1908 GAME AND FISHEI^IES. 25 



they found several dead carcasses of deer that perished in the fires. He also 

 saw two more that were shot by hunters, but were not fit for use. The front 

 feet were off, and other parts of the bodies were badly burned, and they 

 considered it a humane act to destroy them. Eabbits and partridge also 

 were destroyed by the same cause. 



Overseer John Kennedy, of Meaford, reports that the summer fishing in 

 his division was fairly good. The trout fishing came on earlier than usual. 

 The fishermer. say the fishing was better this fall than it has been for a 

 number of years. They had some very heavy catches in October. He has 

 seized a number of herring nets of undersized mesh, which had been used 

 for catching bait for night lines. He also tried to find out who owned them, 

 but failed. Angling has not been as good this year as in 1907. 



Partridge are increasing, as the people have observed the law. The 

 number of red deer landed at Meaford station was 25, which all had coupons, 

 and which had been killed in different parts of Muskoka. 



Overseer C. H. Knight, of Byng Inlet, reports that the fishing has been 

 up to the average, and no complaints have been received from the fishermen. 

 Out of fourteen licensed fishermen in his division, there were no prosecu- 

 tions or convictions, as against two fined in 1907. There was some seining 

 for whitefish in the early spring carried on by Indians and others, who take 

 advantage of this opportunity, the whitefish coming in shore as soon as the 

 ice goes out. The gasoline boat furnished by the Department will, he trusts 

 put an end to the seining in his division, as it will enable him to get on the 

 fishing grounds more easily. 



The angling was fully as good as in 1907, bass and pickerel being as 

 plentiful. The pickerel in the Magnetawan River were more plentiful, and of 

 a larger size than the two years previous. The French River was reported 

 to be not so good as in previous years, the bass and pickerel being scarcer, 

 which he believes is due to fishing the river with nets. He had an oppor- 

 tunity of visiting this river on the line of the C.P.R., where he located and 

 destroyed a large trap net used for catching pickerel. 



The deer were very plentiful in the summer months, but the bush fires 

 that raged through there destroyed their feeding grounds, so when the 

 open season came very few deer were to be found in that vicinity, and a 

 number of hunters failed to get their deer. He thinks that hunting deer 

 with dogs should be prohibited. 



The partridge were more plentiful than for a long time, and very tame. 

 He thinks it would do no harm to have another year of close season for them. 



Overseer Henry Laughington, of Parry Sound, reports that the fishing 

 for 1908 was on an average about the same as in 1907, only a slight increase 

 in the month of October for trout. He thinks the fishermen should not be 

 allowed an extension of time in November, but that the last ten days in 

 October should be added to the close season. 



As to the angling for game fish, it was good, and a larger number of 

 the anglers are non-residents of Ontario, which means a large revenue to 

 this country. He thinks there should be a small patrol boat which could go 

 through among the islands and the shallow waters, and it should be on from 

 the opening of navigation till the close of same. The steamer "Pearl" was 

 on at short intervals last season, and proved a success looking after non-resi- 

 dents' licenses and also illegal fishing. 



The close season for partridge was a good move, and if we have a fair 

 average spring they will be quite numerous. He says it would be a good 



