1907 GAME AND FISHERIES. 41 



with the exception of one, who was prosecuted and his nets confiscated. He 

 thinks that the shortage of fish in different lakes is owing to the fact that 

 there are too many suckers and coarse fish in those waters. 



He has seized and destroyed twelve nets used for illegal fishing. He 

 also destroyed different fish dams used for illegal fishing in the spring. He 

 prosecuted two fishermen, and fined one of them |50 and the other |20. 



He fined three men for having venison illegally got in their possession. 



Overseer H. N. Covell, Lombardy, reports that the fishery laws were 

 fairly well observed, no instances of illegal fishing having come to his notice, 

 and there were not so many applicants for licenses as in past years, owing, 

 he presumes, to the unfavorable season. He thinks the angling permits 

 have been the means of keeping the Americans from ou^ waters. 



The season's catch of fish was satisfactory for the amount of angling 

 done, considering the increase of ling in Bass and Otter Lakes, which are 

 very destructive to other fish. He thinks if there were some way of destroy- 

 ing these coarse fish, it would be very beneficial for angling in said waters. 



There is one saw mill in his division, but the dust is not allowed in the 

 streams, but is consumed as fuel. 



Overseer J. W. Davis, Sydenham, reports that there are twenty-five 

 small lakes in his district, and nearly all contain large and small mouth 

 bass. Seven lakes contain lake trout, but none of the lakes contain pickerel 

 )r maskinonge. 



The fishery law has been well kept. He has heard several times of par- 

 ties fishing illegally, but on investigation the reports proved false. 



His district is nearly all settled, only a few lots at the north remain- 

 ing unoccupied, and the timber on these lots has been cut, and fires have 

 destroyed what the axes left, therefore there is little or no protection for 

 game. Sydenham Lake has marshes at north and east sides, which in for- 

 mer years afforded breeding places for wild ducks; now there are nine sum- 

 mer cottages on the lake and islands, and the boats are going constantly, 

 which has caused the ducks to seek other breeding grounds. 



Overseer Ephraim Deacon, Bolinghrohe, reports that the quantity of 

 mixed fish taken by angling or otherwise will be about the same as last year. 

 He does not observe any decrease in the quantity of fish in his division. The 

 several close seasons were well observed, only one violation of the law hav- 

 ing come to his notice, that of dynamiting fish in the Fall River. 



Partridge were very scarce in his district, but deer seem to be increas- 

 ing. He heard of no violations of the Game laws. 



Overseer W . J . Donaldson, Donaldson, reports that there was no fish- 

 ing license issued in his district during 1907. There was considerable 

 angling done by tourists and others throughout the district, who appeared 

 to be well satisfied with the results. The fishery laws have been fairly well 

 observed, there having been only one case of illegal fishing brought to his 

 notice, but on investigating which he failed to get sufficient evidence to 

 warrant a conviction. The close seasons were strictly observed. There are 

 no fishways in his division 



Regarding game, he believes the game laws have been fairly well 

 observed, especially by sportsmen. He is of the opinion, however, that 

 settlers and lumbermen sometimes violate the law by killing deer and other 

 game during close season. But it is very difficult to bring those parties to 

 justice, and although he has been very vigilant along those lines, he has not 

 succeeded in making one conviction. He is pleased to say the deer appear 

 ti» be on the increase. Partridge are getting scarcer every year. Ducks 

 are also scarce. Fur-bearing animals, such as beaver, fisher, otter, mink, 



