1909 GAME AND FISHEEIES. 31 



tively. The prices for whitefish he thinks will average six and a half cents per 

 pound. He thinks about seventy-five per cent, of the catch lias been shipped to 

 the American markets, while about twenty-five per cent, has been consumed in 

 Ontario. 



Overseer Oeorge TJiurlow, of Nairn Centre, reports that the game and fishery 

 laws have been better observed during the past year than in the two years previous, 

 as no one knew of an overseer in that district, and it was go as you please. Fishing 

 on Sunday was common, as well as in closed seasons. He had only on one occasion 

 to fine for Sunday fishing and three for hunting on Sunday, although he has visited 

 the lakes several times on Sundays. Bass and pickerel are very plentiful in most 

 of the lakes in his district. 



As to game, deer and moose are very plentiful both to north and south of 

 Nairn Centre on Soo Branch between sixty and seventy (60 and 70) being shipped 

 during hunting season in 1908, and most of the settlers having a good supply. 



Partridge are on the increase, but not so plentiful as two years ago, the bush 

 fires of 1908 destroying great numbers of them. Ducks are scarce. He has only 

 seen 15 of them all summer, although he has travelled for many miles on rivers and 

 lake shore. 



Overseer W. J. Wright, of Ice Lake, reports that the black bass in Kagawong 

 Lake are, he thinks, on the decrease. There were this season about 75 or 80 people 

 from outside here during July and August, and there was certainly a large number 

 of fish caught and wasted. When two men go out for a few days' fishing and come 

 in with 16 fish it is not so bad, for they have not exceeded the limit; but when 12 

 go out in one boat and bring in 96 fish, one, two or three of the party may have 

 hooked most of the catch for all he knows. He says that when the waste comes in 

 they take them to the hotel; as they can't eat them all, they spoil. He has seen 

 them carried out by the hundredweight more than once, but no one had broken the 

 law as he understands it, so nothing could be done to prevent it. 



He recommends that the close season be extended until July for black bass, as 

 for the last week in June they are still on the shoals and are easily caught. He 

 would strongly recommend that every person fishing in that lake except the actual 

 settler, pay a license. The law has not been broken as far as he knows. The 

 deer around the lake are becoming quite plentiful. A few years ago there were 

 very few on the Island. Fur-bearing animals are scarce, except mink and muskrat ; 

 there are lots of those. Partridge, thanks to the close season of the last two 

 year^, are becoming quite plentiful again, but he would recommend that the open 

 season for the next few years be one month, say, from the 15th of October to the 

 15th of November. Earlier than the above date partridge are in flocks, so usu- 

 ally a man with a gun gets the whole flock. Later on they pair off and stand a 

 better chance. 



Georqian Bay. 



Overseer John Beatty, of Old Fort, Midland, reports that the trout fishing has 

 not been as good for a number of years as this season. There has been abundance 

 of pike and maskinonge caught in Mud Lake and Wye River and the fishermen 

 were well pleased with their catch. 



The partridge seem to be increasing very fast. The duck hunters claim they 

 never saw as many ducks in twenty-five years as they saw this season. Snipe and 



