Ranch-raised foxes also declined 25% from the 1965 price 

 levels, as did all wild fur species with the exception of 

 beaver. As in the previous year, most of the Silver, Platinum 

 and Pearl Platinum foxes were sold to Japan. The small 

 quantity of the Dawn-Glo fox, which was developed on an 

 Ontario ranch, declined 10% and were purchased for an 

 account in Japan. 



The disease incidence on Ontario ranches was minimal 

 again in 1966. Six cases of distemper, one case of virus 

 enteritis and four cases of plasmacytosis were diagnosed at 

 the Ontario Veterinary College. The increased use of pre- 

 ventive vaccines for distemper and virus enteritis has 

 achieved this good record, but distemper could be further 

 reduced if more ranchers used the vaccine. It is felt that 

 more cases of plasmacytosis exist on Ontario ranches than 

 is reported to the Ontario Veterinary College. 

 A total of 494 Fur Farmer's Licences were issued during 

 1966. Of these, 444 were renewals of previous licences, 47 

 were for newly-established ranches and three licences were 

 issued with retroactive provisions to legalize the operation 

 of unlicensed ranches during the previous year. 

 There was an increase of 86,502 or 18.03% in the production 

 of mink pelts on Ontario ranches in 1966 as compared to 

 the previous year. 



Field Services 



The purpose of law enforcement is to prevent violations by 

 encouraging the public to obey the regulations made to 

 ensure good fish and wildlife management. These are based 

 upon the biological requirements indicated from field 

 studies, and the social needs of fair play and equitable use 

 of such natural resources. Where persuasion and education 

 fail, prosecution is necessary and a high standard of law 

 enforcement is essential to meet these objectives. 

 To meet this challenge, a comprehensive training program 

 for conservation officers has been established. Some 103 

 Department employees who enforce the game and fish laws 

 received instruction from the Branch Law Enforcement 

 Training Officer. More advanced instruction was provided 

 for 25 officers attending the Fish and Wildlife Certificate 

 Course at the Ontario Forest Ranger School, Dorset, by in- 

 structors from the Ontario Provincial Police Force and the 

 Department. In addition, 16 Fish and Wildlife officers and 

 biologists with supervisory responsibilities attended a three- 

 week law enforcement training course at the Ontario Police 

 College, Aylmer. Instruction in evidence, power and proce- 

 dure of arrest, the Canada Evidence Act, The Game and Fish 

 Act, the Fisheries Act, The Ontario Fishery Regulations, the 

 Migratory Birds Convention Act and Regulations, and the 

 Summary procedures as prescribed in the Criminal Code 

 and the Ontario Summary Convictions Act, were provided. 

 The Conservation Officer staff, which includes some Super- 

 visors and all those whose duties are actively engaged in 

 enforcement in the field, number 250. 

 Registered convictions for the fiscal year 1966-'67 totalled 

 2,626. This is an increase of 279 over the previous year and 

 is due in part to an increasing number of hunters and 

 anglers in the field, an increase in the number of violations 

 encountered and increased efficiency in the enforcement 

 staff in obtaining convictions. 



Over the past ten years, an average of 2,356 convictions 

 have been recorded each year. In the year under review the 

 average was exceeded by 270. The record for the past five 

 years has been: 



Table 19 



1962-'63 



Number of Seizures 2,186 



Number of Convictions 2,045 



Cases Dismissed 66 



Convictions by R.C.M.P 34 



(under Migratory Birds Regulations) 



About one-quarter of the prosecutions against anglers, 

 hunters and trappers, amounting to 652 cases, were for 

 angling, hunting or trapping without the authority of a 

 licence. This is an increase over last year by ISO persons. 

 Evaluation of a law enforcement program is difficult. New 

 laws and increased use of natural resources help to account 



Table 20 



1963-'64 



1964-'65 



1965-'66 



1966-'67 



for increased numbers of violations. Hunting or fishing 

 without a licence is a violation for which there is little 

 excuse, and may be a good measure of public tendency to 

 violate the law. 



A five-year comparison indicates that a higher than average 

 frequency was experienced during the yean 



