84 ' i\i/'/.l.V /-o/,' />y/.T ASSOCIATION 



spruces ami cypress exist here and there, but they never attain to any size from the 

 i;il point of view. 'II jive barren patches are covered with what I 



Ix-lieve to be Lichi-n r<in<jifi'rni, and in tin- summer the surface is fairly hard, crunch- 

 ing under one's feet like snow. Imm> diately underneath the surface there is an 



-sive amount of moisture, even in a drought. 



Lying to the west of these !>::: a large aiva. which many years ago was 



completely burnt over, tho forest, being absolutely exierminated. In summer the 

 caribou resort to this tract, presumably to feed on herbs, &c., along the water courses 

 and around tho lakes, but the moment winter comes mi and there is snow in the 

 barrens they flock to this latter place and feed upon this moss, or lichen, apparently 

 finding no difficulty in pawing away the snow covering even when the same is very 

 deep. Therefore, there must be something peculiar in the formation to cause the 

 animals to frequent this area at certain seasons only. 



During the winter of 1902-3 a herd of over 100 head was seen and counted, whilst 

 bands of over ten and up to fifty animals are now a fairly common sight. 



A hunting lodge, 20 feet by 40, has been erected in a convenient place on tho 

 banks of the Kiver Murray, furnished with spring cots, blankets, heating and cook- 

 ing stoves, and utensils, so that the sportsman has only to bring his provisions and 

 rifle. For hunting in the barrens and use of hunting lodge a fee of $2 per day is 

 charged. With good travelling conditions the barrens can be reached in a day and 

 a half's drive from Quebec; under favourable conditions, in two days, but then one> 

 is repaid by the certainty of sport. Only a limited number of sportsmen are allowed 

 in at the same time, consequently every one gets his deer and comes back satisfied. 



Convinced that clubs are genuine protectors the department has leased, in sec- 

 tions, a narrow strip along tho St. Urbain road, a guardian being placed on each sec- 

 tion. As a result the barrens lying immediately westward are adequately protected, 

 and the caribou have increased wonderfully in numbers. 



There are at present only five Government guardians, but with the club guardians 

 this number is swelled to twenty. It cannot be claimed that there is a sufficient 

 number of Government guardians to patrol efficiently such an extensive area, particu- 

 larly when the boundaries are not sharply defined topographically or otherwise. 



To demonstrate the utility and expediency generally of creating fish and game 

 preserves, it may be mentioned that when the park was first erected by Act of legis- 

 lature a general outcry was made by hunters who looked upon this territory as in a 

 measure belonging to them for trapping, and a good deal of feeling was displayed. 

 Ten years have not yet elapsed since the creation of the park, and yet some of those 

 who decried most warmly its creation are now content to say that they have actually 

 been benefited thereby. The small fur-bearing animals increase so rapidly in the 

 park as to favourably affect the trapping on its outskirts, owing to the natural in- 

 crease finding its way there as a consequence in the course of time. 



Government guardians act as, and are vested with all powers of, firerangers, in 

 addition to their powers as fishery wardens and game overseers. 



The plan of destroying, on the spot, any traps, nets or tackle of any description 

 found set in the park has been adopted, and proved to be satisfactory. The mutila- 

 tion or destruction of any standing growing timber is prohibited beyond what is neces- 

 sary for camping purposes. Special permission is granted to lessees of territory to 

 cut out trails, or to cut timber for erecting necessary buildings. 



The regulations read that the only manner of fishing permitted in the park is with 

 the fly, but the department has seen fit to modify this in the case of Grand Lake Bath- 

 can and Snow Lake, and would do the same for other waters should it be found neces- 

 sary. 



No licensee for the sale of liquor in the park are permitted. The Government 

 guardians, or other park employees, are not entitled to any share of fines or penalties 

 collected. Any person violating any of the provisions of the Park Act or regulation 

 is liable to a fine of not less than five dollars and not more than fifty, with costs; and 



