10 REPORT OF THE No. 32 



The officer who has charge of part of the waters of the North Channel 

 of Lake Huron, and also part of Lake Superior, patrolled his district with 

 gasoline launches, and many nets illegally set were confiscated, and some 

 fines imposed. It is the opinion of the undersigned that, while the patrol 

 service last year never was better, it is necessary in the immediate future 

 to make it much more effective, and would suggest for your consideration 

 that a fast seaworthy boat be put in commission as early next spring as pos- 

 sible, and be kept in commission until after the close season in November, 

 on the waters of the Georgian Bay, North Channel of Lake Huron and Lake 

 Superior. 



During the past year the Department has lost two of its officers, viz., 

 W. D. Wigle, of Cedar Springs, who was Game and Fishery Warden of West- 

 ern Ontario, and who discharged his duties in a manner most satisfactory to the 

 Department, and Mr. J. H. Starling, who this year was appointed a special 

 officer to look after the waters of the Bay of Quinte and vicinity, and who 

 rendered excellent service, which was much appreciated, not only by the 

 Department, but by the residents of that vicinity who were interested in the 

 protection of the game and fisheries. 



Ruffed Grouse and Partridge. 



The general hunting during the open season of 1907 has been fairly good, 

 with the exception of ruffed grouse. These grand and hardy birds, _ during 

 the last two seasons, have been very scarce, not only in Ontario, but all over 

 the United States and the Dominion. No doubt two or three cold, wet and 

 late springs are to some extent the cause of the scarcity, but owing to the 

 immense extent of country in which the scarcity prevails, other causes must 

 be sought for. The prevailing opinion of sportsmen and writers is that a 

 general epidemic prevails from which these beautiful birds are suffering all 

 over the continent. The comparative absence of snow in the northern woods 

 of the Province, during the winter of 1905-1906, killed immense numbers. 

 What little snow fell became crusted, on the surface of which thousands of 

 dead ruffed grouse, better known as partridge, were found. These birds can 

 endure very cold weather when on the move during the day, but they can- 

 not live through the long winter nights on the exposed limb or branch of 

 trees with the temperature 25 or 30 degrees below zero. During normal 

 winters in our back woods, with two to four feet of snow on the ground, the 

 partridge do not suffer from the extreme cold, in consequence of passing the 

 long nights covered with from twelve to eighteen inches of snow. Never- 

 theless, the unfortunate fact is, that from a combination of circumstances, 

 the partridge have decreased to such an alarming extent as to necessitate 

 one or more close seasons to prevent the extermination of these, the most 

 valuable and interesting species of our native game birds. 



Quail. 



In consequence of the quail nesting later than partridge, the late cold 

 springs did not have the disastrous effect on our cheery and useful "Bob- 

 AVhites." I" am glad to say, owing to close seasons and re-stocking, the 

 effect of several hard winters have entirely disappeared. Sportsmen report 

 having found, during the past season, these grand little birds more numerous 

 than in past years. I hope the sportsmen, in conjunction with the farmers 

 and their sons, will practise self-denial, and that care so essential in keeping 

 up the supply of quail in the south-western counties of the Province. Modern 



