1909 GAME AND FISHERIES. 47 



the Dominion Government, in regard to the rising and falling of the water in 

 Ston}' Lake, in the spring, ae a great part of the spawn is lost through the water 

 falling. He has issued about thirty-four guides' licenses and thinks this is a 

 great protection to the fish. He has also issued two minnow licenses. He would 

 recommend that the close season for bass and maskinonge be from the 1st of April 

 instead of the 15th of April, as these fish run immediately after the ice disap- 

 pears. 



The law in regard to deer hunting this season has been well observed. Hunt- 

 ers and trappers have had a fairly good year. Ducks are not very plentiful in his 

 district. Partridge are more plentiful since the shooting and sale of these birds 

 has been prohibited. Trappers seem to have had good luck this year catching 

 muskrats. Mink is becoming very scarce in this locality and if they are not pro- 

 tected in some way, before long they will be a thing of the past. He would sug- 

 gest that a close season be put on them as their fur is very valuable, and also when 

 trappers are trapping mink they are apt to kill rats before the season opens for 

 these animals. 



Overseer J. W. Morton, of St. Ola, reports that the fishing in his district has 

 been some better than previous years, as near as he can ascertain. 



He sold more angling permits this year to Americans than last. No net li- 

 censes were taken out. The principal fish in these waters are salmon trout, black 

 bass and mud cats. 



The close season for fish and game was well observed as far as he had any 

 knowledge, and no violations, and consequently, no fines imposed. There are no 

 fishways in his division. Ducks are scarce, but partridge are more plentiful than 

 for a number of years; no wild geese stay in these waters, at least he has not 

 heard of any this year. 



There are lots of red squirrels, deer and numerous bears; foxes are not very 

 plentiful. 



Overseer James Myers, of Orchard, reports that there has been no change that 

 he can learn of; the catch was about the same as last year, fairly good. No fish 

 sold, all used at home, as the chief fish are trout and bass in his district. No 

 abuses that he knows of. The close seasons are well observed; he has kept a close 

 watch as to this, regarding both the game and fish. No violations of the Act 

 came to his notice except one man was fined for fishing on a reserve of the Mount 

 Forest Club. No sawdust or other refuse is put into the water where fish are. 

 Two fishways in fair repair in his district. He thinks that fish are more plen- 

 tiful and larger above the dam than below in some places where there is no fishway. 



Game is getting more plentiful in his district; the red deer are coming back 

 as several have been seen in Proton Station and some in Egremont lately. 



Overseer Henry B. Parker, of Bobcaygeon, reports that fishing during the past 

 season was good. In the first part of the season it was an easy matter for the 

 guides to bring in their number every day, but the latter part of the season was 

 not so good, the only reason he can give being the very high water. The catch 

 in both maskinonge and bass as to size was good. Tourists who visited there ex- 

 pressed themselves as being much pleased with the fishing. His opinion is that 

 the close season for maskinonge should begin earlier as he has known them to be 

 on their spawning beds on the Ist of April. 



