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PROVINCE OF
BRITISH COLUMaIA

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND CONSERVATION
FISH AND WILDLIFE BRANCH
4529 Canada Way
Burnaby 2, B.C.

January 16, 1973

Mr. R.A. Freeman,

City Clerk
The Corporation of the City

of Port Coquitlam, >
2272 McAllister Ave.,
Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Dear Mr. Freeman: |
Your letter of December 28th to our Director, together
with attached report of your Environmental Sub-Committee,
has been forwarded to this office for attention.
We are concerned about the adequacy of our level of an-

forcement and have made representations to the Government in
this behalf.

We have hopes that we may be strengthened during |

the coming months.

The Sub-Committee has made specific reference to viola~
tions of shooting regulations, and I wonder if in this case
they may have in mind Municipal By-Laws, and be under nisap—-
prehension gs to tha responsibility for enforcement. ‘The
Branch does not hold itself responsible for the enforcement of
Municipal By-Laws. These are the responsibility of your local
police force. As a matter of policy, we cooperate as closely as
possible with the police, but do not take the initiative in local

matters,

A second reference is made to the molesting of fish. The
fish in this case are spawning salmon and are the responsibility
of the Federal Department of Fisheries. This has been a long-
standing problem made more difficult by the fact that day to day
changes in the weather affect the conditions under which it occurs.

Our Branch works closely with the Department of Fisheries
and when we are able, we take vigorous enforcement action. Due
to the unpredictable fluctuations in the occurrence of this
offense, and the fact that it occurs at a time of year when our