1924 GAME AND FISHERIES 5 



The demand for fry and fingerlings is still very great, and each year the 

 demand is greater than the supply, although remarkable increased deliveries 

 have been made, particularly since 1920, and for comparison purposes the follow- 

 ing figures would show the total distribution from 1912 to 1923, inclusive: — 



1912 150,000 1918 58,356,631 



1913 173,815 1919 22,361,748 



1914. 598,630 1920 77,783,360 



1915 1,697,425 1921 155,347,142 



1916 1,570,450 1922 270,174,812 



1917 2,156,928 1923 340,065,997 



Game Sanctuaries. 



Further areas have been created during the year as Crown Game Preserves 

 under the authority of Orders-in-Council, and aside from the Provincial Parks, 

 the following is a complete list of the areas: — 



Miner Farm Sanctuary Essex County. 



Peasemarsh Farm Sanctuary Grey County. 



Nopiming Game Sanctuary Carleton and Renfrew Counties. 



Eugenia Fish and Game Preserve Grey County. 



Peel Game Preserve Peel County. 



Dumfries Game Preserve Waterloo and Brant Counties. 



Falcon Game Preserve District of Kenora. 



Chippewa Game Preserve District of Thunder Bay. 



Wilder Lake Preserve Grey County. 



Midland Game Preserve Simcoe County. 



The increase in the number of Crown Game Preserves from year to year 

 will tend towards improving the supply of wild life in the localities in which 

 they are located. Areas that have been set aside up to the present time are not 

 extensive, and in some cases very few fur-bearing animals are located therein. 

 I would, therefore, strongly recommend that immediate steps be taken to 

 provide for one or more sanctuaries in that part of the Province that is suitable 

 through natural conditions to provide for the apparent present need of conser- 

 vation to all fur-bearing animals, and such area to be of sufficient size, as a 

 natural increase therefrom would, to a great extent counter-balance the large 

 number of pelts that have been taken out of the Province, particularly during 

 the past few years. 



The propagation of English ring-necked pheasants on the Eugenia Crown 

 Game Preserve is being continued with marked success, and this year approxim- 

 ately 8,000 eggs were produced. 



Plantixg of Wild Rice. 



A supply of wild rice was again distributed to each district warden, who was 

 responsible for the planting of same in waters to which the general public 

 have access. The Department has received the co-operation and the appre- 

 ciation of all sportsmen and local game associations in this work, and the planting 

 of wild rice was successful in the majority of waters in which it has been sown, 

 and I trust the policy of an annual distribution will be continued. 



Game. 



Deer are reported to be quite scarce in some districts, while quite plentiful in 

 others, but on the whole it is considered that fewer deer were taken. Returns 

 from sportsmen are not required by the Department and, therefore, definite 

 figures cannot be obtained as to the quantity of game animals taken each year. 



