1909 GAME AND FISHERIES. 15 



immense numbers year by year, and he thinks that the time has arrived for the 

 hunters to be satisfied with one deer as their limit for at least two years. 



Moose seem to be holding their own. While patrolling many small lakes north 

 of there he has seen several small herds of five and six together. A number of moose 

 have been reported south and ea^ of there. 



Beaver and otter have increased to a large extent, and the protection of these 

 animals is a very difficult matter to contend with. 



Warden J. T. Robinson, of Sault Ste. Marie, reports that speckled trout are 

 plentiful in that district. Angling parties camped around the inland lakes and 

 rivers. They were well pleased with the catch. The law was well observed by the 

 anglers. The fisliermen report that the fishing this season has been fairly good, 

 the law has been well observed by the fishermen. There should be a longer close 

 season for white fish and salmon trout, say, from the 15th October to the 1st of 

 December. He says that rainbow and grey trout should be protected, the close 

 season for these fish should be the same as for speckled trout. He says that the 

 Department should have all nets lifted out of the water in close season ; pound nets 

 in Georgian Bay and Lake Huron should not be allowed in November, 



Partridges are plentiful in that district, and the close season has been fairly 

 well observed. He would say that there should be an open season in 1910. Wild 

 ducks are plentiful, but owing to the mild weather the hunters have not been able 

 to bag many of these birds, as they kept out in the open water. Beaver are plen- 

 tiful there, but it is most difficult to protect those animals owing to the high price 

 the trappers get for their pelts, and the easy way they have of getting them out 

 of the Province. There should be a trapper's license, say, of $50 for a resident and 

 $100 for a non-resident. Mink and muskrats are plentiful ; they should be looked 

 after, as their skins are valuable. Wild geese are very scarce there, as he has not 

 seen one in his division this season. Deer and moose never were known to be so 

 plentiful in that north country as they were this season, but owing to the mild 

 weather there were not as many shot as in the season of 1908. It is difficult 

 to protect the deer and moose there owing to so many lumber camps in that dis- 

 trict. The law should be changed so as to prevent men taking guns to the lum- 

 ber camps. He would like to see the law changed so as to stop hunters running 

 deer with dogs in the open season. Wolves are very plentiful there, and if some- 

 thing is not done to get rid of them they will in a few years destroy all the deer. 

 There should be a larger bounty given, so as to encourage the people to hunt them. 

 If the Department would offer $20 for each wolf, there would soon be a lot of 

 them destroyed. 



Warden C. N. Sterling, of Kenora, reports that he has Jbeen over the 

 greater portion of his district twice during the year, and is pleased to report that 

 he has found a very great improvement in the general state of things,. There is a 

 desire on the part of those engaged in fishing, trapping and hunting, as well as 

 settlers, to protect game and observe the laws relating to same. Fishing has 

 been fully up to the standard of last year, and he has had very little trouble with 

 those engaged in it, all doing their best to comply with the law. The transcontin- 

 ental work being completed in this portion of his district he will be able to devote 

 more attention to the eastern part of it. 



