1908 GAME AND FISHERIES. 63 



with clubs out on the flooded lands, and he thinks this is the primal reason 

 for the depletion in both fish and game. A few years ago this river was a 

 natural breeding ground for ducks of the following varieties : Black, Wood, 

 a few Blue Bill and the Teal, and thousands bred there. This season hardly 

 a bird was to be seen, and as a matter of fact not a dozen duck have been 

 killed. There were simply no snipe^ and not a single bird has been killed. 

 All this is owiiig to the carp. This river and Cook's Bay were formerly a 

 mass of rice, but is now an open sheet of water — not an acre of rice in the 

 whole stretch. 



Partridge and Woodcock are very scarce, in fact, he says, only one wood- 

 cock is reported to have been seen on grounds where formerly there were 

 dozens. He would earnestly recommend that something be done to exterm- 

 inate the carp plague, and so restore what was once one of the finest nesting 

 grounds for our game birds. 



Overseer Robert Leadley, of Barrie, reports that bass are small but plenti- 

 ful. There have not been as many whitefish caught as in other years, on 

 account of bait being scarce. Trout are plentiful in Lake Simcoe, but seldom 

 ever caught in Kempenfeldt Bay. He thinks it is on account of the refuse 

 from the tannery running into the bay. 



Partridge are increasing, and ducks have been more plentiful than in 

 1907. 



Overseer Heot^r McDonald, of Beaverton, reports that the bass fishing 

 in his district was very fair, and the campers seemed well pleased. He 

 thinks the quantity of fish is increasing in Lake Simcoe. He would like to 

 see licenses granted for spearing through the ice. 



The law has been well observed, no reports of illegal fishing having 

 come to his notice. 



Partridges are very scarce in* that district. , 



Overseer William McGinn, of Orillia, reports that the fishing in Lakes 

 Simcoe and Couchiching has been exceptionally good, especially bass and 

 lunge. The trout in Lake Simcoe are also plentiful, and good catches in 

 all have been reported. The law has been fairly well observed, only an 

 occasional disregard of same having been reported. In one case he found a 

 net had been placed in Lake Simcoe, which he seized and sent to the Depart- 

 ment, although he never found the owner. In the Longford district the law 

 has been broken in a number of cases, a lot of illegal fishing having been 

 carried on in the Narrows between Mud Lake and Lake St. John, where 

 the settlers took large numbers in other ways than by rod and line. These 

 lakes are fine breeding grounds for bass, pickerel and lunge. He thinks 

 there should really be more protection on these lakes at once. He made a 

 number of trips to these points during the summer putting up notices, etc. 

 The fishing has been very poor in Bass Lake, and it being protected ought 

 to be much better. There ought to be something done to protect this small 

 lake again. 



The fishing in Sparrow Lake has been very good, especially lunge, which 

 were more plentiful than bass. The settlers and tourists are very thankful 

 to the Department for the car of parent bass put in this lake in November 

 last, and would be most happy to have another car in the spring. There 

 was an association formed among the tourists and residents for the pro- 

 tection of fish and game in and around the lake, as well as for promoting 

 business in all ways for the good of Sparrow Lake. As there were no fish 

 deposited in Lake Couchiching since 1906, he thinks they should have at 

 least two cars in the spring. 



