30 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 



place, Mr. Charles Barber, the chief game warden for Mani- 

 toba, informs me that they are increasing in numbers and 

 that the females appear to predominate. He beUeves that 

 there are approximately six or seven hundred animals at 

 the present time. These are to be found in the following 

 districts: four or five hundred are in the vicinity of the 

 Riding Mountains, and about one or two hundred are sup- 

 posed to be roaming in the territory between Lakes Winni- 

 peg and Manitoba. 



The Province of Manitoba is to be congratulated on the 

 action it took in 1917 in amending its game laws to provide 

 for an absolute close season on wapiti. Such a wise and 

 public-spirited step will undoubtedly assist this most de- 

 sirable game and meat animal to regain somewhat its former 

 numbers in those portions of the province so admirably 

 suited to its needs, and unsuitable for agricultural develop- 

 ment. 



In Saskatchewan Mr. F. Bradshaw, chief game guar- 

 dian, stated in his annual report for the year ending April 

 30, 1916, that the Game Act has been amended to limit 

 the bag of this animal to one male only. ''This step is in 

 the right direction," he states, "but the elk is so desperately 

 near the danger zone that a close season for a number of 

 years would be in the best interests of this animal. The 

 number of elk killed this year is 200, which is a slight in- 

 crease over last year's figures." In his annual report for 

 the year ending April 30, 1917, Mr. Bradshaw reported on 

 the wapiti as follows: 



In our last report we made reference to the fact that the elk are in 

 danger of being exterminated, and suggested that it would be in the 

 interests of these animals, and of all persons concerned for the future 

 welfare of the elk, to close the season for a period of years. This is the 

 opinion held by all game conservationists who are familiar with condi- 

 tions as they prevail in Saskatchewan. Naturally if there were any ob- 

 jections against prohibiting the hunting of elk for a number of years 



