1907 GAME AND FISHERIES. 35 



that there are some who would like to slaughter the fish. The Ameri- 

 cans are getting to understand that the angling permits are for the pro- 

 tection of the fish, and as for young bass they are getting numerous. He 

 says he could sit on his own dock last summer and see lots of small bass 

 swimming, and quite a number on the shore spawning, and he is thoroughly 

 convinced that they are increasing in the last three years by the numbers 

 caught. There are more rod fishers coming to the Georgian Bay every year, 

 but he thinks the pike ought to have a close season. Their spawning time 

 is from the 1st of April to the 20th. The pickerel have had a hard blow 

 with the trap nets, and it is very seldom that a pickerel can be taken on 

 this end of the Georgian Bay. 



Deer hunting was good last year in his district. The settlers are begin- 

 ning to see the folly of killing them out of season, and as far as he could 

 see by the number that went out in the fall they are holding their own. 

 Partridge are not as plentiful as formerly, but if they are closely pro- 

 tected they may increase. The half breeds are hard on them during the 

 early part of the winter when they are breeding. He has never had a com- 

 plaint against any of them for killing them out of season, nor has he ever 

 run across any one with partridge out of season. Ducks have increased in 

 numbers in his district during the past year, but there is one thing about 

 it, the trappers kill quite a few in the spring. The fall shooting of ducks 

 was good. 



Overseer J . W . Jermyn, Wiarton, reports that the fishing in his dis- 

 trict was not good during the early summer and part of the fall, the weather 

 being very rough, and heavy winds prevailing most of the time, conse- 

 quently the catches were light. However, the latter part of October was 

 fine and fish plentiful. Those engaged made a fairly good season. Dur- 

 ing the month of December the weather was exceptionally fine. Steam tugs 

 were not in commission at that date, but the fishermen with sailboats did 

 well, getting large catches of fine trout. The herring fishing was also good. 

 The trout and whitefish were later than usual this season before coming on 

 the shoals. About October 15th they came to Tobermory, and from there 

 down the Bay to Wiarton, therefore the season was short. 



Most of the fishermen in his district observe the law very well, but yet 

 there are others (outlaws) who get no license, set nets and lift them during 

 the night, salt thc'r fish, hide them in caves in the rock and thick under- 

 bush along the shore, making it almost impossible to trace them. If the 

 Department could furnish a small steam launch, or even a good gasoline 

 one, this illegal fishing could soon be stopped. 



Overseer J. A. Eraser, Prescott, reports that the "Laura" was fitted out 

 about the 10th April, making her first trip on the 13th, and periodical trips 

 through the rest of April and May, keeping on the move through June, 

 July and August, as the weather would permit. The balance of the season 

 she made a few odd trips, as occasion required. He says that the "Laura" 

 did good service this year, and that he did not have any trouble with her 

 engine, with the exception of breaking a couple of paddles off her wheel 

 while in shallow water. He also made a successful season otherwise, hav- 

 ing seized and confiscated one skiff, two spears, one large jack, one night 

 line, and two lots of fish, and having one fish company fined, besides repri- 

 manding and letting off with a caution several miiior cases, where he was 

 convinced there was a misunderstanding. 



He collected a lot of information, which will enable him to either catch 

 or put down some illegal work which still exists. He believes he has 

 succeeded in putting a stop to the worst evil in that part of the St. Law- 



