1908 GAME AND FISHERIES. 29 



not so good as last year, trout fishing good. There has been some illegal 

 fishing. There were five fines for fishing out of season, and four for Sunday- 

 fishing. Most of those fined were fol-eigners. The fish are all used for home 

 consumption. The fishways at Caledonia, Brantford and Paris should be 

 put in repair, as they are in very bad condition. 



Muskrats were plentiful. He had some complaints about rabbits, which 

 were very plentiful. There were two fines for shooting rabbits out of season. 

 A Game Protective Society has been formed there, which he thinks will help 

 the law, as the members are all good sportsmen. 



Overseer Samuel Kraft, of Ridgeway, reports, that fishing M^as very 

 good the fore part of the season, but during the latter part it was not so good. 

 Some of his fishermen did not fish at all on account of sickness and death. 



The fish they caught were mostly sold at the home market, and the 

 remainder shipped to Buffalo sold for a good price. 



The game and fishery laws were well observed by our own citizens, 

 but once in a while some Americans would steal over, but when they found 

 out they were closel;y watched, they stopped fishing and hunting. The law 

 was well observed during the year 1908. 



Overseer Edward Lee, of Low BanJcs, reports that the fishermen in 

 his division have had a successful year. The catch of whitefish by the tug 

 fishermen during the spring season and up to the end of May was one of 

 the heaviest they have had in years. This is one of the most profitable fish 

 the lake produces, and every means should be used for their protection dur- 

 ing the spawning season. The catch of herring in his division has been 

 good, but above there it was unusually heavy during the month of June, 

 although the fish taken were small. The catch of pickerel (blues) was as 

 heavy as last year, but on account of bad weather the fishermen could not 

 get out when run was heaviest, consequently the returns may not exceed 

 those of last year. Pickerel (dore) was about the same as last season, perch 

 also about the same. The pound net fishermen have had an increased catch 

 over last season. There was a decrease in sturgeon and caviare, carp, 

 suckers, mullett and sheepshead. Although carp are very numerous in lake, 

 very few are taken, fishermen giving as a reason they do not lead well into a 

 pound net. 



About 95 per cent, of the fish caught are exported to the United States, 

 balance used for home consumption. ^ 



No abuses exist. 



The close seasons have been well observed by licensed fishermen, and 

 nothing irregular except minor matters already reported. 



The game laws have been very well observed. 



Overseer K. McClennan, of Grovesend, reports that the catch of fish 

 during 1908 shows a vast increase over that of 1907. The catch of herring 

 has been exceptionally large all through the year, and especially in the fall 

 season, such large hauls were never known in that district. The quality also 

 compared favourably with the quantity, evidencing very plainly that the 

 waters are not being depleted. But the prices were so remarkably low that, 

 notwithstanding the large catch, the fishermen came out in debt, owing to 

 the extra amount of help required to take care of the fish. The close season 

 having been taken off blues from April 15th, to May 15th, the fishermen have 

 been considerably benefited. One fishermen informed him that his catch 

 of blues during last season amounted to about |3,000, but had the close 

 season been left on it would not have exceeded |700. The close seasons 

 were all well observed, as were all other regulations. 



