 camp stoves, 3 fish containers and 7 ice chisels. 



Charges were laid and prosecutions followed in 1012 cases in which viola- 

 tions of the Game and Fisheries* Act and the various Regulations were involved. 

 As a result of these charges 963 convictions were registered and varying penalties 

 imposed. In 43 cases the charges were dismissed and in 6 cases the charges were 

 withdrawn. 



In connection with the convictions the charges were laid by Game and 

 Fisheries Overseers in 922 cases, by Provincial Police in 32 cases, by joint action on 

 the part of Overseers and Police in 8 cases, and by Municipal Police Officers in 1 

 case. 



The charges were laid by Game and Fisheries Overseers in 42 cases and by 

 Provincial Police Constables in 1 case in those instances in which such charges were 

 dismissed at the hearing by Magistrates. 



In the actions in which the charges were withdrawn the informations had 

 been laid by Overseers in 5 cases and by joint action between Overseers and Pro- 

 vincial Constables in 1 case. 



FISH CULTURE BRANCH 



During the year, twenty-seven hatcheries and rearing stations were operated, 

 successfully. No new plants were established, in keeping with the restrictions 

 imposed by wartime conditions. 



For the culture of game-fish the development of rearing stations or a com- 

 bination of hatchery and rearing station instead of a hatchery only, is in keeping 

 with progressive developments in this field. A hatchery may be defined as a build- 

 ing in which is housed all the necessary equipment for hatching and rearing of 

 fish to the fry or advanced fingerling stages. A rearing station is an extension of 

 this arrangement; large tanks, raceways or ponds being provided for accomodating 

 fish from the underyearling to yearling or older stages. 



Of the twenty-seven stations, eleven are provided with hatcheries only, four 

 with ponds only, one with raceways only, three with a combination of hatchery 

 and ponds, eight with a combination of hatchery, raceways and ponds. 



