THE GAME ANIMALS OF CANADA 31 



they would come from the sportsmen who hunt these animals. In order 

 that we might have the valuable opinions of these men, the department 

 communicated with each person reported having killed elk last season. 

 . . . The replies received indicate quite plainly that elk-hunting is re- 

 stricted to certain localities. . . . Over 90 per cent of the 175 elk killed 

 last year were secured in townships 51, 52, 53, and 54, ranges 18 to 27 

 both inclusive, all west of the 2nd meridian. This appears to be the 

 only elk-hunting ground of any account in our province, and it will take 

 but a few years to deplete the few remaining herds, if action is not taken 

 to save them. . . . The majority of our correspondents are of the opin- 

 ion that the elk are decreasing in numbers, and unlawful hunting by 

 idians is given by many as a cause for this decrease. 



Mr. Bradshaw informed me verbally, in 1915, that he 

 lought the wapiti were decreasing. The number killed 

 rould indicate that Thompson Seton's estimate of 500 in 

 (907 was too low for the number of wapiti in this province, 

 [r. Bradshaw has kindly furnished me with a map showing 

 le present distribution of the wapiti in Saskatchewan, and 

 ley appear to be confined to the following regions: South- 

 east of Prince Albert, in the neighbourhood of Basin and 

 Lenore Lakes; northeast of Prince Albert, in the lake coun- 

 try north of the Saskatchewan River; and north of Battle- 

 ford in the region between Turtle and Pelican Lakes and the 

 Big River. In view of the comparative scarcity of this 

 animal in Saskatchewan and the necessity of providing an 

 absolute close season, the Commission of Conservation made 

 strong representations to the Saskatchewan Government on 

 the subject in 1918, and supported the local efforts to 

 secure such permanent protection. We are pleased to re- 

 cord that the Saskatchewan Game Act was amended in 

 1919 to provide for an absolute close season in elk in that 

 province. This will enable the wapiti to increase in a 

 region so well adapted to its requirements. 



The numbers of wapiti in Alberta have decreased, accord- 

 ing to a report furnished me by Mr. B. Lawton, the chief 

 game guardian, and only an absolute close season such as 



