THE KEPOET UPON No. 14 



throughout the Province just at this season of the year hut, from the fact that the 

 fee for deer hunting licenses was increased to $3.00 this year, there has been a 

 gross gain in revenue in deer and moose licenses amounting to $8,034.00, 



Partridge. — The benefit of the existing close season has been shown in quite 

 a marked degree in many sections of the northern part of the Province from the 

 encouraging reports received of the increase in these game birds. 



Ducks. — The reports received from various parts of the Province are satis- 

 factory in regard to the number of ducks obtained for the past season. 



Quail. — I regret to report that the quail appear to be very scarce throughout 

 the Province. 



Pheasants. — From reports received pheasants are still quite scarce in the 

 Province. 



I Fuk-Beaking Animals. 



The fur market has been exceptionally good throughout the past year and the 

 prices obtained have been much above normal and, owing to these conditions, it 

 has attracted many trappers and dealers to participate in the lucrative returns 

 obtained from the sale of pelts of every description. 



Beaver are still very plentiful and large catches have been reported. 



Otter continue to be scarce. 



Martin and Fisher from reports received show an inclination to decrease. 



Muskrat are still plentiful in many'parts of the Province. 



I would strongly recommend the setting apart of a suitable area of considerable 

 extent for the establishment of a game sanctuary which, in my opinion, could be 

 found in some part of the middle west of the Province and which would tend to 

 assure in a marked degree the continuity of an ample supply of all classes of game 

 and fur-bearing animals which will be so necessary and valuable to those who come 

 after the present generation. 



Wolf. — Many reports have reached the Department bearing testimony to the 

 fact that great inroads have been made into the deer and other game by these 

 predatory animals in widely separated districts and the havoc caused appears to 

 demand that some prompt and definite methods should be taken to overcome this 

 great waste and I would, therefore, strongly recommend that a substantial increase 

 be added to the bounty being paid at present which would have very beneficial 

 results and encourage the trapper in exterminating the wolf. 



Fish. 



The commercial fishing, taking the Povince as a whole, has shown an increase 

 in catch over the previous year. The returns as presented by the license holders 

 show a total catch for the year of 1916 of 36,205,360 pounds, while the 1917 catch 

 as reported totals 43,834,651 pounds, being an increase of 6,629,191 pounds. The 

 number of commercial licenses issued in 1916 were 2,251 and 2,220 licenses were 

 issued for the year of 1917, being a decrease in the number of commercial fishing 

 licenses of 31. 



I am publishing herewith the report of the Sales Branch as submitted and 

 which deals with the activities of this Department in supplying the various munici- 

 palities with Government fish at a fixed price. 



