THE GAME ANIMALS OF CANADA 75 



antelope is absolutely protected by law for a period of years, 

 and, although a certain amount of illegal killing undoubtedly 

 takes place, nevertheless the watchfulness of the provin- 

 cial game wardens and of the members of the Canadian 

 Mounted Police appears to be checking any further de- 

 crease in numbers due to hunting. 



The Dominion Parks Branch of the Department of In- 

 terior has been active in its earnest endeavour to save the 

 antelope from extermination. Several attempts have been 

 made to breed the antelope in the national parks in the 

 west, particularly in the Buffalo Park at Wainwright, Alta., 

 but without success. With the assistance of Mr. Thompson 

 Seton, three areas have been set aside as reserves for an- 

 telope, one in Alberta and two in Saskatchewan. In the 

 spring of 1914 the Branch was advised of the presence of a 

 small herd of antelope near Foremost, Alta. Mr. Maxwell 

 Graham, in charge of the Animal Division of the Branch, 

 immediately proceeded to the locality and was successful in 

 enclosing, with a suitable fence about twelve miles in length, 

 an area of about 5,160 acres, a herd discovered near the 

 junction of two deep coulees. The land is mostly unsettled, 

 and as yet is unfitted for agriculture. Broken by numerous 

 ravines, it contains excellent summer and winter range, 

 and such vegetation as sage-brush, cactus, and antelope 

 grass, as well as water. At the time of capture the herd 

 consisted of forty-two animals, and this number has now 

 increased to about one hundred. 



All animal-lovers are unanimous in their hope that the 

 earnest efforts that are now being made by the Dominion 

 and the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, not merely 

 to prevent the extermination but to secure an increase in 

 numbers of this incomparably beautiful and unique member 

 of our wild life, will be attended with success. The creation 

 in the minds of the farmers and ranchers living within the 

 antelope range of a sympathetic attitude towards the pres- 



