220 REPORT OF ONTARIO GAME No. 52 



animals, and that the trapper be required to burn the carcasses of all 

 such creatures whatsoever that may be killed by such poison. 



Feathered Game. 



It has, unfortunately, to be recorded that the quantities of the 

 various species of feathered game to be found in Ontario have in almost 

 every case and in almost every district considerably diminished, and 

 there can be little question that the main cause of this regrettable state 

 of affairs is overshooting. One of the chief diflflculties coincident with 

 the enactment of restrictive legislation in regard to the shooting of 

 several species of feathered game in such a country as this is that, while 

 the moist logical dates for the open seasons for the various species are 

 not always identical, the birds themselves are to be encountered largely 

 over the same areas. It has, indeed, been demonstratd to be almost 

 impossible to protect one variety by a close season during a period when 

 other varieties might be legally Hhot. Another obvious difficulty is tlie 

 matter of meeting the local conditions prevailing over such a wide area 

 by general legislation. It may, in fact, be confesised that to do so would 

 appear a practical impossibility; at least, to the extent of completely 

 satisfying the wishes of all the sport'smen living in the various districts. 

 Further, the fact that certain varieties of game birds are migratory en- 

 hances the difficulty of affording them adequate protection, fdr there 

 will inevitably be some considerable protest at depriving citizens of 

 game for the benefit of a neighboring nation. To further complicate the 

 situation, feathered game is so 'small and so comparatively quickly and 

 easily disposed of, that the detection of offences against such restric- 

 tions as may be imposed is exceedingly difficult over such a wide region 

 as the area of Ontario, and consequently the laws in all too many in- 

 stances are broken with impunity. In addition to this, also, feathered 

 game is so highly esteemed for table purposes that reputable citizens, 

 who themselves would not break the law, in certain cases abet its in- 

 fraction by others through the repeated purchase of illegally taken game. 

 In view, then, of the general situation as it exists in regard to feathered 

 game, it is necessary briefly to examine into the laws and conditions 

 affecting the various species. 



At the present time a close season is afforded to the woodcock, the 

 partridge and the quail, the dates for each bird being: — 



Woodcock October 15 — November 15 



Partridge (grouse) ' ' 15 — ' ' 15 



Quail November 15 — ' ' 30 



Tlie woodcock is a migratory bird, and there can be but little ques- 

 tion that in certain of the southern portions of the Province it arrives 

 frequently before the open season commences and is flighting after the 

 season has closed, although the main flight seems usually to occur dur- 

 ing the course of the open season. Naturally enough sportsmen, with 



