16 THE REPORT UPON No. 32 



Commercial Fish. 



The fishermen report that herring and carp are increasing, and that 

 larger catches have been made than for several years past. The other com- 

 mercial fish seem to be in about the same quantity as in previous years. 

 There is considerable dissatisfaction amongst the fishermen owing to the 

 fact that there is no close season for white fish opposite certain counties in 

 Lake Erie. In the counties where there is a close season, the fishermen feel 

 that they are not fairly treated, as they report that large numbers of white 

 fish are taken when full of spawn in the counties where fishing is allowed 

 during the close season. He would, therefore, recommend that a close sea- 

 son be instituted for all parts of Lake Erie. 



Quail. 



As he reported last year, this bird is not very numerous in his district. 

 This year they are reported even fewer than in the previous year. 



Ruffed Grouse and Partridge. 



These birds are still very scarce, although, owing to the prohibition 

 of shooting, more were reported this fall than a year ago. He would recom- 

 mend that neither quail nor partridge be allowed to be shot in his district 

 during the season of 1909. 



Black Squirrels. 



Owing to the clearing up of land, these are now becoming scarce. They 

 are reported, however, to have been as numerous this year as last year. 



Wild Geese. 



The wild geese seem to have changed their flight as it is seldom that 

 one is killed in his district. 



Wild Ducks. 



Along the Niagara River and the Grand Eiver ducks are reported to 

 have been as numerous as the last year, while at Long Point Bay they are 

 reported to have been more numerous. The bags were not as numerous as 

 in past years, as the weather during the shooting season was too fine for 

 good shooting. It was also thought that the enactment of the law prohibit- 

 ing shooting more than two hundred yards from the shore, by allowing the 

 ducks a chance to rest, has been to some extent, responsible for the decrease 

 in the bags, and also for the increase of the ducks in the vicinity. Since the 

 amendment of the last season, allowing persons to put out decoys, and shoot 

 within two hundred yards of the line of any private property, there has 

 been less dissatisfaction with this law, and th^'s law has been well lived up 

 to. After making one seizure of ducks, shipped illegallv to the United 

 States, he has been unable to find any illegal shipping. There is no evi- 

 dence of coupons being used again as appeared to be the case last year, and 

 he is satisfied that the law in this respect has been well observed. 



