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British Columbia Game Commission interviews collection
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Bill Ward interview

CALL NUMBER: T3996:0001 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1982-11-04 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: William T. Ward discusses the post World War II interest in hunting, fishing, and the outdoors which lead to the growth of the Fish and Game Commission. Bill Ward's early posts in Cache Creek; and Kamloops. Early game wardens were strong individuals and skilled outdoorsmen. Enforcement under Provincial Police unpopular. Comments about commissioners Bryan Williams and Frank Butler, Fish and Game clubs. Scientific research in the 1940s. TRACK 2: Game clubs balk at scientific approach to conservation. Predatory control methods. Charlie Shuttleworth -- hunter. Training of game wardens. Comments about Director Frank Butler. Public hungers for wildlife information. Ward produces Bulletin and radio program "Conservation Calling" for staff and public.

CALL NUMBER: T3996:0002 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1982-11-04 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Origins of the periodical "Wildlife Review". Bill Ward editor for 25 years, a "one man operation". Description of style and content, method of production, its widespread popularity. Fish and Wildlife Branch attitude to "Wildlife Review". Other information duties. Commissioner Jim Cunningham's films. [TRACK 2: blank].

Franklin Greenfield interview

CALL NUMBER: T4129:0006 RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1984-06-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Franklin Greenfield discusses the events leading up to his joining the Game Commission in 1927. Duties at pheasant farm. Description of pheasant operation at Royal Oak. Victoria warden Dick Gidley. Reason for removal of game work from Provincial Police. Bryan Williams, game commissioner (1929-1932). Jack Graham, inspector of Vancouver Island Division. Description of Nanaimo District. TRAC;K 2: Greenfield's method of patrolling district. Main game in Nanaimo: deer, grouse, pheasant. Nanaimo District has a reputation for poachers. Old timers use game for food, also miners. Methods for catching poachers. Story of pit lamper. Gave leeway to those who needed game to feed families. Greenfield kept his moves secret. Collected information on poachers. Jim Dewar, cougar bounty hunter. CALL NUMBER: T4129:0007 RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1984-06-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Franklin Greenfield discusses Jimmy Dewar's prowess as hunter and woodsman. His assistance to Greenfield catching poachers. Dewar's reputation. Anecdote about Bob Marshall, warden of Cowichan District. Other Vancouver Island wardens. Reasons why wardens were recruited from Provincial Police. Discussion of different generations of wardens. Regrets decline of enforcement and influence of biologists in department. Greenfield's police related duties. Recollection of dangerous dope smuggling incident. Recollection of occupation of Nanaimo Relief Office. TRACK 2: Quelling of Relief Office occupation. Population changes after World War II. Mining declines, logging increases. Greenfield gets more nuisance complaints, not "good poachers of old". Quality of hunters declines. Three man commission (1934-) more efficient than previous. Frank Butler "outstanding". Provincial Police administration had game as a "sideline". During last 30 years of Greenfield's wardenship he was left alone by HQ. Worked with Dr. C. Mottley and Don Robinson, both "natural biologists". New title, "Conservation Officer", demoralizing; name "Game Warden" stood for something. Game clubs. Over hunting and fishing since WWII. Qualities of a good game warden.

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.]

Robert Leighton interview

CALL NUMBER: T4129:0001 RECORDED: Pitt Meadows (B.C.), 1984-03-22 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Robert Leighton discusses his family background. Early duties with B.C. Provincial Police included maintaining order at points of labour unrest and controlling transients. Location of various postings. Review of game law enforcement under Provincial Police (1919-1929). Leighton's duties as "spare" warden. Control methods on opening days. Pheasant stocking. Importance of hunting for recreation and food supply. Need for predator control. B.C. trap line system a model. Comments about Frank Butler and Jim Cunningham. TRACK 2: Description of Maple Ridge District in the 1950s. Deer hunting areas. Port Moody pigeon hunt. Ruin of fishing on Coquitlam River. Many resident complaints about animals. Contribution of fish and game clubs and their role. Comparisons of system before and after the reorganization of 1956. Comments about earlier system when game warden ran his district.

CALL NUMBER: T4129:0002 RECORDED: Pitt Meadows (B.C.), 1984-03-22 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Robert Leighton recalls wardens Benny Rauch, Leo Jobin, and Reg King. Advent of scientific research methods: some studies not based upon B.C. type environments. Disastrous policies re: Princeton area deer and reaction of warden Alan Gill. Polarization of department. Popularity of "Wildlife Review". Environmental groups well-meaning but have little direct contact with wildlife. Reflections upon career. [TRACK 2: blank.]

Warren Cameron interview : [Taylor, 1982]

CALL NUMBER: T4029:0003 RECORDED: Ladner (B.C.), 1982-12-21 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Warren Cameron comments and reflects on his experiences as an infantryman in France in WWI. Military training very inadequate. Conditions in trenches. Equipment. Food. Killing. TRACK 2: Game Commission staff were political appointments. Recollections of bootlegging and bootleggers in Fraser Valley. Use of ships to transport liquor. Tunnel at Boundary Bay for liquor smuggling. Comments about two notorious hijackers -- Sowash and Baker. Anecdotes and comments about prostitute Pansy May -- "I'm a good woman", befriended by Mr. Cameron. Recollections of Commissioner Bryan Williams -- a "game hog", when he was re-appointed as commissioner he was tempted to fire entire staff as political appointees. A "good old guy". Comments about A.P. Cummings, the first game warden of Chilliwack. Names different wildlife in Chilliwack Valley.;

CALL NUMBER: T4029:0004 RECORDED: Ladner (B.C.), 1982-12-21 SUMMARY: [No content summary available for this tape.];

Warren Cameron interview : [Ward, 1982]

CALL NUMBER: T4029:0001 RECORDED: Ladner (B.C.), 1982-12-02 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Warren "Slim" Cameron discusses game law enforcement under the Provincial Police, 1919-1929. Game Department was a "political organization". Bryan Williams. Comments on A.P. Cummings, warden for Fraser Valley and early commissioners Gary Bolton, Jim Cunningham, Frank Butler. Indian trappers a problem in the interior. TRACK 2: Slim Cameron recalls his policy of enforcement during the 1930s. Recollections of bootleggers and their methods, graft, in Fraser Valley, Columbia Valley, and Ladner. Use of Provincial police to quell disturbances in relief camps and in Anyox miners' strike. Cameron's involvement in Bagley and Fawcett bank robbery. Tact in law enforcement. Story of pheasant poacher. Shooting "for market" pre-1913.

CALL NUMBER: T4029:0002 RECORDED: Ladner (B.C.), 1982-12-02 SUMMARY: [No content summary available for this tape.]