1907 GAME AND FISHERIES. i, 



have been more numerous than for many years past, and the varieties of 

 ducks have been good, there being great quantities of canvas-backs and red- 

 heads amongst them. The muskrats have been numerous, and if it were not 

 for the illegal killing of these animals, he is satisfied they would soon 

 become a large source of revenue to owners of marshes. 



A great many people have applied to him for permission to shoot ducks 

 more than two hundred yards from the shore, their complaint being that in 

 a number of places private persons or companies owned the waters two 

 hundred yards from shore, so that it was impossible to get any shooting 

 without breaking the game law or trespassing upon private property. Of 

 course, he was unable to grant any such permission, but he would suggest 

 that something be done to give the public the right to shoot more than two 

 hundred yards from the shore where the land is taken up by companies or 

 private individuals along the shore. He has watched closely the shipping of 

 ducks on coupons issued to American citizens. He has visited nearly all the 

 trains passing through Simcoe from the shooting district, and found quan- 

 tities of ducks being shipped, but in all cases with the coupons attached. He 

 is convinced, however, that more ducks were shipped than the licenses issued 

 to this district would warrant. His impression is that some of the coupons 

 were used more than once, and would therefore suggest that the Act be 

 amended, making it necessary, when cancelling the coupons, that the date of 

 cancellation should also be written on the coupons. He thinks this would 

 prevent the coupons being used a second time. 



A number of complaints have been made to him by owners of marshes 

 that people have been illegally spearing the muskrats. As this is done 

 secretly, it is very difficult to obtain evidence of such spearing. He is told 

 that the owners of the marshes always prefer to trap the rats instead of spear- 

 ing them. He would therefore suggest that the spearing of rats and the 

 carrying of rat-spears in or near any place where rats frequent should be 

 prohibited. 



Owing to the fact that the residents along the shores are largely in 

 sympathy with the persons who break the game laws, he has found it difficult 

 to procure transportation by boat. He thinks it would be well worth while 

 for the department to purchase a motor boat of high speed for use by the 

 game and fisheries officers along the shores of Lake Erie. It would make it 

 much easier to catch the offenders red-handed, and to confiscate boats, guns, 

 &c., used illegally. 



The game laws in his district, owing to a more vigorous enforcement, 

 have been much better than in the. past. 



Acting Game and Fishery Warden Victor Chauvin, Windsor, reports 

 that the fishermen are fairly satisfied with the year's fishing, especially 

 with whitefish, the catch of which has been unusually good. He thinks some 

 regulations should be made regarding sturgeon. He has seen people carry 

 two or three of these fish at one time on their bicycle, and says it seems hard 

 to see fish that grow to the size sturgeon do, caught when they are so small. 

 He thinks if the season were closed for about two years, and not allowed to 

 be taken of a less weight than 20 lbs., it would be more satisfactory to the 

 public. He reports a fair catch of perch in Lake Erie. 



As regards Game, he reports that quail have been more numerous than 

 for some years past. The reason of the increase to a large extent has been 

 the re-stocking done by the Department during the past few years. He is 

 pleased to say that sportsmen as a rule are pleased with a smaller bag of 

 birds than formerly, and have more dogs worked on game. The rabbit hunters 

 are very destructive to quail on the snow, after the season closes. Quail are 



2 F. 



