THE KEPOPtT UPON No. 14 



before many years we may have a large number of such sanctuaries. Miner's Farm, 

 already so well kno^vn, is a splendid example of what can be done to preserve wild 

 life. 



Game. 



Deer and moose continue to hold their own, and notwithstanding the large 

 drain upon the young men of the Province who have gone overseas, there were 

 practically one thousand more hunters in the Avoods during the season of 1916-17 

 than during the previous season, while the returns show that there were forty more 

 non-resident hunters visited the Province than dviring 1915 and 1916. 



Caribou, I am pleased to say, are on the increase, especially in Kenora and 

 Patricia Districts. 



Ducks. — Sportsmen have no reason to complain of the scarcity of ducks. 



I'al-tridge do not seem to have increased to the extent ex])ected and it may 

 be necessary to extend the close season for another two years. 



Fuk-Beaeing Animals. 



Beaver are still on the increase despite the fact that 1917 was an open season, 

 which goes to prove that under the present regulations the open season may be con- 

 tinued for at least several years without diminishing their inimbers to any alarming 

 extent. 



Mink and uuiskrats show a marked increase, due, no doubt, to the protection 

 given, particularly to the latter, by the regulation enacted in 1916, whereby no 

 muskrat shall be taken in that part of the Province lying south of the French and 

 Mattawa Elvers, except from the 1st day of March to the 21st day of April, and in 

 that part of the Province lying north of those two rivers from the 1st day of April 

 to the 21st day of May. First-class furriers commend the action of the Department 

 for this regulation. 



Marten and fisher, I regret to say, are steadily on the decrease. I am of the 

 opinion that it would be advisable to give these valuable fur-bearing animals the 

 same protection that is extended to mink. 



Otter. — In the majority of localities these animals are on the decrease and it 

 *may be necessary in the near future to give them further protection. 



Fish. 



Acting upon your suggestion that the Department do something practicable 

 to assist in reducing the high cost of living, the Department decided to open some of 

 our inland lakes under Government control. On September 26th the initial ship- 

 ment of Lake Xipigon fish reached Toronto. This shipment contained eighteen 

 boxes of whitefish and trout. The quality was excellent and the demand much 

 greater than anticipated.. The problem then was to supply the demand. The 

 waters of Lake Nipissing were then added and shortly Lake Huron and Georgian 

 Bay were assisting in supplying the demand. 



The possible extent of consumption in the Province is scarcely realized, but 

 some idea may be gained of the demand created when it is known that one firm in 

 an Ontario city sold forty thousand pounds of fish in one day. The amount of fish 

 obtained by the fishermen from Ontario waters can be judge<l by the total returns of 

 1916, which including salted fish, amounted to 37,518,6081/2 pounds at an estimated 

 value of $2,790,318.43. A large percentage of these fish had hitherto been exported 

 to the American markets on account of the high price obtained there. The in- 



