46 THE REPORT UPON No. IS 



Overseer A. W. Mclntyre, of Keene, reports that there \vias a good catch of fish 

 this season in his division, hut he can give no account of what was caught as the 

 fishing was done by local men chiefly. He thinks there wias an increase over last 

 year. They were nearly all consumed in tjie neighborhood. ' He had no infrac- 

 tions of the law to report. There are no dams in his district with fishwiays in 

 and he thinks there is no need for them as there are as many fish above as below 

 the dams in the Indian River. There is no mill refuse dumped in the water in 

 his division. 



Overseer Enoch Merriam, of Harwood, reports that the fishing was not as good 

 in Rice Lake this past summer as it was other years. The water was about 

 twenty inches higher than he ever knew it to be, and many of the old weed beds 

 that served as a guide to fish along never oame to the top of the water, and he is 

 of the opinion that the fish were more scattered than when the water was much 

 lower in the lake. The weather was very rough and a good many days the fisher- 

 men had to stop on sihore, and as Rice Lake is very shallow, only about 12 feet 

 on an average, and of mud bottom, it becomes so muddy after a storm that it 

 takes some time to settle down again so that the fish can see a bait. The min- 

 nows were very plentiful out everywhere on the deepest water, and he thinks this 

 supply of food for the large fish helps to spoil the sport of anglers. The water 

 was of a good height last spring, so that there was no spawn wasted and the fish 

 were as plentiful in the marshes as ever they were. The muskrats were very thick 

 and are becoming more plentiful every year. Partridges are very scarce around 

 there, owing to the fact that there is not much wood for them to hatch in. Ducks 

 were in great quantity last spring and stopped with them till the middle of May, 

 but there is not as many fall duck in yet as la?t year; it is a little early for 

 them at this present date, October 30th. The shooting is not good, as you can- 

 not get at them, since you cannot shoot from the rice beds over decoys. He has 

 not seen any traps set for the muskrat and they are putting up their camps for the 

 winter. The close seasons have been well observed, with the exception of one In- 

 dian. He was caught trolling; he had no fish. He took his line and bait and 

 got out a summons for him to appear in court, but instead he left and went to 

 some part unknown to him as yet. 



Overseer F. J. Moore, of Lakefield, reports that as regards the Fisheries, the 

 law has been well observed in his district this season. He had a few cases in the 

 spring with the settlers, but let them off with a warning,, which had a good effect. 

 He had one party fined for killing maskinonge in the spring. 



Tourists have had fairly good luck with rod and spoon this year, particularly 

 bass fishing; maskinonge has not been so plentiful. He would again strongly 

 recommend that Stony Lake be restocked with parent bass, if they could be got, 

 RB it is of great importance that the fish supply he kept up. Stony Lake is becom- 

 ing a great summer resort for tourists who come from all parts of the United 

 States to spend their holidays. He does not think they would mind paying 

 more for their permits if the fishing was good. 



He has issued over two hundred fishing permits this year, and there are also 

 « number of Americans come here who get their permits on the way over, so that 

 these people, with the people of our own Province, use quite a supply of fish. 

 He thinks it would be a good idea, if possible, to have arrangements made with 



