This post has some tidbits that are just interesting. Not necessarily Alberta history but indirectly these thing helped form our game laws.
An essay written by John Donihee is all about the evolution of game laws or Canada. Interestingly he mentions...
Did you know that Alberta and Canadian wildlife laws have roots based on Roman law? Roman law was that wildlife belonged to no one until it was killed. English wildlife laws were derived from roman laws. These laws created "licences" which transferred the right to people from the crown to hunt on crown lands. So those people that did not own land could hunt.
Interesting that...
-Forests were one of King William's most valued possessions. He expand his tract by evicting tenants and destroying farms and homes. Hunting was for nobles to mark their status and distinguish themselves from the peasantry.
-In England, first appearing in the 1400's, a person had to have 40 shillings worth of property in order to hunt. By the 1700's one hundred english pounds of property per year to qualify for the hunt. This law was in place until 1831.
-"Seasons" being opened or closed were established in the time of Henry the Eighth....to protect waterfowl and their eggs. Herons could only be taken by long bow or hawk.
-King George the 1st's parliament passed a law that had a penalty for poaching of 50 pounds and 3 years in jail or deportation to the colonies in the new world for at least 7 years.In 1723 the "Black Act" was implemented and enforced anyone armed and disguised in a forest shall suffer death as a felon withouth the benefit of clergy.
- Qualification laws did more than reserve game. There were restrictions on possession of hunting gear, nets, dogs and guns. Only the privileged class and supporters of the crown had access. This disarmed the dissidents and unreliable peasant element. Only the prominent citizens were allowed to own guns and hunt and eat wild game. Privilege and qualification requirements were eliminated in 1831.
While this is not directly Alberta based info this past does have bearing on how we came to our game laws.
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This country was started by voyagers whose young lives were swept away by the currents of the rivers for ten cents a day... just for the vanity of the European's beaver hats. ~ Red Bullets
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It is when you walk alone in nature that you discover your strengths and weaknesses. ~ Red Bullets
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