10 REPORT OF No. 32 



applies to those who shoot entire bevies of quail day after day during the whole 

 of the open season. These men are not sportsmen ; my definition of them would 

 not be complimentary, nor look well in print. The sportsmen are those who 

 with their friends take occasional shooting trips, are satisfied with four or five 

 brace of birds a day, and who make warm friends of the farmers over whose 

 land they shoot, interesting the farmers in the protection of the quail, also leav- 

 ing a dollar or two with the farmers' boys for the purpose of procuring grain 

 and inducing them to feed and care for the birds during our long and severe 

 winters. If this course were generally followed, it would not be necessary to 

 prohibit the shooting for several years or incur expense of re-stocking. The 

 source of supply for such purposes may be closed to us for all time. Sportsmen, 

 it rests with you to either perpetuate or exterminate ; you have your choice. 



Snipe and Plover. 



Snipe and plover were found as usual in past years, providing good sport in 

 various portions of the Province,' frequented by these delusive birds. 



Capercailzie. 



Capercailzie were seen by park rangers and others during the year, bat 

 from the way they have spread out over such an immense extent of our northern 

 country, it is impossible to make even a comparative estimate of their number. 

 It is satisfactory to know that our northern woods have been found suitable for 

 the acclimation of this desirable and large game bird. 



Moose and Deer. 



The mild open winter of 1905-6 was evidently favorable to the increase of 

 moose and deer, judging from the increased numbers carried by the respective 

 express companies as compared with the number carried during open season of 

 1905. The number of deer carried by the express companies in 1905 was 3,310, 

 and 150 moose or heads of same. The number of deer carried by these com- 

 panies in 1906 was 4,292, an increase of 982 over 1905 ; the number of moose or 

 heads carried in 1906 was 107. A number of moose heads were shipped as bag- 

 gage, and others were taken by team to the homes of many hunters, of which we 

 have no record. These shipments added to 107 would reach or exceed the num- 

 ber brought out of the woods in 1905. As in other years, the number of deer 

 carried by the express companies is not more than one-fourth of the number 

 actually killed in the Province during the year. Many of the hunting parties 

 go from their homes and return by team, taking their deer with them. Then 

 there is a large number of hunters hunting on settlers' permits, also the constant 

 slaughter during the whole year by Indians and settlers in unorganized territory. 

 To place the number of deer killed in the Province during 1906 at 12,000 is far 

 less than the actual number killed. Deer are now found hundreds of miles 

 further north than limits reached by them twelve years ago. 



Fur-bearing Animals. 



As I stated in report of 1905, otter and beaver are increasing in some 

 localities, although the high price realized from these pelts is a temptation to. 

 trap both beaver and otter which many trappers are unable to resist. In con- 

 sequence of the large increased value of mink skins, it is suggested that mink 

 be protected during breeding season, the same as musk-rats. A large business 

 is done in the Province in the coarse furs, namely, musk-rats, raccoon, fox and 

 skunk. 



