56 THE REPORT UPON No. 13 



Overseer H. McDonald, of Beaverton, reports that the law has been fairly well 

 observed in the different close seasons, as he has had but one conviction, and that 

 was for illegal catching of bass. Bass seemed to be very numerous in the harbour 

 this last spring during the month of February. He sold eleven spearing licenses, 

 and had some trouble keeping the fishermen in the one-mile limit. He would 

 advise a spearing license for salmon and whitefish during the month of August. 

 He sold two angling permits to Americans. The tourists seemed to be pretty well 

 satisfied with their catches this summer. The law in regard to the length of 

 bass should, he thinks, be cut out, as there are so many small ones caught and let 

 go that are injured, and there is a lot of damage done. He thinks the bass will 

 increase in the lake, as the netting has been stopped more than in former years. 

 The ''Naiad" has been quite a help, only it did not stop quite long enough. He 

 thinks it has been a very successful year for the fish and fishermen. 



Overseer William McGinn, of Orillia, reports that bass fishing in Lake Simcoe 

 has been very poor this season, and what black bass were caught were of a small 

 type. Salmon trout this season have been plentiful and of a large size. He has 

 seen several caught with a trolling line, weighing from 14 to 22 pounds. Those 

 fish were caught by the Rama Indians, at Four-Mile Point, on his portion of the 

 lake. This part of the lake is noted for salmon trout. Angling in Lake Couchi- 

 ching has been exceptionally good, especially the latter part of the season. He 

 has witnessed some splendid catches of black bass caught in the lower part of 

 Couchiching in October. Bass are becoming more plentiful every year. We also 

 have abundance of herring, carp, perch and catfish; also a small number of 

 pickerel. Maskinonge fishing has been extraordinarily good in Couchiching this 

 season. * One of Orillia's citizens caught 28 maskinonge during the season, his 

 largest fish weighing 30 pounds. 



There has been very little illegal fishing going on — at least, none has come to 

 his notice. If there was any netting done in his ground, it was in the middle of 

 the night, and it is next to impossible to catch that class of thief or poacher. He 

 has spent several nights in search of that class of poachers, and has. never seen 

 one en his ground. He has also dragged the shoal and got nothing. 



The close season for salmon trout should start about the 10th of October, 

 instead of the 1st of November, as they are all spawned out and ready to leave 

 the spawning beds by the 1st of November. 



Game in North Orillia is very scarce. There is an occasional deer in the tovm- 

 ship. Partridge are reported much more plentiful this season. That is due to 

 the protection over them. If the Department will protect them for at least 

 another year, we will have partridges once more. Woodcock are entirely extinct 

 in this district. Hares are plentiful. Ducks scarce, as there is no rice on those 

 waters. 



Overseer D. McPhee, of Uptergrove, reports that bass were plentiful, but they 

 were smaller this year than last year. During the close season for trout the weather 

 was so windy that no fish could be got, with the exceptions of one or two days. 

 Trout were plentiful in the spring. Whitefish are increasing. Herring are very 

 plentiful. Angling was good in Mud Lake this year. 'Lunge, bass and pickerel 

 are the chief fish caught there. Carp are very plentiful in Lake Simcoe. He 

 wishes the Government would take some steps to try and destroy these fish, as they 

 are very destructive, and are very hard on other fishes* spavm and the young fry. 



