18 THE REPORT UPON No. 32 



destroying the cabins and spearing a rat whenever they can. By having h 

 trapper's license, he could make a report once a year to the Department of 

 how many rats he caught and the price he got for them. 



The law was fairly well observed, except by the Americans fishing and 

 trapping without a permit or license. 



Game and Fishery Warden A. Hunter, of Belleville, reports during the 

 past year fishing on the whole has wonderfully improved, especially com- 

 mercial fishing in the Bay of Quinte district. There has been a slight falling 

 off of the tourist trade in the Rideau waters, caused possibly by the American 

 Presidental election last year. He has been informed that angling in the 

 Hideau waters has never been as poor as last year, and the cause is claimed 

 to be the increased number of ling found in the different lakes. Tourists 

 claim that ling destroy the game fish, and he is glad to know that the Depart- 

 ment is taking steps to eradicate this noxious fish from the Rideau waters. 



He would recommend that more hoop net licenses be granted in waters 

 frequented by ling, as, in the Bay of Quinte, where so many hoop net licenses 

 are granted, no ling are found. 



He thinks that if there were a few fish hatcheries erected at different 

 points; say, at or near the Bay of Quinte, and on the Rideau waters, the 

 results would be more than noticeable. 



He is told that ducks are on the increase. He knows for a fact that 

 partridges have t-ecame very plentiful, but would suggest that the closed 

 season be extended still another year, or until September, 1910. He has 

 been over his district several times during the past year, and has found that 

 both the fish and game laws were fairly well observed. Several cases of 

 infractions have been brought to his notice, and the different parties pun- 

 ished. He is told that deer are becoming scarcer each year, as not nearly 

 so many were killed in 1908 as in former vears. He knows of several parties 

 returning without even having seen a deer. An old deer hunter lately 

 informed him that in ten years deer would be as scarce as wild pigeons if 

 something was not done to prevent their destruction. He suggested that 

 no permits be issued for at least two years to shoot deer, and by that time 

 they would have become tamer and more plentiful. He found that the 

 wolves destroyed a great number of deer during the past spring and winter, 

 and in many cases the poor settler is credited with having killed deer that 

 the wolves killed. 



Game and Fishery Warden G. M. Parks, of North Bay, reports the fish- 

 ing to have been good this season in nearly all of the lakes and rivers, more 

 especially Lake Nipissing, as almost every angling party camping in various 

 places around the lake and in the French Eiver were well pleased with the 

 fishing. ISTo doubt this is due to the stopping of net fishing, and there is no 

 doubt that Lake Nipissing will be one of the best fishing grounds in the. 

 district, if well protected and no nets allowed. 



There have been very few infractions of the law during the year. No 

 doubt a great many reports are circulated by parties who do not make any 

 effort to ascertain if such reports warrant investigation. 



He regrets to say that in nearly every township a large number of 

 settlers' permits are being issued to parties who are not bona fide farmers 

 or householders, and in many cases men living in towns and villages obtain 

 permits from the issuers. 



Judging from the success met with bv the various hunting clubs during 

 the past open season, it would appear that the deer were holding their own. 

 This certainly is the case in many sections, and there is even a marked 

 increase in some of the old hunting grounds, and in many places further 



2a G. F. 



