52 THE REPORT UPON No. 32 



He thinks that Americans and all foreigners should pay |5 instead of 

 |2 for permits to fish in Ontario. If there is good fishing they will pay the 

 price, and if there is not they will not come. 



As to Game. Ducks were very plentiful on the river, in fact he saw 

 more ducks last fall than at any time during the past twenty years. He 

 thinks the close season for muskrats should begin on May 1st, and last until 

 March 1st. On account of the scarcity of mink, muskrats have been in 

 great demand, and bring good prices. 



Overseer Thomas H . Johnston, of Royston, reports that in the l>eginning 

 of the close season he put up notices about the size and the close seasons for 

 the various fish. At the same time he examined the several saw mills in the 

 vicinity of where he has to make a trip during the season, and found two 

 mills putting sawdust into enclosures of pretended wharfs, which would be 

 destroyed by a storm. He threatened them with the law, and at the same 

 time advised them to change their stop chains, which they did. 



In the tourist season he visited Rainy Lake, Doe Lake, Ornick and Horn 

 Lakes. The latter has some fine trout, but nothing else in the line of fish. 

 It is a long spring lake on the boundary between Ryerson and Chapman 

 townships. 



During the fishing season he found some four or five fishing without per- 

 mits, who owned houses and claimed to be residents. One man who lived in 

 Georgia thought he could do so because he was a Canadian, but when it was 

 explained to him that he could not vote here he bought a permit. 



He would suggest the Department providing a small gasoline launch, 

 which could be procured for about |200, and on which a man could watch 

 these lakes and rivers forty miles long, and it would also come in well in 

 hunting season, in fact it is very necessary, as tnese lakes are just fine m 

 summer and are becoming prominent. 



He would further suggest that dogs be stopped hunting deer. To see a 

 big buck come out of the lake, and before he can shake the water o^ to be 

 surrounded by several hounds and torn to pieces while alive is a sight he 

 says he does not wish to see, any more than a Spanish bull fight. He saw a 

 deer chased past his farm by hounds with his tongue out the length of his 

 hand, and thinks that if there is a humane society in Ontario, or a Member of 

 Parliament who does not care to see the deer extinct, let him stop dogs during 

 the hunting season. 



Overseer David Jones, of Welland, reports that the catch of coarse fish 

 was very fair according to the statement of the anglers, but there was con- 

 siderable poaching before an overseer was appointed. Since his appoint- 

 ment he has had very little trouble with any one, but there is liable to be' 

 trouble next spring. 



Overseer John Jones, of Fenelon Falls, reports that fish are more plenti- 

 ful now than they have been for some years previous, owing, he believes, to 

 the law being observed, and the water in the lakes and rivers being kept 

 at a uniform height. He only found one infringement of the law, and that 

 was in the month of June last while patrolling Cameron Lake. He came 

 across 60 ft. of gill net, which he immediately took possession of, but has 

 been unable to find out who placed it in the water. 



Frogs in Victoria County had a close season last year, and those engaged 

 in catching them observed the law to the letter. They were plentiful last 

 season, and the close season will no doubt make them much more numerous 

 during next year. 



Muskrat and mink are plentiful, some 2,000 rats having been caught 

 within a radius of three miles from here on Cameron Lake and Burnt River 



