1912 AND FISHERIES COMMISSION. 291 



tutes almost as powerful a protective weapon in the hands of the Gov- 

 ernment as would the enforcement of a close season all the year round, 

 and at the same time bears less hardly, not only on the hunters, but 

 also on the general public who enjoy their venison steak and chop, 

 though, of course, even such a measure as this should not be enforced 

 longer than absolutely necessary, as the policy of the Government 

 should always be to give to the general mass of the public every oppor- 

 tunity of enjoying the natural food resources of the Province. 



In regard to the period of the open season, there would seem to be 

 a pretty general opinion abroad that the dates have been fixed too 

 early, and that throughout a very considerable portion of the Province 

 the meat of the deer is in consequence often wasted, owing to putre- 

 faction before it can be removed. The climatic conditions of the acces- 

 sible portions of the Province are, broadly speaking, such that no con- 

 siderable quantity of snow need be anticipated in an average Novem- 

 ber or weather sufficiently and continuously cold as to prevent the 

 melting of the snow, should it fall, under the rays of the sun. The 

 temperature, however, is, as a rule, markedly lower at the end of the 

 month of November than at the beginning. Consequently it would 

 seem that if the season fell fifteen days later in the year there would 

 not be much risk of snow tracks assisting the hunter, whilst, not only 

 would the deer meat be less likely to spoil before being removed from 

 the woods, but also the later season will make, or at least threaten to 

 make, things harder for the sportsman, and, as Dr. Hornaday remarked 

 to your Commissioner when discussing this point: 



" Anything which accomplishes this, tends towards the preserva- 

 tion of the species." 



Your Commissioner would, therefore, most strongly recommend 

 that: 



1. The open season for deer be fixed from November 15th to Novem- 

 ber 30th in each year, both days inclusive. 



2. The bag limit for each hunter during each open season be fixed 

 at " one horned deer." 



3. The penalty for exceeding the bag limit, or for killing a doe or 

 fawn, be not less than |25.00 or more than |100.00. 



Small Game. 



The object of protection is primarily to perpetuate existing and 

 indigenous species of game, for the extinction of any species is recog- 

 nized to be a direct economic loss to the community. In particular 

 cases, also, protection may occasionally be used to allow the firm estab- 

 lishment and acclimatization of a newly introduced species. In no 

 case is the object of protection to deprive the public of the advantages 

 of its natural resources in fish and game as a source of food supply. 



Restrictions on the sale of game, though frequently necessary for 



