36 THE REPORT UPON No. 32 



Silver Lake contains pike, bass and suckers. All fish caught therein 

 are caught by hook and line, and the reports are the same as last year, as 

 near as he could gather from those engaged in fishing there. 



Thirteen and Fourteen Island Lakes contain pike and suckers. Not 

 much fishing done there, except by the settlers or residents of the place. 



Knowlton Lake contains herring, salmon and a few small perch. An 

 increase reported this j'ear, being more closely watched against netting. In 

 this lake he found there were more licenses granted than these waters could 

 supply without being depleted. He sent five there to fish, and the Overseer 

 at Sydenham sent four, as he was not aware that it was not in his division, 

 so to remedy this the fishermen were told to fish three or four nights each 

 and then leave, and they agreed to this. 



Mud Lake on stream from Knowlton to Desert Lake, contains abundance 

 of catfish. He had none engaged in fishing in this lake. The residents catch 

 them with "bobs" for their own use. The lake is very backward and out of 

 the way. 



Desert Lake contains herring, salmon and suckers. This is a very 

 popular resort for fishermen. He found it very difficult to watch, as other 

 overseers had granted licenses, and he was not aware of this and found 

 difficulty in locating them. The catch was not as great this year, owing to 

 the waters being so rough, and .the men were unable to put out their nets, 

 except one night. In this water the fish run at a later date than in the 

 other lakes. 



He does not think there are any fish to spare in the waters in his dis- 

 trict, if the residents get justice. He does not approve of overseers grant- 

 ing permits or licenses to non-residents over-crowding the fisheries so that 

 residents cannot be allowed to fish, as cases like this have come to his 

 notice, of residents seeking a license, and though living on the banks of the 

 waters there was no room for them to fish. 



There are no fish ways in his district. 



There is but one mill, and he has watched closely to see that no rubbish 

 is being dumped in the water. 



He has a few violations to report on Napanee waters, the marshes of 

 Long and Eock Lakes, viz., the cutting open of muskrat houses, which des- 

 troys more than are caught. He could not find proof as to who did it. He 

 ventures this suggestion, to prohibit trapping muskrat until 1st March, as 

 they are very plentiful and have become very valuable. It was estimated 

 that the catch in that township alone last year totalled |1,500. 



Overseer W . J. Birch, of Delta, reports that the chief fish in the waters 

 in his division that need protection are small and large mouthed bass, which 

 w^ere very plentiful there about twenty years ago, but kept gradually decreas- 

 ing until about five years ago, and since that time they seem to be on the 

 gain, and this last season they have been very plentiful, sportsmen having 

 very little trouble in getting their limit at any time. 



Lower Beverley Lake has twelve fine cottages on its islands and shores 

 owned by residents of Leeds County, and they are interested in the welfare 

 of the fishing, occupying the cottages for a lengthy time every year. They 

 prove a great help to him in stopping illegal fishing. He patrolled the 

 waters quite regularly, and seized two giir nets, but although finding the 

 owners, was unable to prosecute. The law was quite well observed in his 

 division. The fishermen of Upper Beverley Lake report much better 

 catches this past year than previous years. 



