28 THE REPORT UPON No. 32 



Partridge are becoming more scarce eacli year, no doubt on account of 

 less cover. Quail, in the districts where re-stocking was done, showed good 

 results, but in the other districts there were not many reported. 



Woodcock seemed to be plentiful on St. Ann's and Walpole Island 

 Indian Reserve. There was the usual supply of snipe and plover. The marsh 

 variety of ducks, such as Mallard, etc., show no improvement, and have for 

 the last few years been growing less. The canvas back, blue bill and red 

 head were abundant, but, owing to the feed growing so far out, and the 200 

 yard limit, with rough weather, there were very few shot. 



Muskrats seem to be plentiful, judging from the number of houses they 

 have in the marshes and along the streams. Fox, mink and racoon about the 

 usual number. 



The laws were well observed, excepting in one instance by Americans 

 placing decoys outside the 200 yard limit. They had their license taken 

 from them. 



Overseer Henry Osborne, of Dante, reports that the catch of the papt 

 season exceeded that of the previous season. The fishery laws were fairly 

 well observed, apparently from a desire to protect the fish. He discovered 

 two violations of the law and seized two nets, but found no person operating 

 them. However, owing to the nature of the evidence, he was afraid to prose- 

 cute for fear of not being able to secure a conviction. He says that there are 

 very few except those living on the river who fish, and when any violation 

 exists it is by some one coming from a distance. 



Overseer Theodore Peltier, Dover South, reports that the catch of fish 

 has been very good, considering the short season on account of wind, it hav- 

 ing been a remarkably windy spring and fall. There is no indication of a 

 decrease. The close seasons have been well observed, and no violations of 

 the law came to his notice. 



Lake Erie and Grand River. 



Overseer T. J . Briggs, of Bridgeburg, reports that there are whitefish in 

 the Niagara River, and the Americans are running back and forth with 

 seines all times of the night. Two seines were seized from parties who were 

 supposed to be Americans, who dropped their nets and rowed away. The 

 nets were burnt. 



The angling was poor last year, caused, it was supposed, by so much 

 dynamiting. Every month, or sometimes once a week, this was used to 

 kill fish. 



Overseer H. A . Henderson, of Pelee Island, reports that the season has 

 been a very prosperous one, that the catch of fish largely exceeds that of 

 previous years, and might even have been greater had not the market become 

 glutted and dealers unable to handle the supply. This bears out his former 

 reports that the fish are in the lake, and a more vigorous prosecution of the 

 fishing will give greater returns. Of course he does not mean that fishing 

 should be overdone, but he believes that Lake Erie is not so nearly depleted 

 of fish as some reports would make people believe. He is also of opinion 

 that the stocking of the waters with young fry is having a good effect. The 

 season, too, has been very favourable — ^the best in years, as formerly all fish 

 caught were exported to the United States except a small quantity sold for 

 home consumption. 



No abuses existed in his district, and no illegal fishing came to his notice. 



Overseer Henry Johnson, of Brantford, reports that the fishing in his 

 division has been good. Coarse fish was never better, bass was good, pickerel 



