154 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 



had relentlessly pursued them from pond to pond, 

 and scarcely any remained, notwithstanding the 

 fact that they were even then supposed to be 

 protected by law. In a big wild country it is far 

 easier to make than enforce laws, especially as the 

 law prohibiting the killing of the beaver was 

 obnoxious to so many whose living depended 

 largely on the trapping or selling furs, for of all 

 fur-bearers the most easily obtained are the beaver. 

 The law was in fact almost a dead letter as very 

 few were interested in its being observed. About 

 that time in Canada certain men began to realise 

 the value of proper game reserves, and be it said 

 to their everlasting credit they succeeded in 

 influencing the Government to carry out their 

 ideas. In the United States, Colonel Roosevelt 

 was one of those most active in the work of con- 

 servation and in estabUshing reservations, and if 

 he had done nothing else during his strenuous life 

 he would be remembered by what he did in that 

 direction. In Canada, several great "parks" or 

 reserves were established, one particularly I know 

 of which was designed for a " fish and game pre- 

 serve, health resort and pleasure ground for the 

 benefit, advantage and enjoyment of the people 

 of Ontario, and for the protection of the fish, 

 birds, game and fur-bearing animals therein," etc. 

 Leaving aside all other animals and birds, we will 

 see how it affected the beaver. The tract chosen 

 was admirably adapted to their needs, and they 



