1912 AND FISHERIES COMMISSION. 295 



Canadian partridge (ruffed grouse), is distinctly on the increase, so 

 much so, indeed, as to justify the proclaiming of an open season in 

 the fall of the present year. This bird, prized alike for its sporting and 

 edible qualities, is fortunately distributed over almost every section of 

 the Province. Unlike the pheasant, it does not lend itself readily to 

 domestic rearing, and consequently its price remains high in all coun- 

 tries, so that there exists no reason or inducement to encourage its im- 

 portation for market purposes, or to sanction the sale of the imported 

 bird during the close season. 



In the past the open season for this bird has been from September 

 15th to December 15th. It would appear that the opening of the sea- 

 son, however, fell too early, for the reason that, as a rule, the coveys 

 remain packed until the weather begins to turn cold, and are disinclined 

 to take to wing, and in consequence the destruction of an entire covey 

 is frequently an easy matter. That, if there be an open season for part- 

 ridge, the deer hunter should be entitled to profit by it, would seem to 

 be reasonable, for his bag of deer is limited, and the partridge would 

 provide him an alternative sport to compensate for his outlay, besides 

 being a most welcome addition to the camp menu. Many persons, how- 

 ever, who like to hunt the partridge, from motives of personal security, 

 prefer not to venture into the woods when the deer hunters are afoot, 

 and the convenience of these sportsmen also must be considered in decid- 

 ing on suitable dates for an open season, although in framing dates 

 for an open season on different classes of game the broad principle 

 of making them as far as possible coincident should never be lost sight 

 of, for, when the hunter is in the woods after one class of game within 

 the provisions of the law, the lives of other classes cannot but be in 

 jeopardy, for the temptation is obviously great, and frail human nature 

 is but all too likely to succumb to its allurements. Hence, in consider- 

 ing the question of a suitable open season for partridge, a reasonable 

 medium would apear to be attained by fixing the dates from October 

 15th to November 30th. 



Your Commissioner would, therefore, recommend that: 



1. An experimental open season be declared for cock pheasants in 

 Ontario from October 15th to November 15th for the current year, both 

 days inclusive, and that their sale be permitted during this open season, 

 and for one month thereafter. 



2. The importation of English or European pheasants, in bond 

 through Atlantic seaports, be permitted during the open season in Eng- 

 land, and that the sale of same be declared legal during the English 

 open season, and for one month thereafter. 



3. It be declared lawful to import Australian rabbits, frozen and 

 in their skins, in bond tli rough Atlantic and Pacific ports, and to sell 

 them in the Province of Ontario throughout the year. 



4. An open season for partridge be declared for the current year 

 from October 15th to November 30th, both days inclusive. 



