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The series consists of records created between 1909 and 1972 by the Northern Division or Northern Region of the Fish and Wildlife Branch and the "D" Division of its predecessor bodies, that relate to the registration and administration of traplines and the trapping industry. For most of the years covered in these records, this division/region consisted of all of British Columbia north of a line from Quesnel to Bella Coola, including these two places as well as Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Queen Charlotte Islands, the Stikine region, Cassiar, McDames Creek, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John and the Peace River region, the upper Fraser River valley of the McBride-Tete Jaune Cache area, the Nechako valley, the Skeena region, and the Prince George area.

The series include early files transferred from the B.C. Police, files regarding First Nations traplines, and individual trapline files, 1922-1969; records on registered guides, including guide report forms and nominal files, 1948-1972; crime investigation reports and conviction record books of violation of fish and game laws, 1930-1967; game management records including subject files on wildlife organization, management activities, and data on various species.

This series contains a large number of maps and sketches from 1909 to 1972, especially relating to the trapline and guide files. Many of these were removed from their files in 1982 and catalogued as two separate sub-series by the Map Division of the BC Archives. An index map of guiding territories was also removed.

See index map of guiding territories catalogued as CM/G6
See sub-series CM/E117 for trapline maps, 1909-1968
See sub-series CM/C2054 (previously CM/S2) for trapline sketches, 1922-1972.

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.]

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.];

The series consists of records created by the Game Commission (1948-1957) and the Fish and Game Branch (1957-1966). The series contains subject files relating to hunting accidents, firearms safety training, the transfer of the headquarters office from Vancouver to Victoria, wildlife management, private shooting areas, game fish culture, river and stream pollution and obstructions, water licences, and parks. The records relate to a wide variety of topics such as habitat protection, pollution, the impacts of resource extraction projects, impacts of recreation activities, wildlife management and fisheries management across the province.

The series also includes the personal monthly duty diaries of a conservation officer.

The series consists of records created by the Game Commission (1920-1957), the Fish and Game Branch (1957-1966), and the Fish and Wildlife Branch (1966-1977) relating to game, wildlife and fisheries management and conservation; environmental protection and habitat improvement; the administration of fish, trapping, and game laws; ecological and scientific investigations; water license applications and stream obstruction reports; flood control, pollution and protection of stream and river habitat; predator and rodent control; hunting, sports fisheries, outdoor recreation, and parks; Branch policy and administration.

The files contain correspondence, annual reports, manuals, memoranda and special reports and include correspondence with conservation and environmental groups, fish and game clubs, professional organizations of conservation officers, and other agencies of government.

The series also includes a subject file index (see box 2) and an index of orders-in-council relating to game enforcement, 1885-1968; hatchery records of the Cultus Lake, Smith Falls, and Lloyds Creek hatcheries of the Fish Culture Service, administered by the Canada Dept. of Marine and Fisheries (1920-1938) and the B.C. Came Commission (1938-1949).

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.

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.]

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.]

SUMMARY: Radio program with Hal Denton and comments by Harry Thomas (?), about his life on Nelson Island, trap shooting and salmon fishing; and Jim Cunningham (?), of the British Columbia Game Commission, about pheasant shooting and hunting accidents.

The item consists of an oral history with Mary Gooch, recorded around 1976.
Tape summary:
T4238:0015: Mary Gooch recalls her father, Bryan Williams, the first Provincial Game Warden.
T4238:0016: Recollections about her father, Bryan Williams, the first Provincial Game Warden.

The collection consists of interviews with retired Fish and Wildlife Branch employees about the B.C. Game Commission.

Series consists of firearm confiscation records and files pertaining to confiscation of illegal hunting and fishing equipment. Includes registers of confiscation (vol. 1, 1926-1945 and vol. 2, 1946-1960) and correspondence, reports, returns, 1971-1980.

Diary, January 27, 1922 - December 31, 1937, of C.D. Muirhead. Muirhead worked in the vicinity of Strathnaver, helping on the family homestead, trapping, cutting ties, etc., and at Summit Lake before joining the B.C. Provincial Police, as a Special Constable in August 1923 and as a regular constable in October 1924. He served as a Game Constable at Finlay Forks and Fort St. James, and from 1929, following the separation of the Game Department from the Provincial Police, as Game Warden, first at Telkwa and then Smithers. The transcripts were made by C.D. Muirhead's brother, William Muirhead.

Copied from photocopies borrowed from Mrs. A.A. Mallery, Prince George, 1986 (niece of C.D. Muirhead).