ANNUAL REPORT, 1944-45 13 



The species Brant are provided the protection of a complete closed 

 throughout the year. 



season 



WOODCOCK:— General conditions as they apply to this species of game bird are 

 not too satisfactory. They are reported to exist in various portions of Ontario, but 

 except in some scattered sections they are not sufficiently plentiful to encourage 

 hunters to participate in such hunting as is provided under the Migratory Bird 

 Regulations. 



In 1944 the open season on woodcock extended from October 1st to 31st, 

 and the regulations which governed specified a bag limit of eight per day and a 

 seasonal bag limit of one hundred birds. 



SNIPE: — Conditions somewhat similar to those which prevail in connection with 

 woodcock are evident with respect to snipe. There are some sections in which they 

 provide desirable sport, but generally speaking they are not too plentiful. 



The open season extended from September 15th to November 15th in the 

 northern division and from October 1st to November 30th in the southern division. 

 The bag limits were reduced considerably in 1944, the daily limit being decreased 

 from twenty to eight, and the seasonal limit decreased from two hundred to fifty. 



PLOVER: — Reports from field offices indicate that while these birds may be found 

 in most parts of the Province, they are not at all plentiful except in a few widely 

 separated counties, and the protection of an entire close season as is provided under 

 the Migratory Birds Convention Act is justified by these conditions. There are some 

 areas in which improvement has been observed, though such increase is in no way 

 general nor too noticeable. 



FUR-BEARING ANIMALS 



Following is a summary of the conditions which apply throughout the 

 Province to the various species of fur-bearing animals which are known to exist 

 here, and which remarks are based on the reports submitted by members of the 

 Field Service staff of the Department: — 



BEAVER: — These animals continue to provide a good proportion of the financial 

 returns accruing to trappers from their trapping operations. Conditions as they 

 apply to this species continue to be quite favourable in many sections and more 

 particularly in the remoter areas in which circumstances suitable to their propaga- 

 tion and increase prevail. Such suitable circumstances are undoubtedly augmented 

 by the intensive efforts put forth by members of the enforcement service commen- 

 surate with their other duties, to secure as strict observance as they possibly can of 

 the provisions of the Game and Fisheries Act established for the protection and de- 

 velopment of this very desirable fur-bearer. There are, of course, many portions of 

 the Province in which such favourable conditions with regard to numbers do not 

 exist, and in these sections they are rigidly protected and an entire close season 

 prevails. 



The following open seasons were provided during the year 1944: 



(a) Throughout Northern Ontario (except the District of Rainy River and 

 that portion of the District of Kenora lying south of the main transcontinental line 

 of the Canadian National Railway), and in the districts of Parry Sound, Muskoka, 

 and Nipissing (South), the counties of Haliburton, Lanark and Renfrew, and those 

 portions of Hastings, Lennox, and Addington and Frontenac lying north of num- 



