40 THE REPORT UPON No. 32 



seized two gill nets, and confiscated them. There were no fish caught for 

 sale. 



Overseer Hugh Gallagher, of Eganville, reports that during the first half 

 of the year he heard of no illegal fishing or violations of the Game and 

 Fisheries Act, 



He was appointed on the 1st August to look after the Townships of Jones, 

 Raglan, Radclilfe and Sherwood, and on that date he went to Combermere in 

 the Township of Radcliffe and spent some time in the territory assigned to 

 him posting notices received from the Department, etc. Later on he visited 

 Lake Clear on request of Department on two different occasions. On his first 

 visit he secured five nets which were in the water, but the owners having 

 been put on the alert by a former visit from another game warden, he found 

 it impossible to obtain evidence against any of them. After his first visit 

 netting on the lake was abandoned. 



In November, he visited hunting camps throughout the country, as per 

 instructions from the Department, but found nothing illegal. 



Overseer E. T. Loveday, of Ottawa, reports that from his own experi- 

 ence, and from what he has heard from others, fishing in his district has been 

 better than for past years, in fact he has on several occasions been reminded 

 of from 20 to 25 years ago. Bass, that noble fish, has been plentiful, good 

 catches having been made with both fly and bait. The largest he got weighed 

 4| lbs. Quite a number larger than that have been taken, he understands, 

 but a two pounder is considered a good one. These catches have been made in 

 Ottawa River from city limits upwards above falls. Below the city there 

 are no bass, or at least he has not seen or heard of any being caught — ^too 

 much sawdust, the river is full of it. However, there are pike, perch, etc, 

 to be had. He only seized 3 nets during the summer, and these were 

 small ones. 



Game. He claims that deer are on the increase, within say 50 miles of 

 the city, all things taken into consideration ; also there are more partridge. 

 Ducks were not plentiful, but plover were for a short time. He saw only 

 one woodcock during the summer ; they are very rare. He believes beaver are 

 on the increase. He knows of about fifty places where beaver were at work 

 last fall, within 50 miles of city limits. If they were let alone they would 

 close in on the settlements. The price of otter skins is too high for them to 

 be plentiful — 150 to |75 is a snap. He thinks it is time a close season was 

 put on mink, as their fur is very valuable. 



The laws have been well observed all along the line. He has covered 

 more territory and met more trains, but he says "things" were not coming 

 his way, and he has not made anything like the number of seizures he has 

 made in other years, and concludes that perhaps law breakers have come to the 

 conclusion that it is better to observe the law than to lose their fur, game or 

 fish, and run up against a good stiff fine. 



Overseer John McGuire, of Jones Falls, reports that on the whole the 

 past season has been a very successful one, although the spring was very cold 

 and late, which made the tourists later in coming over by about two weeks, but 

 all this drawback was more than made up later on in the season. He says, he 

 knows this to be so, as he sold more non-resident angling permits than any 

 previous year, and returned more money to the Department. The hotels at 

 Jones Fails and Chaffey's Locks, which are both in his district, also private 

 boarding houses, all report 1908 to be the best season in their business. 

 The men who furnish the bait say they have made more money. Although the 

 two men who furnish the bait at Jones Falls were both fined during the season, 

 nevertheless, they report favourably and are well satisfied. They have made 



