THE WILD FAUNA OF THE EMPIBE 53 



the woods. My companion was a man many years my senior, a 

 good sportsman, and now, like myself, a game- warden. I can 

 remember his remark, as we rested on a boulder at the spot where 

 civilisation ended and the wilderness of the ' South Woods ' com- 

 menced : * Ten years ago, Jenner, a man could kill all the moose 

 he wanted within five miles of the rock we're sitting on. Now 

 there ain't ten moose in the whole county.' Two years ago I sat 

 on the same rock with him. He recounted a tale of woe about 

 a poacher he had failed to convict; and when he had finished I 

 asked him how many moose he thought there were within five 

 miles of us. ' The fire played the devil with them, but there 

 must be over twenty. Over on the other side of the lake there's 

 over a hundred. I haven't known them so plentiful since I first 

 knew you. Eeason why? It's plain enough. There isn't a soli- 

 tary moose-dog left, and the tourists and hunters who are coming 

 and going all the time cut the snares up or spring them.' 



Now there's where the whole crux of the matter comes in. It's 

 not the game-wardens or the game society who can protect our 

 game; it's the people of the Province in general, and the younger 

 people in particular, who can do the work. Game laws, sumptuary 

 laws, any laws at all, are no use in modern days unless they are 

 backed by public sentiment. 



Twenty years ago there were comparatively few people who 

 took their vacation in the woods and spent their money in the 

 enjoyment of ' the outdoor life.' The ideal holiday for the clerk 

 was a trip to town — ' town ' might mean Boston, Halifax, or 

 St. John. Nowadays you are continually being consulted as to 

 the best kind of rifle to buy, the relative merits of guides, and the 

 advisability of taking a vacation in ' calling time ' or when still- 

 hunting is in season. 



The Nova Scotian boy of to-day is a far keener Sportsman 

 than his father was twenty years ago. The reason for this is a 

 simple one. Twenty years ago the moose existed in a small area 

 only ; to-day moose are to be found in every county in Nova Scotia, 

 Antigonish possibly excepted. 



Twenty years ago the majority of the moose killed fell victims 

 to the * rope ' or were shot out of season. Nowadays every town 

 contributes its quota to the army of sportsmen who fill our woods 

 from the opening of the season until the frost comes. Young men 

 and boys who have saved up for months, with the one idea of 

 taking a trip to the woods and returning with a good head, do not 

 look kindly on the snarer or the dogger. 



In and near my own little town of Digby during the past season 

 nine young men and boys went to the woods, and returned with 

 the limit the law allowed them — one moose each. Quite a number 

 of others went, and returned empty-handed. The moose were 

 there, the caller was all right, but — one of the thousand and one 

 things which cause a moose hunt to fail occurred. 



