1912-13 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 93 



A number of salmon trout fry and fingeirling black bass were put into the lakes 

 near headquarters. 



We have a fine site for a fish hatchery, and I hope you will some day in the 

 near future establish one here. We could then keep our lakes stocked and also 

 supply outside sections. 



Game of all kinds has very much increased. A number of beaver, otter, 

 mink, marten, fisher, musk-rat, raccoon and ermine were taken and the skins 

 disposed of, realizing $5,424.10. 



Live beaver and some live mink were also sold to the value of $605.25. The 

 former went to points in Prince Edward Island, Ontario, and the United States. 

 There now being a great demand for live animals of all kinds for fur-farming 

 purposes, we are in compliance with your instructions, preparing to supply the 

 same from the Park. The prices for live animals are much greater than for 

 pelts, and the departure is strictly in keeping with one of the objects in view 

 when establishing the park, viz. : the multiplication and spread of our fur-bearing 

 animals. The annual increase of these in the Park is so great thatt the number 

 taken in the past three years has caused no perceptible diminution. 



The capercallie introduced some years ago are not making the showing I 

 would wish, although several were reported by reliable parties, as having been 

 seen last year. They seem, however, to be working to the north and prefer the 

 pine woods. 



Wolves are still numerous and do a great deal of damage among the deer. 

 We have secured sixty of the pests, and know that many were poisoned that our 

 men did not get, owing to the snow covering up the tracks before they were found. 



This has been an unusually good year for the deer, and fewer were killed 

 by the wolves during the past winter than for any one of the past ten years. 

 Deer are very abundant and moose are becoming more so; there is a yard of the 

 latter within a few miles of headquarters. 



Fires have been bad, a great many having been started by the locomotives 

 on the Grand Trunk railway. I am glad, however, to be able to report no damage 

 done in the Government limits, and elsewhere in the Park — most of them were 

 over old burns. The Gillies Bros, had some pine burnt which is now being 

 taken out. I should like to mention here that Mr. Colman, Superintendent of the 

 Ottawa Division of the Grand Trunk railway, gave every assistance in his power 

 and rushed men to the scene of the fires at once, also, gave strict orders to his 

 men that they must give immediate assistance in case of fire. 



The Grand Trunk railway have built a hotel ^nd six cottages at Sn;oke 

 Lake for the accommodation of visitors. These are of cedar logs, and fitted 

 with all modern conveniences, such as fire-places, baths, etc. Each cottage will 

 accommodate six to ten people, and there are several rooms in the main building. 

 They have also guides' housie, stables, etc. A like plant on a larger scale is 

 now under construction at Big Island Lake. They have built a road from the 

 Highland Inn at headquarters to each of these points, and run a stage on both 

 of them. 



The Canadian Northern Railway are pushing their branch through the north 

 end of the Park, the steel being laid as far as Cedar Lake from the intersection 

 with the Grand Trunk Railway to the west. This line follows some of our finest 

 lakes, Kioshkoqui, Mink, Couchon, Aura Lee and Cedar, thence down the Petewawa 

 to Pembroke. It will be a very popular route with the angler and canoeist, as these 



