1912 AND FISHEKIES COMMISSION. 221 



whom the bird is a favorite, feel it a hardship not to be able to shoulder 

 a gun during the periods of the woodcock's stay in their vicinity on its 

 way to southern climes and demands are made that the open season be 

 extended to include the whole of October and November. The partridge, 

 or ruffed grouse, which had become so scarce that a close period of two 

 years had to be afforded it to recuperate its numbers, Ik in many sections 

 of the Province in condition to be shot by the middle of September, w^hile 

 in other localities the opening of the season ko early, when the young 

 may perhaps not have matured, or in any case the birds are packed and 

 disinclined to break coveys, would result in inordinate destruction. 

 Again, in certain areas the partridge would afford good sport well into 

 December, whereas in the northerly regions, the snow drives it into the 

 trees and it becomes a simple matter to slaughter it, although shooting 

 under such conditions cannot be deemed a sport. The quail breeds some- 

 what later than the partridge, and occasionally raises a second clutch, 

 so that it would not be safe or advisable, as a general rule, to open the 

 season early in the fall for this bird. Under the present arrangement 

 whereby the opening of the season for quail coincides with the closing 

 of the season for partridge and woodcock, none of the birds, as before 

 observed, derive the full benefit from the protection afforded them, and 

 it is to be noted, also, that there is reasonable force in the contention 

 that so short a season as a fortnight tends in the direction of excessive 

 slaughter, for where the sportsman has but so brief a period for his 

 sport open to him, he will be encouraged to make the most of his oppor- 

 tunities. In this regard it should be remembered that a great number 

 of sportsmen have businesses or other occupations which necessitate 

 their close attention, and in consequence cannot spare more than a day 

 or two at most each week to hunt or shoot, and that, therefore, a very 

 short season is a distinct hardship to them. 



There can be no question that in the general interests of the com- 

 munity it is better in so far as possible to make the open seasons for 

 birds or creatures inhabiting more or less the same regions or locali- 

 ties similar throughout the Province, for differentiation between ad- 

 jacent localities tends not only to difficulties in administration and in 

 the enforcement of the laws, in addition to excessive legislation, but also 

 to considerable local friction. Consequently, even though admittedly it 

 is impossible to satisfy every one or to meet each and every local con- 

 dition or requirement, this broad principle should, in so far as possible, 

 govern the fixing of the dates for open seasons. Undoubtedly the 

 desideratum would be an open season of considerable duration, to in- 

 clude both large and small game, so that for the greatest possible time 

 sport should be available to the sportsman and game food to the general 

 public, but to arrive at such a situation it is necessary, first, to have 

 produced an abundance of game, a sentiment among the public at large 

 which will put an end to widespread malpractices or connivance at the 

 same, and a staff of wardens capable of and able to enforce such restric- 



