1907 GAME AND FISHERIES. 37 



All fish were used for local consumption; no abuses existed; the close 

 seasons were well observed ; no illegal fishing came to his knowledge ; the 

 mill owners observed the law respecting dumping sawdust or other refuse 

 into the waters; there are no fishways in his division. 



Lakes Simcoe, Couchiching and Sparrow. 



Overseer Samuel Coulter, Gilford, rejjorts that the season of 1907 has 

 closed with the law being very well observed. The fishing season there was 

 hardly as good as in former years. Maskinonge seem to be on the decrease — 

 perhaps due to so many carp in the bay destroying the small fish and spawn. 

 Bass and herring were quite as good as in former years, and suckers and 

 whitefish also. The whitefish caught in those waters are not the same kind 

 as those in the Georgian Bay. If the carp could be destroyed, he thinks 

 the better class of fish would greatly increase. The game laws were also 

 well observed this year. Geese and ducks were not quite as plentiful as 

 usual, possibly due to the long cold spring of 1907. 



Overseer Wm. McGinn, Orillia, reports that he is pleased to say that 

 he has had very little trouble with law breakers as to fisHing unlawfully, and 

 it has not been necessary to make a conviction for an infraction of the law. 



He had a little trouble with the Indians in the spring of the year, spear- 

 ing in the east branch of the Severn River, near Washago, and they claim 

 this as part of their reserve. 



The fishing in the Severn River and Sparrow Lake last season was very 

 good, especially lunge and pickerel, and the large number of tourists that 

 annually visit this district have some good sport. 



He thinks they ought to have a few cars of bass put in these waters, 

 and hopes the Department will favor them with some early in the year. 



In Lakes Couchiching and Simcoe, the fishing was also good, especially 

 bass. 



He is also pleased to say that he has a good gasoline launch which he 

 uses to good advantage in protecting the fish, as he can get around much 

 better and cover more ground in the time he is out. 



Regarding the game report for North and South Orillia, there is very 

 little to say respecting game in this district, as there is very little of any 

 kind, but what little there is haa been protected by both himself and settlers 

 generally. 



Overseer Donald McPhee, Uptergrove, reports that the bass is small 

 but plentiful, and the whitefish and trout are increasing. The carp are very 

 plentiful. The fishing has been better in Mud Lake this year than it has 

 been for several years. Pickerel, maskinonge and bass are the chief fish 

 caught in that lake. 



Muskrats are plentiful in his territory. The partridge are scarce, the 

 cold spring having killed all the little ones. Ducks are plentiful, minks 

 very scarce. 



Overseer Hector Macdonald, Beaverton, reports that he visited the dif- 

 ferent fishing grounds in his district, and no illegal fishing came under his 

 personal notice. He had a couple of reports of illegal .fishing, which he 

 investigated, but could lay no charge, and in all he thinks the law was 

 pretty well observed. There were quite a number of campers dviring the 

 summer, and they appeared to be very well satisfied with their catches, 

 although the weather was very rough in the first part of the^ season. He 

 would like to see the close season for lake trout from the 10th October until 

 the 10th November, as they come in to spawn about the 10th October. 



