80 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 



more slender and less massive than those carried by sheep 

 in the Rocky Mountain region of the same province. The 

 female sheep have short, goat-like horns, which are erect 

 and flattened, and they measure from five to eight inches. 



In Alberta the Rocky Mountain sheep are found through- 

 out the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, from the 

 international boundary to the region of the Smoky River, 

 and at the head of the Grand Cache River. In the southerly 

 part of their range they have suffered severely through the 

 excessive hunting of the Stoney Indians, but a number of 

 circumstances are now tending not only to prevent their 

 further reduction, but to insure an increase in abundance. 

 The Indians are now compelled to observe the provincial 

 game laws, which require a bag limit of two sheep and fix 

 the open season from September 1 to October 15. The 

 most important factor, however, in protecting the sheep 

 and insuring an increase is the protection they secure in the 

 Dominion Parks. In the Waterton Lakes Park, in the 

 south, they are reported to be more plentiful. Their in- 

 crease in number in the Rocky Mountains Park is very 

 noticeable. In fact, the presence of a flock of ewes and 

 lambs in the neighbourhood of the Vermilion Lakes auto- 

 mobile road is one of the attractions of Banff during the 

 summer. Jasper Park contains a large area of sheep coun- 

 try, in which the present stock of sheep will undoubtedly 

 increase through the absolute protection accorded to them 

 by the game-protection policy of the Dominion Parks. 

 These three extensive areas, that are described in greater 

 detail elsewhere, will insure the preservation of this species, 

 and will act as a source of natural supply for the adjacent 

 mountains outside the confines of the parks. 



The Rocky Mountain sheep in British Columbia may be 

 killed between September 1 and November 15, in all 

 districts except the electoral districts of Yale, Similkameen, 

 and North and South Okanagan, in which they are given 



