1908 GAME AND FISHERIES. 67 



Overseer D. C. Stuart, of Codrington, reports that the law has been 

 fairly well observed in the waters over which he has control. He has taken 

 every precaution against allowing sawdust to run into any of the waters. 

 There appears to be quite an increase of fish, and he is satisfied the increase 

 would be much greater if the Government would take some action in the 

 destruction of cranes, as he has seen as many as 25 or 30 at one time on the 

 drowned lands walking around in the water, and picking up the young fish, 

 as they live entirely on the young fish instead of the dead fish, as supposed. 



He had a little trouble at first preventing the shooting of partridge, but 

 has succeeded very nicely. 



Overseer W. H. Switzer, of Gooderhamfi, reports that the close season 

 for fish was well observed, no instances of illegal fishing having come to his 

 notice. He is sorry to say that some settlers do not stop fishing when they 

 catch the number of fish the law allows them, but catch all they can, large 

 or small, and take them away. The salmon trout catch was more than up 

 to the average, some fine specimens having been caught; but the black bass 

 fishino- was not up to the average, as the settlers fished so much they fished 

 out all the large ones. 



There are no fish ways in his district. The mill owners have observed 

 the law fairly well. There were no tourists visiting that neighbourhood, but 

 he believes that in a very short time they will have them there, as some of 

 the lakes are getting fairly well stocked and fish more plentiful. There was 

 one salmon trout caught in Litte Bear Lake, which weighed 7^ lbs. 



The game laws were well observed, so far as he knows. He was talking 

 to some sportsmen concerning deer, and they said they did not seem to be 

 as numerous as formerly. He thinks the bush fires had something to do with 

 it, as it seemed to drive them further back. 



Overseer Fred Taylor, of Huntsville, reports that, as far as he could 

 learn, bass was more plentiful than other years, but lake or salmon trout not 

 so plentiful. 



There were no fish exported from his division. 



An abuse exists — a lock in Brunei, and he would recommend that a 

 proper burner be built and lower part of mill be repaired to prevent sawdust 

 from falling in river. 



The close seasons were fairly well observed. 



There were violations reported to him, but not sufficient evidence to 

 warant him to proceed, hence no fines were imposed. 



There are no fish ways in his division. 



Overseer Ira Toole, of Omemee, reports that the maskinonge seem lu 

 be on the increase in Pigeon Lake and River, as the fishing was good all 

 through the open season. Bass fishing was not so good as in 1907, although 

 the fish seemed to be just as plentiful as other years. 



Frogs appear to be on the increase, the close season having certainly 

 helped them, but he thinks it should extend further than Victoria County. 



Wild duck were very plentiful when the season opened, and the shoot- 

 ing was good in the early part of the season, but not so good later on. 

 Muskrat were also plentiful, last spring there having been the largest catch 

 of rats that he has ever known in these waters. 



Partridge are about the same as they have been for the last three years 

 — pretty scarce. 



The game and fishery laws have been fairly well observed during the 

 past year. There were only two cases where fiines were imposed, one for 

 snaring maskinonge, and the other for illegal trapping of muskrat, fines 

 being collected in both cases. 



