142 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



" The Minister observes that it is proposed to accomplish the pur- 

 pose of the Convention by the establishment of close seasons common 

 to the two countries. The hunting of game birds would be permitted 

 for a period of three and a half months in each year, with the excep- 

 tion of certain species, for which special close periods of ten and of 

 five years, respectively, are provided. The hunting of other birds, to 

 which the Treaty applies, would be entirely prohibited, except for 

 scientific or breeding purposes. 



" The Minister submits that, as the matters dealt with in the pro- 

 posed Convention are more immediately of provincial concern, he 

 caused the views of the several provincial Governments to be invited 

 thereon. 



" Replies have been received from all the provinces, showing that 

 they unanimously approve the principle of the proposed Convention, 

 the majority of them, indeed, having already enacted legislation for 

 the purposes aimed at. British Columbia, however, is unwilling to 

 accept the proposed close season for ducks, geese and other game 

 birds as provided in Article 2, or the provisions of Articles 3 and 4 in 

 so far as they would restrict the killing of cranes, swans, curlews and 

 wood ducks. It is willing that continuous protection should be 

 extended to insectivorous and other migratory non-game birds, and 

 that the shooting of ducks, such as mallards, widgeon, pintails, teal and 

 all other sporting ducks, but not of geese of any kind, should be 

 restricted to the season between September 1st and February 1st. 

 Nova Scotia desires that the open season for plover and other shore 

 birds should be extended so as to include the latter half of August. 



" The Minister states that the subject has further been under the 

 consideration of the Departments of the Interior and of Agriculture 

 and also' of the Commission of Conservation, and that there is a 

 general concurrence of opinion that the protection of these birds, 

 which is important, especially in the case of insectivorous birds, on 

 economic grounds, and harmonizes with a widely growing sentiment 

 of the desirability of conserving the creations of Nature, should be 

 ensured, and to this end that a Convention for the purpose should be 

 concluded with the United States. 



" It is not believed that the objections raised by British Columbia 

 and Nova Scotia should present an insuperable difficulty. A fuller 

 explanation of the considerations which influenced the framing of the 

 provisions to which exception is taken might suffice to remove them, 

 or further discussion might lead to a compromise. 



" The Committee concur in the foregoing and, on the recommenda- 

 tion of the Secretary of State for External Affairs, advise that Your 

 Royal Highness may be pleased to request His Majesty's Ambassador 

 at Washington to inform the United States Government that the 

 Canadian Government is favourably disposed towards the conclusion 

 of the proposed Treaty and to communicate for their consideration the 

 views herein set forth." 



I think that this is one of the most satisfactory achievements, to 

 the consummation of which this Commission has given its active sup- 



