Item AAAB5768 - Percy Cliffe interview

CALL NUMBER: T4129:0003 RECORDED: Mission (B.C.), 1984-03-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Percy Cliffe discusses his childhood background. Joined the B.C.P.P. in January 1932 and was posted in Nelson (Doukhobor arrests), Golden, Burnaby, and Chilliwack. Anecdote about Constable George Elliott. Transients in Golden. Reasons he transferred to the Game Commission. Description of Mission District. Office equipment. Wife becomes "office manager". Raised hounds. Main game was pheasants and ducks. Apprehending violators of baiting restriction. Road checks. Large fox population and control methods. TRACK 2: Coyotes. Valley had much cover for wildlife until taxes forced farmers to cultivate all the land. Stocking of pheasants. Methods of stocking fingerlings and planting fish eggs. Modes of travel about Mission District -- truck, boat, horse, and by foot. Logging resulted in large deer population. Route to Pemberton via boat and pack horse. Campaign to reduce the number of wild dogs near the Indian reserve. Frank Urquhart of Coquitlam District. Patrolling Skagit Valley with Art Butler. Illegal fur trapper confesses. CALL NUMBER: T4129:0004 RECORDED: Mission (B.C.), 1984-03-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Percy Cliffe gives a description of a search expedition to airplane crash in Cheam Mountain Range (August 1943). Story of search expedition to airplane crash in Yale area. (1940s). Description of 1948 flood and his assistance with game boat. Cougar problem worsens with deer population growth. Smart hound trees three cougars during one hunt. Qualities of a good hound. TRACK 2: Humorous story of cougar hunt with member of local police. Hounds killed during cougar hunt near Sechelt. He has friendly relations with farmers and loggers in his District. Post war road building opens up areas for hunting. New Settlers. Importance of game clubs. Achievements of Mission Rod and Gun Club. Game warden on 24 hour work schedule. Good rapport in Department. Comparisons of early years with present (1984). Some missed opportunities to clear fishing steam blockages. The game warden was "lord and master". CALL NUMBER: T4129:0005 RECORDED: Mission (B.C.), 1984-03-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Percy Cliffe comments about job changes following scientific research methods. Training and new ideas. He disagrees with some new policies. Some recollections of Jim Dewar (Predator Control hunter). Comments about Art Butler, warden of the Chilliwack District. Game wardens were on their own, no training. Slim Cameron. Tells about boat trip to McNab Creek where transplanted elk resided. Thoughts about difference between large interior districts and lower mainland districts. His hunting experience as a young boy. [TRACK 2: blank.]