189 



The answers received by your Commissioners to the foregoing sets of ques- 

 tions sent out by them, and the evidence heard from witnesses who appeared 

 before them to give evidence, point to a state of affairs, which, as far as the Game 

 and Fish of the Province is concerned, is most alarming. 



It would have been well, if the Commission which is now making its report, 

 had been issued years ago. 



On all sides, from every quarter, has been heard the same sickening tale of 

 merciless, ruthless, and remorseless slaughter. 



Where but a few years ago, game was plentiful, it is hardly now to be 

 found, and there is great danger that, as in the case of the Buffalo, even those 

 animals which have been so numerous as to be looked upon with contempt, will 

 soon become extinct. 



In many places where game animals formerly abounded, large cities stand 

 to-day ; the clearing up of the land, the cutting down of the forests, the intro- 

 duction of railways, the ravages of the wolves, the indiscriminate hunting of the 

 human assassin, and the use of dynamite and net, have all contributed to the 

 general decrease of the game and fish of the land. This is to be regretted, and 

 is indeed a deplorable state of affairs, not only from the sportsmen's but from an 

 economic point of view. 



The good which would undoubtedly accrue to the masses from a liberal 

 supply of cheap game and fish food is now minimized to such an extent as to be 

 almost unobservable. 



What game is left now goes, either to grace the table of the rich, or to the 

 neighbouring republic, where larger prices are obtained for it than can possibly 

 be had in Canada. 



The amount of money put in circulation annually, by sportsmen, is enormous, 

 although your Commissioners regret that they have been quite unable to form 

 even an approximate estimate of the amount so spent in the legitimate pursuit 

 of fish and game. 



It will be readily seen that the money paid out for powder, shot, fire-arms, 

 fishing-rods and tackle, railway transport, hotel accommodation, *camp supplies, 

 and hire of guides and the many other incidentals necessary to the sportsman, 

 amount yearly to a sum which is not easily guessed at, and there are many 

 localities and many families in the Province, who depend chiefly on this source of 

 revenue for their livelihood. 



As the Game and Fish supply decreases year by year, the money put into 

 circulation also decreases proportionately, and in inverse ratio if the Game were 

 protected, the Province restocked as far as possible, and pains taken to preserve 

 and propagate the supply, the community would benefit materially thereby. 



Your Commissioners having therefore given the most careful attention to 

 the matters presented for their consideration, and having weighed most carefully 

 the evidence presented to them, keeping ever in mind that their duty was to 

 recommend such measures as would conduce towards the preservation and pro- 

 tection of Game and Fish, even although such recommendations might give offence 

 to some selfish men who call themselves sportsmen, beg to make the following 

 recommendations : 



