62 THE REPORT UPON No. 32 



as they pleased, whether legally or not he does not say. He is pleased to be 

 able to state, however, that the great majority of the people, who are anxious 

 to promote the best interests and welfare of their town and the St. Lawrence 

 supported and encouraged him in his work. The results have been very 

 encouraging indeed. 



During the season of 1908 there was, perhaps, more trolling -and rod-and 

 line fishing done than for many years, and it was the unanimously expressed 

 opinion that not only did the fishing improve as the season advanced but 

 that the fish were more plentiful at all times during the season than in 

 former seasons. This improvement can only be accounted for by the fact that 

 net-fishing was practically done away with. 



He has also discussed the question with as many of the river guides as 

 possible, and they all agree with the general opinion expressed above, that 

 is, that there was a decided improvement in the number of fish over former 

 years. That net-fishing was practised extensively until the past season also 

 accounts for the fact that many of the fish taken in a legitimate way were 

 small in size, but he is firmly convinced that if net-fishing can be contin- 

 uously prevented, it will not be long until the St. Lawrence shall have 

 recovered its reputation as a sportsman's paradise. 



He calls the attention of the DeDartment to the fact that much net-fish- 

 ing is carried on in the winter months, and in the opinion of a great many 

 of the best and most responsible citizens your overseer vshould be appointed 

 for the full year, so that a few, who h^ve the facilities, may not reap illegally 

 the benefits for which your overseer works during the summer months. 



Lakes Simcoe, Couchiching and Sparegw. 



Overseer Saviuel Coulter, of Gilford, reports that with but one exception 

 he has had very little trouble with either illegal fishing or game. 



In the early part of last winter there were about 80 huts on the bay for 

 the most part of the day fishing for herring with hook and line. The herring, 

 though small, seemed for a time to be quite plentiful, some parties being so 

 successful as to catch as many as eighty a day. But maskinonge and white- 

 fish seem to be on the decrease, owing to the large number of carp in the bay 

 eating the small fish. 



For the past two seasons game in that locality was quite scarce, the long 

 cold and wet springs of 1907 and 1908 proving too severe for the hatching 

 of the wild fowl. 



The law was well observed, with but one exception. In April of the 

 past year five parties appeared before the magistrate in Lefroy to answer 

 to the charge of illegal duck shooting. Two of the parties were innocent, 

 and the remaining three convicted. They were fined the smallest possible 

 fine, owing to it being their first offence. 



Overseer George G. Green, of Bradford, reports that the run of fish in 

 Holland River was very late this season, and also very light, in fact very 

 few fish were seen, and each year they are becoming scarcer. 



Regarding illegal fishing, there was practically none done. He had one 

 report of a net, but on going up and investigating no trace could be found, 

 and dragging failed to discover anything. He had occasion to put out only 

 one light in his territory. The Deputy Warden in the village, caught a 

 couple of parties who were fined for having maskinonge. This was the only 

 case that was heard of, and these fish came from King Township. 



He says the waters this past spring were simply alive with carp, hun- 

 dreds being killed and shipped by express to Toronto, the men killing them 



