30 THE REPORT UPON No. 32 



The close season on game was also well observed, no violations of the 

 Game Law having come to his notice. This is largely due to the notices being 

 posted up in conspicuous places, so that the public were well acquainted 

 with the rules and regulations. 



Overseer A. McEwen, of Aldboro, reports that the catch of fish in West 

 Elgin during the year 1908 by pound net men was below the average, and 

 prices were not all satisfactory, being much below the level of 1907. 



The laws and regulations were well observed. 



Gill net fishing proved somewhat of a surprise, owing to the immense 

 catch of herring made by tugs late in the fall, but prices were very low. 



Overseer James McVittie, of Blenheim, reports that personal observa- 

 tion and authentic reports both agree that the year 1908 has been the ban- 

 ner year, as far as quantity of fish taken from Lake Erie is concerned. This 

 was decidedly noticeable during the last half of the year. The catch being 

 principally herring, the fishermen complain that there has been little money 

 made, but this is only the result of over production. This difficulty could 

 be easily overcome, if the regulation demanded a larger mesh for gill nets, 

 and also for cribs in pound nets, when only the larger or full grown fish 

 would be marketed. This year has demonstrated beyond doubt that Lake 

 Erie has not been depleted. 



The fishermen in his district have obeyed the regulations to the letter, 

 as far as he could see, giving no trouble at all. The carp catch has been 

 small this year, on account of the water being very high, letting the fish get 

 over the marsh. The prospects for next jear look better,, as the water is 

 some two feet lower. 



Overseer J. P. Pierce, of Port Rowan, begs to report that the fishing 

 season of 1908 in that district was one of the most successful that they have 

 ever had there. No violations of the law in any way came to his attention. 



The bass fishing was very successful from the date of the opening of 

 the season until about the last day of July. The number of tourists here 

 Was greatly in excess of any other year and the amount received for non- 

 resident licenses consequently considerably in excess of other years. For 

 some reason, the bass, while still numerous in Long Point Bay, ceased to 

 bite at any usual bait about the end of July, although some were caught by 

 using small crabs for bait. 



The seine and gill net fishing was about average. If anything, the catch 

 was slightly larger than last year. 



With regard to the game he would report that the number of ducks 

 shot during the year was much less than any previous year of which he 

 has any knowledge. The limit of 200 yards for setting decoys was generally 

 lived up to, he having neither seen nor received any information as to any 

 breach of the law in this respect. Personally he considers that this limit 

 is not great enough, and instead of this provision increasing the number of 

 ducks in the Bay it has had a totally opposite effect. Sportsmen, not being 

 allowed to place decoys outside of this limit, have taken to running the 

 ducks in boats, at. times twenty or more boats chasing about the bay, prac- 

 tically clearing the water of ducks and totally ruining the shooting of other 

 persons. A great many complaints have been made to him of this practice 

 and he has been requested to call the attention of the department to it. 



One very flagrant violation of the law respecting the shipping of ducks 

 came to his attention during the season by the holder of a game dealer's 

 license. The license was cancelled by the Department. He would strongly 

 recommend that all officers of the Department be strictly enjoined not to 



