1909 GAME AND FISHERIES. 55 



Lakes Simcoe, Couchiching and Spaerow. 



Overseer Samuel Coulter, of Gilford, reports that he did not have occasion to sell 

 any of the angling permits, as the residents in his district are all Canadian citizens. 



The carp nuisance is still on the increase, as a numher of meadow lands were 

 literally flooded with them in the spring, but few good fish were caught^uring the 

 season, tlie supply being so small fishermen would not bother trying to catch them; 

 in "fact, the catch was much less than in former years. 



He sold but one carp license during the winter, and owing to the early breaking 

 of the ice, the party was barely able to meet his expenditure. 



Game this year has also been on the decrease, ducks and geese being very scarce. 

 The probable theory among the local sportsmen being the destruction of the rice 

 grounds on the river. During the close of the season he had a call from Capt. 

 Carson, who has been doing good work on the lake. He has been the means of 

 keeping a number of nets out of the lake that. would have been in, had he and his 

 men not been patrolling the lake ; this seems to be the only way to prevent netting 

 in these waters. The notices received from the Department from time to time were 

 placed in conspicuous places, and to the best of his knowledge the laws regarding 

 game and fisheries have been carefully observed. 



Overseer Geo. Green, of Bradford, reports as to conditions existing in the Hol- 

 land Eiver and marsh, both in game and fish. 



Fish. — The run was very light, and also late. There was practically no illegal 

 fishing done, only half a dozen light acts the whole season and never had to go twice ; 

 no one was caught. Several good lake bass have been caught in the river, which 

 is almost unprecedented. 



Game. — Ducks. — Not more than 10 or 12 pair. Blacks, nested there, and wood 

 and summ.er duck, only two flocks were seen this fall. This comprises about all the 

 duck there are here. So far this season they have killed only one dozen. Snipe, a 

 few local birds, which have afforded very poor sport; not more than 100 birds all 

 told have been killed. 



Partridge. — The law is being kept, very few birds having been seen; the rest 

 of the list practically none. Squirrels are reported fairly plentiful. 



The direct cause of our tremendous feeding grounds for fowl being destroyed 

 is in his opinion the "Carp.*' He has taken the matter up with the Department 

 before, and had a call from Mr. Holden on this question, and he earnestly recom- 

 mends that some steps be taken to remove the pest, and allow what is naturally one 

 of the finest game lands in the Province recover. Why not supply wild rice ? He be- 

 lieves if some help were supplied he could get a local man to go at these things. 



Overseer Robert Leadley, of Barrie, reports that bass are plentiful, but very 

 Bmall bait is scarce, so that there ha^e been very few white fish and herring 

 caught this season. 



Partridge are showing the result of the protection given them during the two 

 seasons past. 



Ducks seem more plentiful than two years ago. There are a number of deer 

 left in Simcoe yet, and if protected for a few years he thinks they will get quite 

 plentiful. Dogs running deer is the only trouble he has had this season. He 

 managed to shoot one and that put a stop to the rest. 



