BIG GAME OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 117 



A forest reserve is a block of land either timbered or non-timbered 

 set apart for the purpose of producing timber upon a commercial basis, 

 and having a greater value for timber production than for any other 

 purpose. 



A park is a block of land which, because of some special features, 

 such as scenic attractions, natural wonders or ancient monuments, has 

 been set aside for the purpose of affording a place of public resort, a 

 pleasure ground for the people. 



„ . jQ These are distinct functions, easily definable, recog- 



Preservesa nizable by everyone and, although expert advice may 



Necessity |jg required in determining what lands are actually 



suitable for these various purposes and are not more suitable for some 

 other use, nevertheless, if these definitions are kept in mind, no diffi- 

 culty need be experienced in deciding which one of the three forms of 

 reservation any given section is most suitable for. It then becomes 

 only a matter of deciding upon the extent of the reservations for which 

 the Government is willing to become responsible. Were this simple, 

 direct policy adopted, we should not have the present complications 

 between various governments and government departments, whereby 

 we have the spectacle of parks created in order to make game preserves, 

 game preserves made out of forest reserves, which were created with- 

 out a thought of suitability for game refuges, parks turned into forest 

 reserves only to be turned back into parks; and, meanwhile, the 

 Stoney and the pot-hunter and the unemployed miner continue to 

 take their toll from the game without let or hindrance. The solu- 

 tion is perfectly simple. Create game preserves for the sple pur- 

 pose of game preservation, unhampered by considerations of forest 

 or park values. Then, either organize a special game protection 

 staff for the administration of these preserves or, if it is found 

 that they are largely within forest reserves or parks, let the Branch 

 having previous jurisdiction over the land assume responsibility for 

 the game protection and organize its own special staff for that purpose. 

 It may rightly be asked, " Why, if we have suitable game laws, are 

 special game preserves required at all?" The answer is that game 

 laws, to be effective, must be enforced, and the simple fact is that they 

 very seldom are. In this they do not differ materially from other 

 prohibitory legislation, which does not carry with its violation a feel- 

 ing of moral guiltiness. Most men who have any feeling on the subject 

 are quite willing to support the game laws in the abstract, but it is 

 remarkable how little effect abstract considerations have on them when 

 a big buck steps out in front of them during the closed season. More 



