286 REPORT OF ONTARIO GAME No. 52 



routes, with the consequent increase of population and the facilities 

 thereby afforded for the exploitation of newly-opened lands to supply 

 the demands for game from established towns and cities, have all played 

 their part; but on this continent an additional factor must be credited 

 with a large share of the responsibility. Each man child born to the 

 country seems to have inherited in most pronounced form the hunting 

 instinct and, in the past at least, something of the lust of slaughter. 

 The truth of this, and its full meaning, was probably first realized when 

 the two nations of North America awoke to the fact that the buffalo 

 were no more. Certain it is, however, that efforts to counteract these 

 combined influences are of comparatively recent date. 



In the United States, where civilization made the more rapid pro- 

 gress and population the more rapid increase, the effects of wanton 

 destruction were first noticed and felt, and consequently game protec- 

 tion advanced there by rapid strides, whilst in Canada it still remained 

 in its infancy. Now that Canada, in her turn, has entered upon her era 

 of increase and development, it would seem but wise for her provinces to 

 take advantage of the experience of those who, in these respects, have 

 already passed through the stages of evolution in which they to-day find 

 themselves. 



That the economic value of deer can ever even approximate to that 

 of the fish is not to be contended, either as a source of food supply or as 

 an inducement to the tourist, for in the scheme of nature there is no 

 provision made for abnormal reproduction of game animals, such as 

 exists in the fishes, and also almost every man, and a great many women, 

 are expert anglers, and in the course of the year find some opportunity 

 of displaying their skill, while in these days only a proportion of the 

 male population have either the means or opportunity to venture into 

 the woods in search of deer. The economic value of deer, however, 

 though less than that of fish, is none the less very high, and should by 

 no means be overlooked or underestimated; for, outside of the money 

 brought into the Province thereby, there is still the consideration so 

 ably set forth in the 1908 report of the Game Commissioners of Pennsyl- 

 vania : 



" Through the increase of game we feel that an incentive to out- 

 door exercise and recreation is supplied that cannot be secured through 

 any other process. An experience in camp life and in handling and 

 caring for firearms is secured that is of great worth to our citizens who 

 indulge in hunting, through which they, as individuals, secure better 

 health, and are, therefore, better fitted to fill the place allotted to each 

 in his respective community. These things together — better health 

 and, therefore, better citizenship — joined to experience in camp life 

 and in the handling of firearms, appear to us of great value to the 

 state and the nation, as they surely raise our standard of defence in 

 time of trouble, in the shape of war, either from within or from with- 

 out, far above that of any people who do not hunt. We feel that the 



