Fifth Annual Report 



OF THE 



Game and Fisheries Department of Ontario 



2'c the Honourable J. 0. Eeaume, 



Minister of Public WorTcs. 



Sir, — I again have the honour to submit for your consideration, which I hope 

 will receive your approval, the Report of the Department of Game and Fisheries 

 for the twelve months ending 31st October, 1911. 



The usual Statistics, Reports of Inspectors, Wardens, Overseers and Deputy 

 Wardens, and other matters in connection with the administration of this Depart- 

 ment, will appear in the usual form, for the information of yourself, your col- 

 leagues and the public in general, which I trust will be satisfactory to all con- 

 cerned. 



Laws and Regulations. 



While conservation of natural products of the Dominion is at present receiv- 

 ing, to some extent, from the authorities the attention this very important matter 

 deserves, it is difficult to realize the continuation of the destructive and unwise 

 policy of those entrusted with the formulation of the laws and regulations pertain- 

 ing to one of the most valuable natural products of the Province, viz., the fisheries. 

 Nature's laws of reproduction should be observed and strictly enforced. Failure 

 to do so incurs serious penalties. Nature has wisely ordained and provided seasons 

 in each recurring year which the various animals, birds and fish are to 

 devote to the propagation of their respective species.' I would like to know what 

 possible excuse or reason the Department of Marine and Fisheries at Ottawa can 

 adduce for their short-sighted and unnatural conduct in abolishing the close sea- 

 sons, as they have done for a number of years past. Even by the widest stretch of 

 imagination we cannot credit them with having done so with the intention of pro- 

 tecting and perpetuating this very valuable asset of the Province. It is to be 

 hoped that recent changes will result in wiser counsels prevailing, and that the 

 Province will in the near future be conceded its undoubted right to protect and 

 dispose of its own property Mdthout vexatious interference. The wisdom of ob- 

 serving and respecting nature's laws I can illustrate by a practical case. Some six 

 years ago, from a combination of unfortunate circumstances, our most valuable 

 native game bird, whose habitat is the whole Province — the RufFed Grouse, more 

 generally known as the Partridge, was almost exterminated. What would have 

 been the result had we followed the unwise course the Department of Marine and 

 Fisheries have adopted for years past regarding nature's close season for fish in 

 Ontario? In the case of the Ruffed Grouse we had two close seasons, and then 

 reduced the open season to one month, with the result that they have been more 

 numerous during the last two seasons in our northern woods than for many years 

 past. Now, supposing we had been unwise enough to have employed men five 

 years ago to scour the nearly depleted woods to kill the few remaining birds on 

 their nests and destroy the eggs, our partridge would ere this be as great a rarity 



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