1912 AND FISHERIES COMMISSION. 189 



the northern section, the only very considerable exception being that por- 

 tion of the Rainy River District lying to the south of the Canadian 

 Pacific Railway. The growing scarcity of moose in the southerly regions 

 generally and the earlier advent of snow in the northern doubtless both 

 played their parts in the selection of these dates. It is to be observed, 

 however, that the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway has 

 already pushed up into the northerly regions, while the right of way of 

 the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway has already been cut, all of which is 

 tending to render this area more accessible, and will continue to do so in 

 increasing measure in the future. It becomes, then, a question whether 

 it would not be advisable to reduce the open season for moose in the 

 north lands to the period of time now prevailing in the southerly regions. 

 The provincial resources in moose are mainly located in it; the more 

 southerly regions have been largely depleted ; the total numbers of moose 

 throughout the Province are known generally to be decreasing; and 

 supervision in these regions of the settlers and Indians is at all times 

 diflScult in regard to game. For these reasons it would appear that such 

 a step would be in the best interests of the perp^etuation of this noble 

 animal in the Province. It is to be noted, also, that in those sections 

 of the Rainy River District where the moose is now hunted, there is 

 practically no difference in climate between the northern and southern 

 sections as now differentiated between in the matter of open seasons for 

 moose, while moose are apparently as proportionately numerous to the 

 south of the Canadian Pacific Railway as they are to the north of it in 

 this region, so that the differentiation now in force is a manifest absurd- 

 ity when applied to this district. 



The question of the best dates for a general open season of two 

 weeks throughout the Province is somewhat difficult to decide upon. 

 There can be but little doubt but that the open season for all species 

 of deer found in Ontario should be the same, "vvhere all are liable to be 

 found in approximately the same areas, and that the presence of the 

 hunter in the woods in legitimate pursuit of one variety cannot but 

 endanger the others. In the Interim Report of this Commission a recom- 

 mendation was made that the open season for deer be declared from 

 November 15th to 30th, and the reasons for the making of this recom- 

 mendation were fully set forth therein. Objection to it has been taken 

 by some hunters on the grounds that snow is to be expected by that time 

 throughout the bulk of the deer country, and tracking will thus be ren- 

 dered easier. Granting that this is the case, it would seem that the 

 objection is fully compensated by the advantage, also incidentally 

 deemed an objection by some, that the general conditions will be less 

 pleasant for the hunter, and that consequently less persons can be ex- 

 pected to go into the woods after the deer. Pending the introduction 

 of an effective game warden service it is, as before observed, necessary 

 to make hunting a little difficult. A more forcible objection lias been 

 advanced, namely, that the rutting season is in full swing and that the 



