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SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



A NOBLE SANCTUARY. 

 By C. H. Watson. 



TN a recent issue of Science-Gossip a short 

 paragraph appeared on the subject of a na- 

 tional park, or reservation, in the Province of 

 Ontario, and the writer of the following article, 

 who was settled in the district for some time, feels 

 assured that fuller information thereon cannot fail 

 to be interesting to all lovers of nature. For 

 years past it had been abundantly clear that unless 

 effective measures were adopted for the protection 

 of the game and fur-bearing animals of that part of 

 Canada, a comparatively short time would witness 

 the extinction of many valuable and interesting 

 species. It was therefore, in the year 1892, decided 

 by the Provincial Government to appoint a Com- 

 mission " to enquire into and report respecting the 

 setting apart of certain territory situated in the 

 district of Nipissing for the purpose of a Forest 

 Reservation and National Park." The report was 

 duly made, and being promptly acted upon, the 

 schemeis now, happily, an accomplished fact. A copy 

 of this report, issued b} T order of the Legislative As- 

 sembly, has, in consequence of the above-mentioned 

 paragraph in Scienxe-Gossip, been forwarded 

 from Canada, and furnishes much information 

 of a highly instructive and interesting character. 



The tract of land constituting what is now the 

 Algonquin National Park is typical of the vast 

 district lying between the Ottawa River and 

 Georgian Bay, and is situated some thirty miles 

 south-east of Lake Nipissing. "The north-east 

 angle of the Reservation approaches to within 

 about twelve miles of the Ottawa River ; but as 

 the course of the river is south-easterly, while the 

 boundary of the park runs almost due north and 

 south, the distance from the confines of the park 

 rapidly increases as the southern limit of the 

 latter is reached. The town of Deux Rivieres on 

 the Ottawa, some twelve miles from its northern 

 limit, is the nearest settlement of any importance, 

 the population in the townships lying between 

 the eastern boundary and the Ottawa, through 

 which the Canadian Pacific Railway passes, 

 being very sparse. Otherwise, for considerable 

 distances on all sides of the park there is scarcely 

 any settlement at all. The reservation comprises 

 eighteen townships, and forms a compact block 

 with an average length from north to south of 

 forty miles, and breadth from east to west of 

 thirty-six miles, the whole area containing 1,300 

 square miles of land and 166 square miles of water." 

 The significance of these figures will be more 

 readily grasped if it be borne in mind that this 

 extent of country is about fifteen times as large as 

 the Isle of Wight, or the New Forest in Hampshire. 



It will thus be seen that ample space is provided 

 for the protection and natural increase of the wild 

 animals and birds of the forest. It is also satis- 

 factory to learn that the action of the Government 

 is approved by the hunters and trappers, who, for 

 many years past, have gained their livelihood in 

 the woods now included within the reservation. 

 These men acknowledge that the fur-bearing 

 animals were becoming scarcer every year, and 

 frankly admit that their preservation and increase 

 will eventually be to the advantage of men of their 

 calling, when following their occupation outside 

 the limits of the park. 



To quote the report already referred to : " Here, 

 not many years ago, the moose, monarch of Canadian 

 woods, roamed and browsed in large numbers, the 

 leaves and tender branches of the young trees 

 supplying him with his favourite diet ; here herds 

 of red deer grazed in the open beaver meadows, or 

 quenched their thirst at the rippling brooks or 

 crystal lakes ; here the industrious beaver — that 

 greatest natural conservator of water — felled his 

 trees and built his dams on every stream ; here the 

 wolf's detested howl startled the timid deer, and 

 the bear pushed his black bulk through the dense 

 undergrowth in search of ripe nuts and berries. 

 Here, in fact, may be said to have been the centre 

 from which the moose, red deer, and other animals 

 spread out to all sections of the Province south of 

 the Mattawa river and Lake Nipissing." 



The wanton destruction to which the large 

 game have been subjected for the past few years 

 is almost incredible. As an illustration of this 

 ferocious folly it may be stated that in the Spring 

 of 1887, the carcases of not less than sixty moose 

 were found in the district now constituting the 

 reservation, the animals having been killed for 

 their skins alone. Even were there no other 

 reasons, such reckless slaughter of valuable animals 

 would furnish ample justification for the action 

 taken by the Provincial Government in establishing 

 this noble sanctuary for helpless persecuted crea- 

 tures. Despite all this persecution, however, at 

 the present time large game are fairly plentiful, 

 especiallv in the northern and western townships ; 

 there are also many wolves and bears, whilst mink, 

 otter, fisher, martin and musk-rat abound. Beavers 

 are few and scattered, but, being a prolific animal, 

 will, under more favourable conditions, in a very 

 few years become plentiful as of old. 



The birds include wild duck, grouse, heron, 

 partridge and pigeon, and amongst song birds, the 

 whip-poor-will and chicadee are not uncommon. 

 There are several species of hawks and wood. 



