22 DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISHERIES No. 41 (1948) 



The services of this field staff are augmented by the assistance and co-operation of 

 members of the Ontario Provincial Police Force and numerous seasonal overseers whose 

 services are retained for the provision of more adequate patrol service along important 

 waters during the spring and fall spawning periods as well as during the various fall 

 hunting seasons. 



That interested sportsmen are concerned in this branch of our activity is attested 

 to by the fact that several hundred offer their services and are provided with appoint- 

 ments as Deputy Game and Fishery Wardens, who, as such, are authorized to assist our 

 efforts to provide proper enforcement service. 



While there will probably always be a number of necessary seizures and prosecu- 

 tions, it is felt that this procedure, in minor cases, is perhaps not a desirable method of 

 securing the desired observance of the Act and Regulations. It is probably true that 

 many infractions result from a lapse to thoughtlessness as well as from a lack of 

 knowledge concerning the real value of our wildlife heritage. With this in mind efforts 

 have been made to acquaint the public with the economic and recreational value of these 

 resources with the hope that the spread of knowledge which may result will encourage 

 a better observance of the provisions. 



Without the supervision of enforcement officers conditions would quite probably get 

 out of control and as a result the interest of sportsmen would wane. The Game Warden 

 is authorized under his appointment to act as an enforcement officer but it is essential 

 that he should receive the co-operation of all in order to make a success of his work. If 

 our game and fish are to be protected, all concerned should assume their share of the 

 responsibility therefore. 



During the fiscal year which is reviewed in this report, there were 1,856 cases in 

 which seizures were made subsequent to infractions. These seizures were the result of 

 action provided by, — 



Overseers - in 1685 cases. 



Provincial Police „ in 11 cases, 



Municipal Police in 10 cases. 



Deputy Game Wardens in 42 cases. 



Overseers and Deputy Game Wardens in 47 cases. 



Overseers and Provincial Police in 48 cases. 



Overseers and Municipal Police « in 12 cases. 



Provincial Police and Deputy Game Wardens in 1 case. 



The following is a summary of the articles which were seized in these cases, viz: — 



Live Animals and Birds _ in 5 cases 



Birls, game animals and meat in 153 cases 



Fire-arms and ammunition in 915 cases 



Fish in 183 cases 



Nets and fishing gear in 141 cases 



Angling equipment ~ in 116 cases 



Pelts and hides - in 311 cases 



Traps and trapping equipment in 191 cases 



Water-craft in 13 cases 



Outboard motors in 7 cases 



Motor vehicles in 6 cases 



Flashlights and lanterns ~ >.....in 39 cases 



Spears in 63 cases 



Miscellaneous articles in 103 cases 



The combined total of the articles enumerated in the preceding tabulation exceeds 

 the number of cases in which seizure of articles were made, but this apparent discrepancy 

 may be explained by the fact that there are many seizure reports submitted to the De- 



