36 THE EEPORT UPON No. 13 



The anglers were more particular this year as to their catches, and the credit 

 chiefly belongs to the licensed guides. There were not so many non-resident 

 anglers as in former years, and h^ thinks the Seattle Exposition and automobiling 

 had a good deal to do with that, also some of the Americans who formerly fished 

 in these waters went to our inland waters, where the windy weather would not 

 interfere with them so much, and the angling is e<iually as good, if not better. 



The prospects are bright for a good season next year, and large catches. 



The game at the opening of the season was more plentiful than usual, but 

 has not been so good lately owing to the mild weather, but will be good again 

 when the inland waters begin to freeze over. 



Overseer 11. E. Wartman, of Portsmouth, reports that during the first part of 

 the season bass were not very plentiful, but later there were some good catches of 

 bass, and some very large ones, larger than usual. 



The law was well observed in the section, with the exceptions of two or three 

 nets, which were reported but could not be located. Duck shooting is not very 

 good so far, but it is rather early, November and December being our best months 

 for ducks. 



Partridge in the' north part of his territory are on the increase an4 quite plenti- 

 ful; so much for the close season. 



Muskrats were quite numerous this year, and he thinks the law was well 

 observed. Would recommend close season until the 1st of March, when the fur is 

 the best. 



He would not recommend a close season for mink, as they destroy muskrats 

 and all kinds of game. Last year he caught a mink in a pond killing wild ducks 

 that were too small to fly. Their fur is fine, but they are one of the most destructive 

 animals on game we have. 



Overseer J. R. Wight, of Newhoro, reports that, with the assistance of guides 

 and hotelmen and the generally sportsmanlike behaviour of tourists, there has been 

 very little illegal fishing in his district during the season of 1909. There was one 

 conviction for catching minnows wih a dip-net from a houseboat. The fishing 

 has been very good, both as to bass in the lake near Newboro and as to salmon in 

 Devil and Buck Lakes. The only falling off has been in the case of small-mouthed 

 bass, with which the lakes should at once be re^ocked, else these may soon be 

 fished out. The netting that has been licensed has been of good service in thinning 

 out to some extent the coarser fish that prey upon those whose preservation is our 

 object. 



Two dollars, in his opinion, is a sufficiently high fee for a rod license. While 

 some fish quite a while on it, there are others who remain only a day or so. In 

 this way a reasonable average of time is kept, which $2 well pays for. The licensing 

 of guides he considers to have been a good move for all parties to whom the matter 

 could be of any interest. The number of tourists at Newboro this summer was 

 considerably in excess of other years, a fact to be attributed to better organization, 

 better accommodation, and better advertising on the part of the hotels, together 

 with the reputation of the place in past years. With every convenience and vnth 

 means of accessibility possessed by few such places, with such fine fishing, and with 

 the tourists of so many past years advertising "it, Newboro should have a pretty big 

 share of the summer trade. 



