126 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



year ago in Chicago, the Chief of the Animal Division immediately 

 reported that the Canadian herds were liable to contract this disease, 

 since the infection can be carried very readily by human beings. As 

 a consequence, both parks were immediately closed to visitors and 

 remained closed until all danger of infection was past. In 1912, when 

 the fatal disease known as hsemhorragic septicaemia broke out among 

 the buffalo in the United States Yellowstone park, steps were immedi- 

 ately taken to protect the Canadian herd. The officials in charge of 

 the herds were fully instructed respecting necessary preventive meas- 

 ures and the steps to be taken if signs of the disease appeared. As a 

 result, there has been no serious illness of any kind among the buffalo. 



Parks s ^^ ^^ ^^ interesting fact that, while these two parks 



Sanctuaries were set aside primarily for the protection of buffalo, 

 for Small Game moose and elk, they are becoming sanctuaries for all 

 kinds of bird life and for various small animals. The superintendents 

 report that wild life quickly recognized that within these enclosures it 

 was safe, and large numbers resort there to breed. Feathered game 

 is especially plentiful and, on the shores of the lakes that supply fresh 

 water for the buffalo, thousands of wild ducks and even geese are 

 making their homes. Last year the Superintendent of Buffalo park, in 

 his annual report, said: "A great many true sportsmen have already 

 recognized this valuable protection to the feathered game and the 

 overflow this year has afforded them an ample supply for their guns." 

 This bears out the assertion of Dr. Hornaday that all that is necessary 

 is to create the reserve and protect it, that the birds will discover its 

 existence in a very short time and will resort there in numbers to 

 breed. 



In the great open parks of the Rockies, the system 

 Protection °^ protection followed is necessarily different, but it 



is meeting with similar success. The main feature 

 of the policy adopted there is a system of interlacing trails extending 

 from the park headquarters to the outlying boundaries, with game 

 wardens' cabins placed at strategic points and linked up by telephone. 

 Each warden patrols a certain number of trails, covering them every 

 few days, and passing the nights in the comfortable little cabins which 

 also serve to store sets of fire-fighting tools. 



The Parks Regulations require that all guns and firearms brought 

 within the boundaries must be sealed by a Government officer and all 

 unsealed firearms are liable to confiscation. In addition, all parties 

 travelling through the park are compelled to register at the office of 

 the superintendent, and to declare their intended routes of travel. This 



