1908 GAME AND FISHERIES. 47 



increase iu numbers, and is being thorouglily appreciated by all good 

 citizens. 



Muskrats are a great boon to local trappers, and many thousands of 

 these valuable little furbearing animals are required to give up their life 

 and skin yearly in that section. He has been told by Indians and old trap- 

 pers that the chain of waters in that locality is the best breeding ground in 

 Ontario for muskrats, and as long as their destruction in fall and winter can 

 be prevented, they will increase and multiply in abundance. 



Mink, which are the most valuable of all the small fur-bearing animals 

 are becoming scarcer every year, owing to the wanton destruction at all 

 times. They should receive protection of some sort. 



Overseer C. Burtcheall, of Coboconk, reports the fishing on Balsam and 

 Mud Turtle Lakes to be good at the first part of the season, but the catches 

 were not so good towards the end. 



Regarding the close season. He finds it quite hard to watch certain 

 parties during the close season for both fish and game, and also finds it 

 hard to protect the partridge. He has to make a great many trips through 

 the woods and around where there are likely to be deer and partridge. Deer 

 seem to be scarce this fall. Some of the hunters who went a distance were 

 more lucky in getting their number. Ducks and geese are not very plenti- 

 ful around in that vicinity, although there seemed to be quite a number of 

 ducks in the spring. He thinks there should be a clause in the Act to pre- 

 vent boys frojm doing so much unnecessary shooting. 



Overseer J. D. Campbell, of Sylvan, reports that the general catch of 

 fish for the past season has been about the average, both in quality and size, 

 there being but few game fish. 



The law was well observed. 



There is one dam in his division, and it has a good fishway. 



Ducks have been plentiful, especially along Lake Huron. Rabbits were 

 numerous. All other game was very scarce. The law was well observed. 



Overseer T. C. CasJcey, of Blairton, reports that he made several trips 

 and visited different lakes in his district, and found the law fairly well 

 observed. 



A number of tourists visited Belmont and Crow Lakes during the past 

 season, having secured their permits in Toronto. 



The fish are quite plentiful in all the different lakes — Round Lake, Bel- 

 mont, Crow, Sandy and Twin. 



He found one man who had violated the law in regard to trapping 

 muskrat out of season, and find him for same. 



Overseer C. H. C assart, of Campbell ford, reports that the fishing in his 

 division has not been as good this year as last, that is in some parts of it. 

 And he thinks the cause of it is that there were Government works going on 

 and the waters was held back, and that made the water high above where 

 the works were going on, and low below. The fishing was better where the 

 water was low. But he would recommend that the water be stocked with 

 bass, as the Americans would much rather catch bass than any other fish on 

 account of their being so gamey. 



He would also recommend the licensing of guides at a small fee, and if 

 they did not abide by the law, have their license taken away for that year. 

 This he thinks would be a great help towards keeping the laws. He would 

 also recommend that fish hatcheries be built, as the supply of fish must be 

 kept up or our revenue will drop off. 



