34 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 



In the annual report of the provincial game warden of 

 British Columbia for 1918, a small herd of wapiti is re- 

 ported pasturing around the south end of the Elk Valley 

 Game Reserve (see p. 239) and a larger herd is known to 

 be in the vicinity of the headwaters of the White River. 

 Efforts to secure a short open season have proved unsuc- 

 cessful, as the Game Conservation Board considers that the 

 absence of any reports of an increase in the number of wapiti 

 does not warrant such action.* The wapiti liberated at 

 Bridge River, near Lillooet, are reported as doing well, 

 and two claims for damages done by these animals to the 

 crops of Indians in that district have been paid. 



In the Dominion Parks of western Canada successful 

 efforts are being made to increase the herds of wapiti that 

 are protected in those areas. The following figures of their 

 numbers in the year 1919 have been furnished me by the 

 Commissioner of Dominion Parks, Mr. J. B. Harkin: 



Buffalo Park, Wainwright, Alta 106 



Rocky Mountains Park, Alta 27 



Elk Island Park, Alta (estimated) 106 



The superintendent of the Waterton Lakes Park reported 

 that in 1915 a herd of wapiti was to be seen almost any time 

 near Turret Mountain. ''This herd has increased greatly," 

 he states, "and is now estimated at about 200 head." 



In 1916 a herd of about fifty-eight animals was secured 

 from Jacksoii Hole, Wyoming, by the Commissioner of 

 Dominion Parks, with the intention of placing them in the 

 large wapiti enclosure in Waterton Lakes Park. The wapiti 

 previously enclosed in that park will be liberated, and by 

 this means a beginning will be made in stocking the enor- 

 mous area of the park over which this animal formerly 

 ranged, and into the western region of which the increase 



* It is to be greatly regretted that in 1919 the Game Conservation Board 

 permitted the restricted hunting of wapiti. We feel that these animals are 

 by no means sufficiently abundant as yet to permit hunting. 



