208 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 



The actual destruction of the animals is accomplished 

 through hunters and trappers, at salaries of $75 per month, 

 with additional allowances in meritorious cases of $10 per 

 month for camp equipment, and $15 per month for each of 

 two horses, the hunter to pay his own expenses, including 

 subsistence for himself and horses. Almost all hunters 

 furnish one or more horses. The pay of hunters is rated on 

 their skill and the results secured, only the best receiving 

 the full $115 per month. They are not allowed to receive 

 bounties, and deductions are made for time lost. A careful 

 record is kept of the number and kind of animals taken by 

 each hunter as shown by reports, skins, scalps, and skulls 

 submitted. 



Trapping with steel traps has been very successful, and 

 has the advantage of giving known results and preserving 

 for sale the skins of the animals taken. Beginning with the 

 methods known to the professional trapper, the pohcy of 

 the Bureau has been to adopt the best devices, develop new 

 methods, and discard in favour of new methods such prac- 

 tices as do not give satisfactory results. Annually the in- 

 spectors are called to some central point for conference with 

 the Bureau officials in charge of this work. 



Poisoning individual animals is occasionally done to ad- 

 vantage where stock are killed and carcasses fed upon by 

 depredating animals. General poisoning campaigns have 

 proved very successful, but have the disadvantage that the 

 number of animals destroyed cannot be definitely deter- 

 mined, and the furs are not recovered. Strychnine capsules 

 are being used in these operations, and experiments are 

 being made with cyanide and other poisons. Hunting with 

 dogs has been carried on in an experimental way, but with- 

 out signal success. 



The skins of all fur-bearing animals taken by the hunters 

 are cured and saved, being shipped to Washington from 

 time to time. They are sold by auction. It is estimated 



