The Canadian Sportsman and Natur^ali 



No. 3. MONTREAL, MARl M 



WILLIAM COUPER, Editor. 



A COMPARISON OF THE GAME LAW 

 ONTARIO AND QUEBEC. 



The growing scarcity of many of our game 

 birds and quadrupeds is a matter of greal 

 interest to sportsmen, all of whom should 

 unite in their efforts to prevent this diminution. 

 Thai the extension df the period of oui 

 seasons would be of great benefit, we do nol 

 think will be denied, and no true sportsman 

 should object to a curtailment of his privileges, 

 in this respect, when the object to b< attained 

 will ultimately be the- means of providing him 

 with increased pleasure. There is a marked 

 difference in the protection afforded by the 

 Game Laws of Ontario and Quebec, and the 

 assimilation of some of the close seasons could 

 not fail to be of benefit to this Province. 



A synopsis of the Game Laws of the two 



Provinces shows the close seasons to be as 



follows : — 



Ontario. Quebec. 



Deer and Caribou. . 15 Dec. to 1 Oct. 1 Feb. to 1 Sept. 



Moose do do 



Grouse Ptarmigan, ) 



&c. I l Jan. to 1 Sept. 1 March to 1 Sept. 



Wild Turkey and ) 



Quail J 1 Jan. to 1 Oct. 



Woodcock 1 Jan. to 1 Aug. 1 March to 1 Sept. 



Snipe 1 Jan. to 15 Aug 1 March to 1 Sept. 



„r „ , „ ^ fWest of Three 



Kallard, Gray Duck) | Rivers 



Black Duck, Wood> 1 Jan. to 15 Aug I i May to 1 Sept. 



Duck ) "(East of Three 



Other Ducks ) 1 May to 15 Aug j Rivers 



Swans and Geese. ..( do do [ 15 May to 1 Sept. 



Thus, in Ontario, Virginian deer and 

 Moose are protected from 15th December, 

 although the open season is one month later 

 than in Quebec, the wisdom of this is 

 apparent from the fact that these animals fall 

 an easy prey (o the hunter in winter, especially 

 in the month of January, when the deep snow 

 and the crust formed by the frost and sun, 

 prevent their escape; the Caribou, however, 

 from its lighter weight and the peculiar 



formation <>t iu h 



rapidly through d< ep 



down by the huut< 



tected from I -i of Januan in 



our open si ndf< until I 



long w inter affording tip- habi I 



tuuiiv to try hie band 



seldom anything 



time of year. It is well ki 



number of these birda ■•, th which ou 



are supplied, an 



it is hardly possible to oh 



making winter a clos< 



are irery easilj 



of the market hunters alone, must tin 



of these birds be attributed 



Game Societies of the Pro* 



been endeavouring to obtain an amei 



the Act for the Protection ibife- 



ing the spring shooting of ducks. 



much needed reform, as from a - 



submitted by the Secretary ofthi 



Club, no loss a number thai 

 Black Duck were exposed : the 



Montreal markets lasl spring, Th< -■ bir 

 well as Mallard,, Wood ! >uc t,i 

 tected during the spring in Ontario, and we 

 cannot understand how our Govern i 

 should tolerate such a destruction iii the 1 

 ing season. If our legislators are no 

 men, they should, at least, have 

 knowledge of political economy, and recognise 

 that game is one of the resources of the 

 country, which should be conserved like any 

 other product. A bill to abolish spring .-': 

 ing was presented la-t se--ion, but owing to the 

 Opposition which it received, was withdrawn ; 

 we trust, however, it will not be abandoned 

 and that when again presented, both pan • 

 the House may unite in passing this much 

 needed amendment. The groat difficulty with 

 all game laws is to secure their propel >. 

 vance, especially in remote sections of the 



