48 THE EEPORT UPON No. 13 



Partridge are on the increase, as small flocks are to be seen wherever there is 

 cover for them. Ducks are about the same as in previous years, and some very 

 good bags were taken the first part of the hunt. 



Deer are getting scarce, and if the hunting of deer were stopped for three 

 years, there would be once more a nuntber of them. Muskrat are plentiful and 

 great numberg have been taken in the spring trapping. Mink should be given 

 protection, as they are one of the most valuable fur bearers and are becoming 

 very scarce owing to the destruction at all times of the year. Beavers are on 

 the increase as there are a few colonies on the creeks and marshes and if kept 

 protected would multiply very rapidly. 



Overseer Chas. W. Parhvii, of FaZewh'a/ reports' that bass are becoming more 

 plentiful. Large numbers of green bass were captured around there 4his season, 

 but to his knowledge there was not as many maskinonge taken as there was last 

 season. He would suggest that the close season be from December 15th, as that 

 would stop fishing through the ice. There is a party consisting of from eight to 

 twelve men living near this lake that do considerable fishing through the ice, 

 and he was told by two of the party that they took out over six hundred fish last 

 winter. He paid them several visits but found no undersized ones. It is to be 

 regretted that there was not a fishway provided in the new locks at Lindsay and 

 he considers it a great detriment and injustice to this lake. He thinks it would 

 be a good thing if every person wishing to angle was required to carry a permit. 



Muskrats were very plentiful last spring and large numbers were taken. 

 He had considerable trouble last winter trying to protect their houses. The water 

 is very high this fall and they seem to be living in the banks and logs as yet; if 

 they remain there they will be more easily protected and will be less liable to lose 

 their lives during the winter. He is very sorry that the valuable little mink 

 have been neglected so long that they are nearly extinct around this lake, and he 

 thinks the taking of them should be prohibited for a number of years and then 

 have a close season for them. 



Partridge are very scarce. Ducks are very plentiful, and some good bags have 

 been taken. He knows of a number of Red Heads and Blue Bills which hatched 

 near there this summer. And he never knew them to hatch there before, which 

 goes to show if they receive proper protection during the spring and summer they 

 will not need to go away to nest. 



He only sold three fishing licenses this season. Very few Americans come to 

 this lake now, as they prefer to go where they can get more sport for their 

 money. He travelled over his division as often as he thought it was at all ne- 

 cessary, and he is pleased to state that the law has been well observed. The only 

 trouble he had was with the muskrat houses, and they are very hard to protect; 

 however, there were only eight or ten opened in his division. He could not get 

 sufiicient proof to make a conviction. He is doing all in his power to protect 

 the fish, song birds and game of every description that make their home around 

 here. 



Overseer H. E. Purcdl, of Colehrooh, reports good bass fishing in the several 

 lakes in his district with the exception of one violation for spearing with a jack 

 light, in which he fined the parties five dollars. Another man he fined twenty 

 dollars for killing deer without a license. Another man skipped the country 

 who was hunting deer without a license. He seized three illegal nets, which he 



