202 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 



We have no statistics regarding the actual losses due to the depreda- 

 tions of wolves and coyotes, but it is generally stated that they are very 

 destructive to sheep and poultry, and sportsmen claim them to be one 

 of the worst enemies of big game and ground-nesting game birds and eggs. 

 On the other hand, they destroy gophers and field mice which are very 

 injurious pests of the farm, and the value of wolf pelts is quite a considera- 

 tion at this writing, an average price of $10 being paid for No. 1 skins, and 

 extra good pelts have sold as high as $18. 



Present methods of control can certainly be improved upon provided 

 the co-operation of the citizens can be enlisted. I doubt very much 

 whether the bounty system is instrumental in the killing of more than 

 twenty per cent of the wolves for which bounty is paid. In my opinion 

 most of the wolves are killed incidentally by farmers in the course of 

 their daily duties, others make a practice of hunting wolves in the winter 

 for sport, or for the value of the fur. I believe that the money appro- 

 priated annually for the pajmient of wolf bounties would be productive of 

 better results were it expended in paying experienced hunters and trap- 

 pers to systematically attack this problem. Under their guidance at- 

 tempts might be made to comb out the wolves methodically in certain 

 districts, the areas being extended in successive units year by year. 

 Although this plan would not exterminate the wolves I think better re- 

 sults would accrue than have been secured in the past. The pelts thus 

 taken would be the property of the Government and sold to help defray 

 expenses. 



It is often argued that if the Government would increase the bounty 

 it would be an added incentive to kill the wolves. In my opinion the 

 present high prices paid for wolf pelts is a sufficient inducement to hunt 

 wolves when the fur is prime. It might be advantageous to discontinue 

 the payment of bounties under the present plan, and try paying a bounty 

 of say $10 on all females killed during the first four months of each year. 



The principle of co-operation adopted to any plan of campaign is un- 

 doubtedly beneficial to the project in hand, and far better results may be 

 expected than would be secured in the case of individual haphazard 

 methods of control. On this ground alone your proposal seems worthy 

 of the united support of all concerned, &nd in my opinion some such action 

 as you suggest would go a long way toward the solution of this difficult 

 problem. 



The foregoing statement shows that in spite of the ex- 

 penditures made in an earnest effort to control these pred- 

 atory animals the bounty system has not succeeded, as the 

 live-stock men admit. 



