30 The Canadian Forestry Journal. 



return (solely from timber and hay permits) was only some $7000. 

 The $3,000 of hunting-license revenue would therefore have 

 exactly ^balanced the account. Nor would the game be so ill- 

 protected as many seem to fear, for this work would no longer 

 be everybody's business, and hence, perforce, nobody's. 



Good as our Canadian game laws are on the whole, there 

 are still a few loopholes to fill and improvements to make. 

 Take, for instance, the case of the trappers on this reserve. 

 As early as September we found these men building shacks 

 and preparing to stay all winter; yet they had paid no license 

 and were not even required to take out a permit. Is this not 

 a mistake ? Even if the revenue were overlooked, the mere fact 

 of taking out a permit and resultant affidavit would give the 

 game warden a valuable check on their movements and go far 

 to prevent the illicit killing and sale of big game which, I am 

 credibly informed, is the common practice of these gentlemen. 



As to the vexed question of game control, it seems hard 

 to hit on the right solution. The western people claim Ottawa 

 is too far away to keep in close touch and sympathy with the 

 needs of their game, and point in alleged proof to the case of 

 the fish. To a disinterested observer it must appear that there 

 are, under present conditions, too many sets of underpaid 

 officials, all taking a hand at the game. One well-paid man 

 who does not have to farm or buy cattle, or run hotel most of 

 the time in order to make ends meet can actually do the w^ork 

 that a dozen average deputy game wardens are supposed to do. 

 British Columbia has proved that. The moral, then, is to 

 concentrate. Wherever possible, place forest, fish and game 

 under one strong commission (to exclude politics) and let their 

 basic axiom be "Good work, good pay." 



In her countless delightful nooks from ocean to ocean, in 

 her rich and varied fauna, in her inagnificent scenery, in her 

 glorious summer season, Canada has a resource which, though 

 it will cost us but little to maintain, yet promises untold millions 

 of wealth. If Canadians will exert themselves only a little, our 

 country will be the Mecca for wealthy fun-seekers and sports- 

 men from all lands; and exchanging fun for money is more 

 profitable than gold mining, or even growing "Alaska "wheat. 

 Shall we not do this? In that case, our forests, besides sup- 

 porting a great lumber industry, will, with all they imply, be 

 the chief cornerstone also of this rich auxiliary resource. In 

 conclusion, therefore, we naturally appeal once more to the 

 forester— ^and that with confidence — as the man whose efforts 

 and enthusiasm for this ideal must win and inspire Jack Canuck 

 to "organize and advertise and realize." 



