ENFORCEMENT 



The game laws enacted by the Province of Ontario and the Regu- 

 lations promulgated in accordance therewith, and the Ontario Fishery 

 Regulations, and Migratory Birds Convention Act and Regulations ap- 

 proved by the Canadian federal authorities are designed primarily 

 for the protection and conservation of our wildlife. To ensure that 

 the legislation and regulations are properly complied with, the 

 department has some 190 conservation officers strategically placed 

 throughout the province. In addition to this enforcement work these 

 officers also assist in many phases of conservation and management 

 work, plant fish, lecture and show films in conjunction with educational 

 work among school children, etc. Excellent cooperation in enforcement 

 is supplied to our officers by some l450 Deputy Game Wardens and 

 members of the Ontario Provincial Police. 



When an officer apprehends a person for a violation of the Game 

 and Fisheries Act and Regulations, all the equipment being used is 

 required to be seized. Upon conviction the articles become the 

 property of the Crown, to be disposed of by the department. Where in- 

 fractions of a minor nature are involved, the persons concerned, 

 following disposition of the informations which were laid and subsequent 

 receipt of inquiries from them, have been provided with an opportunity 

 to redeem the seized articles on payment of a specified fee assessed 

 by the department for the return of such articles. This arrangement 

 applies primarily to firearms and fishing tackle. 



However, there is a percentage of violations in which the circum- 

 stances are sufficiently serious to warrant the definite confiscation 

 to the Crown of the seized articles. These confiscated articles are 

 disposed of by the department at annual public sales (fishing tackle 

 and miscellaneous items in the spring and firearms in the fall), and 

 which sales were conducted in the respective areas in which the of- 

 fences had occurred. 



Two sales of confiscated articles were held during the year now 

 under review. The receipts obtained, from the fishing tackle sale 



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