harvest of waterfowl on tl de far northern breeding grounds is of minor importance compared with that whicl place farther south in Canada and in the United States. Developments on the breeding grounds for muskrat and beaver conservation are favourable to the waterfowl. New settlements, especially in the Alaska Highway region, are unlikely to have any effect on waterfowl. Two aspects of wildfow The North Pacific Region grounds -of the remaining may contain the nesting that still survive 1 takes l conservation deserve mention. probably contains the nesting Canadian trumpeter swans and areas of the few whooping cranes . These species are in danger of extinction, and their preservation is a matter of international interest. It is highly desirable that their breeding grounds be sought out and protected. Should these species ever become extinct under circumstances that sug ggest lack of protection on the nesting grounds, it would reflect on the capacity of Canada to handle conservation matters. heard that such birds trodden wilderness. It is sometimes are protected by nesting in an un- In actual fact, there never existed such a wilderness except on the northern Arctic Islands, and it may be taken for granted that all nesting places of whooping crane and trumpeter swan are known locally, to man, just as was the nesting ground of Ross’s goose. The second special aspect is the fact that the eiderdown industry could probably be started near the mouth of the Mackenzie River. There are plenty of eider colonies and conditions are favourable for cleaning the down. Urranp Game Birps The conservation of the nine species of grouse in the North Pacific Region is dominated by the fact that their numbers fluctuate in cycles of remarkable regularity, so that periods of abundance alternate with periods of great scarcity. The working of these cycles is not thoroughly understood, but it is known that the annual kill by man has not affected them. Thus, in some years, upland birds are so scarce that it is a waste of time to hunt them, but in other years they are so abundant that large kills seem to have no effect. The condition of abundance varies within large unit areas, especially in mountainous country, so that one may change from abundance to scarcity by travelling for 50 0r 100 miles. It is possible that grouse might be commercialized when they are at peak numbers. This is desirable only where the surplus is greater than can he absorbed by sport hunting and food hunting for local use. It has the disadvantage that peak years are only two or three in a decade, which would be a handicap to business. Commercialization would be difficult to regulate because of the lack of uniformity with respect to grouse numbers throughout administrative. units. One of the basic requirements for wildlife management is continuous biological study. In no other Way can the effects of management and the needs of widely separated 1 136]. localities be assessed properly. Even the gathering and interpretation of biological reports and statistics from field officers and untrained persons requires both scientific training and field experience. In the allimportant matter of population cycles, concerning which reports have been gathered for a number of years, the time h for research in the field. In summary, wildlife conservation in the North Pacific Region may be built on the following basic elements: 1. Protection of Outstanding areas to provide nuclei where all faunal elements may be preserved, where tourist needs may be met as surely come , and where scientific observations may be unimpaired by environmental disturbances. 2. Protection under close management of wildlife sub- sistence resources, so that they may serve primarily the needs of persons with families (especially Indians) depending absolutely on them, and, secondly, the needs of other persons. Broadening of the basis of subsistence should be applied to the natives before they are asked to share their means of sustenance. 3. Management of all beaver and muskrat areas. 4. Continuous biological study. Witpiire AND Fur Rgsources Recommendations 1. That whatever action is necessary be taken to protect the breeding grounds of the whooping crane and trumpeter swan. 2. That the possibility of establishing the eiderdown industry at the mouth of the Mackenzie River, preferably by the natives, be investigated. That studies be made of the effect of forest fires on the wildlife of the area and that fire prevention measures be taken if considered necessary. (Se) 4. That a program of active management of the fur resources of Yukon Territory be introduced. The registered trap-line system, which has been very successful in British Columbia, is suggested for consideration. 5. That investigations leading to the restoration of fine fur animals in the beaver areas of northern Alberta and southern Mackenzie be undertaken. 6. That investigations leading to the development, under proper management, of the many muskrat marshes throughout the North Pacific Region and where desirable, to the stocking of beaver, be undertaken. 7. That continuous investigations by competent biolo- gists of the wildlife subsistence resources of the whole North Pacific Region be undertaken and that protective measures be provided when required to ensure that these resources serve primarily the needs of those families (especially Indians) depending wholly on them, and, secondly, the needs of others.