236 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 



not only of preserving areas of incomparably magnificent 

 scenery in which recreation may be sought by our people, 

 but also of protecting the wild life that such areas contain. 

 In most cases the double function is combined; in other 

 cases areas have been reserved for the sole purpose of pro- 

 tecting our wild life. 



As the Dominion Government only 'controls the crown- 

 lands in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Al- 

 berta, and the areas known as the ''Railway Belt" and 

 "Peace River Block" in British Columbia, the Dominion 

 parks are restricted to such provinces. In fact, these parks 

 are mainly in the Rocky Mountain region of Alberta, the 

 management of the wild-life reserves in the greater portion 

 of these western provinces having been left to the provin- 

 cial governments, as will be shown subsequently. The 

 Dominion parks are administered by the Parks branch of 

 the Department of the Interior, under the direction of the 

 Commissioner of Dominion Parks. 



All the Dominion Parks are absolute preserves for wild 

 life, hunting being strictly prohibited within their borders, 

 and fishing is allowed under special regulations (see p. 275). 



Jasper Park. — Jasper Park is the largest of the Dominion 

 parks. It was established by Order in Council of September 

 14, 1907, and comprises an area of approximately 4,400 

 square miles. Within its confines are to be found magnifi- 

 cent ranges of mountains and incomparable peaks, one of 

 the most beautiful of which is Mount Edith Cavell (11,033 

 feet), which was named in honour of that brave English 

 nurse who died a martyr to German brutality, of which this 

 mountain will be a lasting reminder. The park affords un- 

 excelled and extensive natural range for practically all the 

 big-game animals. Mountain sheep and goats are increasing 

 in numbers, grizzly and black bears are not uncommon, 

 and wiU multiply with the absolute protection they now 

 enjoy. Moose were abundant before the advent of the 



