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Found Game Wardens _ Allies of Poachers Nixon Defends Dismissal . of Officers, Claiming Better Enforcement -- "Worst Slam," Is Chal-- lies's Term Mr. Nixon defending dismissals, said the departmfent had found in-- stances where Game Wardens under | the old regime were in league with 'poachers. -- Regarding hatcheries, he said two wou'd be built this year and He scored both Administrations, past and present, and brought George H. Challies, ex--Minister, to his feet defending his efforts to infprove the supply of muskellunge last year, and he brought Hon. Harry Nixon, present Minister, to his feet with the charge that "the dismissal of Game Wardens was the worst slam that has ever been dilivered at conservation." "That is not true," retorted Mr. Nixon "We have more law enforce-- ment officers than ever before and more Deputy Game Wardens than ever before. Records show that since we assumed office more informations have been laid, and more convictions registered than ever before, which in itsolf is convincing proof of better law enforcement." Dismissals Defended. STORM was precipi-- A tated at yesterday's meeting of the Fish and Game Committee of the Legislature by J. W. Gravestock of Peterbore'. more would be built as required. Figures were here supplied by Depu-- ty Minister D. J. Taylor, showing that a year ago there were 100 Superinten-- dents and game overseers; today there : were 69, plus 300 Provincial Police. A year ago there were 420 Deput.yl Game Wardens; now there were 552 and 100 traffic officers. The totals were 520 enforcement officers a year ago, while today there were 924 of-- ficers enforcing the law. Eeizures increased 20 per cent. over last year;, convictions increased 30 per cent.. and fines were 45 per cent. in excess of Game and 1 were ago, | A To Make Reply. Mr. Challies jumped to his feetl.. "This is not the place to have that sort of thing." he said. "I will reply to the Deputy Minister on the floor of the House. 1 appeal to the North-- ern members. In the Northern Dis-- tricts you have no protection. The Deputy Minister himself has been re-- ported as saying there are 1,000 fur poachers in Chapleau." Mr. Nixon: "I'm going to ask that -- (Challies withdraw or apologize _ Mr. Nixon: "I m SOoing tO ash Lila, Mr. Challies withdraw or apologize to Mr. Taylor for that statement. He has never said there were 1,000 poach-- ers in Chapleau!" | The Minister stood staring expec-- . tantly. bus when Mr. Challies made | no move to respond Mr. Nixon shrug-- ged impatiently, and said: "Oh, let's " 0+ bha umub af tha ADMUWWVKE, 1 on with the work of the comn#it-- ago. Rezoning of Ontario for both fish and game--hunting regulation was generally endorsed. The, session was particularly devoted to fish, although a treeze sprang up regarding the sug-- gestion of permitting the use of dogs in running deer. Rezoning Endorsed. Barlier opening of the speckled trout season found little favor, but there. seemed a consensus in favor of an earlier closing, namely, Sept. 1, in-- stead of Sept. 15. Delegations from ncar and far. a widespread representation of the whole Province, were there to air their views, Today's sitting o° the committee will tackle game--hunting. He advocated rezoning and more intensive promotion of muskellunge propagation, with some waters ab-- polutdy closed, and that an Advisory Committee on Wild Life Conservation, composed of experienced biologisis. {naturalists, anglers and huntsmen, be created to act with the department in ian educative campaign. Much of yesterday's discussion cen-- tred on game wardens. Thomas Barnes of Hamilton, President of the Ontario Federation of Anglers, open-- ed the subject, voicing both praise and mild criticism. The present ar-- rangement was good, he said, but might be more effective if fire rangers were also authorized to act as game wardens, supplementing the service in the back reaches. Wild Life Study. Dr. A. B. James of Toronto en-- larged on "zoning." The fact that On-- tario had virtually semi--tropical con-- ditions in Essex and almost continu-- ous arctic conditions in the north made for varied seasonal conditions that required a variety of regulations. E. L. Hughes, representing the Tour-- ist Association of North Bay, pleaded for a hatchery for pickerel and lake trout in the Nipissing area. The fry for replanting were now transported too great a distance, and many died' on the way or arrived in no condition to ensure their survival. The ideal| arrangement would be four ha'tchories' for the district, one each et North | Bay, Sudbury, New Liskeard and | Cochrane. He suggested closing t-wol small lakes tributary to Lake Penage : as sanctuaries for the perpetual re-' stocking of Penage: and he protested the practice of allowing commc«rcial' fshormen to sot nets within three1 miles of the mouth of #ie Bad River, thus preventing the run of pickerel ultimately reaching the French River. To Halt Practice. p. J. Taylor, Deputy Minister of Game and Fisheries, assured the speaker that this practice of the past would not be permitted this year. _ Mr. Hughes condemned the $1 three-- day and $5 season license for non-- residents, and recommended a straight $3 license, with an extra $2 liconse 'if the visitors desired to take fisch out of the country. He approved the $8 family license for non--residenis. The Deputy Minister here intor-- jected that the non--resident family licenss would be retained, and the $5 (or $3 and $2) fee for tourists be deemed a good suggestion. . sys The North Bay man strongly ob-- jected to a Sept. 1 closing of the trout seaeon for the North. "Make it Sept. 30 for the sake of the tourist busi-- ness." he said. "If you take the tourist out of Northern Ontario--boys, I tell you we'll all be down here on relief!" Maxch 29 L. J. Hughson of Nakina differed on the ground of conservation. "Ninety per cent. of the trout caught in North-- ern Ontario after Sept. 1 are fe-- males," he said. ! spawning season in their own element. | But operations would be continued in | the line of artificial rearing. \ Other Speakers. H. H. Mackay. biologist of the de-- partment, told of progress bsing made with regard to the hatching and rear-- ing of muskellunge. The chief diffi-- culty to overcom» was cannibalism The fish were voracious caters and preyed particularly upon their cwn kind. The best method of develop-- ment was to protect them during the Other speakers were: H. Nichol-- son, St. Catharines; Paul: Martin, Windsor, -- representing -- commercia fGshermeon of that arca; Harold Cairns, Toronto; A J. Wagg, Manitoulin; A. S. Brown, Kingsville; Frank Cooper, Toronto, and Mr. Thorne of Rice Lake district. An important announcement was made by Deputy Minister Taylor: tha\ any farmer, or group of farmers, hav-- ing a good stream and desirous of making a little revenue from it, would be supplied free trout for stocking and the farmer or farmers would be per-- mitted to chargs a fee to the public who wished to fish. The only stipu-- lation was that the farmer should treat all sportsmen alike, with no discrimination. . Members of the committee and dGelegates were invited by Dr. James to attend a special lecture on wild life in Algonquin Park, by P. McDougall, Superintendent of the park, in For-- esters' Hall, College Street. tonight.