38 REPORT OF THE No. 32 



Overseer Harry Mayor, Painswick, reports tliat no violation of the 

 fishery laws came under his observation during the last year, and conse- 

 quently there were no convictions. He received three applications for licenses 

 for night lines, which were granted by the Department. I understand the 

 privilege of using night lines in Lake Simcoe was granted for the purpose of 

 getting rid of some of the objectionable coarse fish, such as dog fish, etc. 

 He finds that there have been verj few of this variety of fish taken, the kind 

 caught being chiefly whitefish, and not in very great numbers. To his mind 

 a greater harm is done in the destruction of vast quantities of what are com- 

 monly called minnows, but which he believes to be the small fry of other 

 fish. He did not have occasion to grant any angling permits, as all tourists 

 fishing in his division were residents of Ontario. 



As regards game, his duties have been light, by the co-operation of the 

 residents. The game in that locality consists chiefly of hares, black squirrels, 

 partridge and ducks, the two former being very numerous. 



Overseer Robert Tillett, Roach' s Point, reports a decrease in the number 

 of maskinonge caught in 1907, but the bass fishing was very good. There 

 is an abundance of whitefish and trout in Lake Simcoe, and the men who 

 live around the lake would like to have a license to spear them through 

 the ice. 



Only one case of illegal fishing came to his knowledge — ^that of some 

 whitefish caught in close season and shipped to Toronto and seized. The 

 guilty parties were fined. 



The close seasons were very well observed. 



Overseer Henry Thompson, Brechin, reports that trout and whitefish 

 are very scarce, only one trout being caught last year to his knowledge, and 

 very few whitefish. No herring were caught last season, but bass were very 

 plentiful toward the close of the season. Carp are verj numerous, thousands 

 being along the sand and muddy parts of the shore. They are always in the 

 shallow water in June. The other kinds of fish have been getting scare 

 fast since the carp first came around five years ago. The close season has 

 been well observed in his division during the past year, there having been 

 no occasion to fine anyone. He sold one permit for angling in Rama, which 

 is not in his division. 



Overseer C. West, Holland Landing, reports that the Game and Fish 

 laws have been strictly observed in his division, and he has had no occasion 

 to fine anyone. He regrets to say, however, that the black bass and maski- 

 nonge are on the decrease, but the pickerel are very plentiful, the reason 

 being, he thinks, that they spawn early in the season before the carp come. 

 The smaller fish are also very plentiful, that is to say, catfish, perch and small 

 rock bass. 



Overseer G. W . West, Holland Landing, reports that the Game and 

 Fishery Laws have been well observed in his district. He regrets to say, 

 however, that maskinonge and other game fish are on the decrease, owing 

 to the carp being so numerous, which he believes destroy the spawn, and 

 are also destroying the rice beds on the river and baj shore. Bass fishing 

 is fairly good, and some very large bass have been taken. 



Counties of Beant, Dufferin, Durham, Grey, Middlesex, Ontario, 



Peel, Wellington. 



Overseer William Boler, Byrorii, reports that the fishery laws were well 

 observed this year in his district, and that more bass were caught than 

 last year. 



