1913 GAME AND FISHERIES. 



that the Act be so amended as to require a fee of not less than $5 for these permits. 

 This would be the most effective way to secure the much desired reduction. 



The Department has had a considerable amount of trouble with a number of 

 fur buyers or dealers during the past year. While all possible has been done 

 by the Department to enable dealers and manufacturers to do an honest and 

 legitimate business on lines satisfactory to them, I regret that there are a number 

 of so-called buyers in the Province who evade the game and fishery laws when- 

 ever possible, by so doing defrauding the Government and railway companies. 

 Their m.ode of procedure is to check empty trunks to parties having illegal furs 

 for sale. The checks are then sent by mail, enabling the confederates to claim the 

 trunks at tlie respective terminals. This system can only be operated by collusion 

 or carelessness of station baggagemen, and is very difficult to detect. Therefore, 

 when caught at their unlawful business the maximum penalties should be im- 

 posed, there being strong presumtive evidence that bribery of employees is con- 

 comitant with their other illegal transactions. 



I regret there is no apparent intention on the part of those having the 

 authority to establish and enforce the much needed close seasons for fish in the 

 Avhole Province. This is regrettable, when we take into consideration the increased 

 number of requests we are receiving from the authorities of the various states 

 south of the Great Lakes, and also from the Federal Government of the United 

 States,_ for permission to take spawn from our side of the lakes, not procurable in 

 their own waters. It is reasonable to presume that the same unwise course, if 

 continued on our side of the lakes, will produce the same unfortunate results, I 

 am under the impression sooner than anticipated, and then the problem will be 

 where can spawn be procured. With increased population, and consequent 

 increased demand for fish, it is difficult to understand the object of this policy, 

 which, if persisted in, will eventually result in practical extermination. 



Game. 



Moose are reported in those portions of the Province suitable for them, as 

 showing a satisfactory increase. 



Deer, I am pleased to say, are reported to be as abundant as in past years, 

 except in the vicinity of some of the older settlements. 



Ducks. — In many localities the season has been very satisfactory. In waters 

 contiguous to cities and towns ducks have been scarce, from several causes, chief 

 of which is the large increase in number of motor boats being constantly on the 

 move, and the destruction of duck food by deleterious waste matter from manu- 

 factories being allowed to pollute the water in their vicinity. 



Ruffed grouse were not so abundant as a year ago, no doubt due in a large 

 measure to the cold wet weather during the nesting season. 



Quail. — It was considered advisable to have a close season for tliese. I am 

 not sanguine as to the future of these grand little game birds, as I have stated in 

 former reports, improved farming being to a large extent responsible for the de- 

 crease. The substituting of wire fences for the rail and pine stump ones has de- 

 stroyed both cover and food, also compelling them to nest in grass fields and 

 meadows, where the eggs and sitting birds are frequently destroyed by the mowing 

 machines. 



Pheasant. — These beautiful birds being ground feeders are compelled to stay 

 and feed in the vicinity of farm houses during the winter months, resulting in 

 their being semi-domesticated. Becoming an easy prey to hunters, they will never 



