1932 ANNUAL REPORT. 1931 



One could be excused if from a study of these figures the decision arrived 

 at was to the effect that this Province offered many opportunities to the sports- 

 man to gratify his hunting instinct and fulfil his desire along these lines. 



The following is a brief summary of conditions throughout the year under 

 review as they have affected game birds and animals, and which has been com- 

 piled from reports prepared and submitted by the District Superintendents of 

 the Department: 



Deer. — Apparently there is little general change in conditions affecting 

 deer, though reports do indicate improvement in the northwestern sections. 

 These animals are also increasing in number in the closed areas of Southern 

 Ontario. In the more accessible portions of the Province in which deer hunting 

 is permitted there is a noticeable reduction in the numbers of these animals. 



Moose. — Conditions remained fairly steady, the northwestern section 

 accounting for the larger percentage of the hunting of this species. 



Caribou. — The close season has continued, and in view of the fact that 

 little, if any, improvement is noticeable, such close season on these animals would 

 appear to be necessary and desirable. 



Ruffed Grouse {Partridge). — Reports from all sections contain the informa- 

 tion that these birds are plentiful, and that conditions during the year showed 

 improvement. 



Sharp-tailed Grouse {Prairie Chicken). — Reports are to the effect that 

 members of this species are to be found in Northwestern Ontario as well as the 

 northern portion of the District of Cochrane, in which sections their numbers 

 would appear to be increasing. 



Quail. — Reported only in the southwestern counties of Southern Ontario 

 where conditions have shown some slight improvement. 



Ducks. — While numbers show some fluctuation in various sections, generally 

 speaking there was not much change in conditions affecting these birds in 

 Ontario. The mild weather which was prevalent during the regular hunting 

 season was to a large extent responsible for the restricted catch. 



Pheasaftts {Ring-necked) . — These birds are becoming very widely distributed 

 in all the southern counties of Western Ontario, and improvement in conditions 

 and increase in numbers have been reported. Present evidences of the existence 

 of these birds would indicate that the efforts to provide for their extended 

 distribution is meeting with favourable results, especially in the more southerly 

 and southeasterly sections of the Province. 



During the year under review, arrangements were completed for the transfer 

 of the Departmental work of propagation from Eugenia (Gre>- County) and 

 with the establishment of the Bird Farm at Codrington (Northumberland 

 County) this work will now be undertaken at the latter place and distribution of 

 eggs and birds undertaken from that point. 



It is quite conceivable that the success which has thus far been attained 

 in the establishment of this species in our Province would not have followed the 

 efforts of the Department had it not been for the willingness of interested private 

 indixiduals to co-operate to the extent of j^roviding facilities for the hatching 

 of the eggs and care of the young t)irds until they were in a position to pro\'ide 

 for themselves, and a reference to the records shows that in 1931 more than 



