9 



With the exception of musk-ox and antelope, we have every 

 species of game that exists on the Continent. There are even a 

 few wood-buffalo still in existence, while the rarest of other species 

 are still to be found in fair quantities. In addition, the European 

 red deer is to be imported to add an additional attraction to those 

 Nature has bestowed with a lavish hand. Besides our big game, 

 there are ducks, geese, and snipe, pheasants, grouse, and quail, 

 some native, others acclimatized, that furnish sport for the gun, 

 while all our waters have trout and grayling, and for size and 

 numbers the salmon-fishing is the best in the world ; in fact, so 

 many and varied are the sporting possibilities that it would take 

 years to exhaust them. 



It must, however, be borne in mind that, while we have plenty 

 of game, it does not exist in vast quantities, as it does in Africa. 

 Moreover, each species of game has its own particular range or 

 habitat, and while you may get one or two different kinds from 

 one camp, as a general rule you have to move from one place to 

 another, so that regular hunting-lodges are not in vogue and living 

 under canvas is a necessity. Also this is not a country for a man 

 wishing to travel with every luxury and a host of servants to wait on 

 him, so that he may make big bags at his leisure without exertion. In 

 most places you can be assured of all ordinary comforts and reason- 

 able attention, but the trophies obtained will to a great extent 

 depend on skill and endurance. For the true sportsman, one who 

 values his trophies for their rarity and the memories attached to 

 the difficulty of obtaining them, this is a great country, and while 

 he may not get record specimens he can generally be assured of 

 a number of trophies of which he may well be proud. 



During the past few years it has been the policy of the Govern- 

 ment to preserve the game, and for this purpose stringent game 

 laws have been enacted and are being rigidly enforced for rich and 

 poor alike. There is a limit of game allowed to be killed, and 

 shooting one day or one month before the season opens is an equal 

 offence. Visitors must not carry firearms or fishing-rods (except 

 when travelling on a public conveyance) without first taking out 

 a licence, the fees for which and the places where they may be 

 obtained are given later on. 



Another point is that under the game laws of the Province 

 open or close seasons may be declared at any time for any species 

 of game in any district. For instance, all birds and the Coast-deer 

 seasons are opened yearly, as is considered advisable ; again, wapiti 

 are not allowed to be shot anywhere in the Province at present, nor 

 are moose in the Fernie and Cranbrook Districts, or sheep in 

 Okanagan, Yale, and Similkameen. 



