THE ENEMIES OF WILD LIFE 199 



not only have they practically cleaned up all the stock of 

 grouse, killed fawns and the deer themselves by the hun- 

 dreds, but they have made the keeping of sheep in some 

 parts of the interior almost an impossibility at the present 

 time, and the number of domestic fowl they have killed 

 would total a good many thousand dollars. The whole of 

 the Dry Belt simply swarms with these pests. ..." Over 

 $50,000 was paid by the provincial government in bounties 

 on these pests, and in spite of this expenditure the evil was 

 not abated. 



This demonstrates most conclusively that as a means of 

 destroying predatory animals the bounty system is a failure. 



Alberta. — In response to my inquiries, Mr. B. Lawton, 

 chief game guardian and wolf bounty inspector for the Prov- 

 ince of Alberta, has furnished the following information with 

 regard to the payment of bounties by the provincial govern- 

 ment for the destruction of wolves and coyotes, and the 

 extent of the damage caused by these predatory animals: 



L Since the formation of the Province in 1905, bounty has been con- 

 tinually paid for the destruction of grey or timber wolves. In the years 

 1907, 1908, 1909 and 1917 bounty was paid on prairie wolves, or coyotes. 



2. The amount of bounty paid each year is as follows: 



1906 $1,860.00 1912 $2,141.30 



1907 2,940.00 1913 2,984.75 



1908 26,701.32 1914 4,208.30 



1909 25,231.28 1915 4,188.70 



1910 3,005.30 1916 409.48 



1911 2,763.90 1917 1,160.15 



3. Grey or timber wolves are very destructive to game in the mountains 

 and in the northern part of the province. In the ranching districts in 

 the southern part of the province a limited amount of damage is caused 

 by timber wolves. Quantities of poultry and some calves, colts, sheep 

 and lambs are destroyed by the prairie wolves ; they are also very destruc- 

 tive to game and other birds. They appear to be much more plentiful 

 at times; this is more noticeable when there is a scarcity of rabbits. At 

 such times they are compelled to come into the settlements to obtain a 



