1911 GAME AND FISiHERIES. 17 



Deer and Moose are plentiful there, although a great many were shot in the 

 season of 1909. It was a good spring for the deer this year, as there was no crust 

 on the snow, and the wolves had no chance to catch them. It was a wise move 

 on the part of the Government to cut the number down to one deer this season. 

 He would like to see the Department stop dogs running deer in the hunting sea- 

 son. The law was well observed during the close season. 



Ruffed grouse and partridge are plentiful in that district, and he has seen 

 more partridge than for years. The open season for one month is just right. The 

 hatching season was fine, so that accounts for the number of birds now. 



Wild ducks are numerous along the north shore of Georgian Bay and Lake 

 Huron, but there are not many up in Lake Superior, as there are no feeding 

 grounds. The open season for ducks is fifteen days too late there, owing to the 

 American season opening on the 1st September. The ducks are driven from our 

 waters into American waters, and the Americans shoot them. He thinks it would 

 be well to have the season on the border open the same time as on the American 

 side. 



He has not seen any wild geese in his district, and quail and woodcock are 

 also scarce. Black and grey squirrels are almost a thing of the past in that north 

 country. Snipe and plover are not at all plentiful in Algoma. 



Beaver are becoming plentiful in that part, but it is most difficult to protect 

 them, owing to the high value of their skins and the easy way to get them out of 

 the country. They are smuggled out in freight boats going to Montreal, and can- 

 not be detected; but he thinks that stopping all trapping before the 1st December 

 will stop a great deal of illegal work. He would like to see the Department put 

 a small license fee on Canadian trappers, as a number come from the Province 

 of Quebec up there, and it is almost impossible to watch them. Mink and musk- 

 rat are plentiful, owing fo the strict watch kept on the trappers. "Wolves are not 

 as numerous as some report them, but they have more than is good for the wel- 

 fare of the deer. There are not many of them killed in his district. They are 

 80 hard to. catch that hunters and trappers do not bother with them. Some 

 that do hunt them say that if the bounty was $25, they could make a business 

 of hunting them. 



He says that if the department would put a license for carr3dng guns, say 

 $2 for each gun, it would be a great belp in preserving the game in the north 

 country. 



Warden 0. N. Sterling, of Kenora, reports that in the western portion 

 of iiis district the fishermen report a better season than they have had for the 

 past eight years, more especially on Lake of the Woods and Shoal Lake. This is 

 owing chiefly to the large shipments, during the last three years of coarse fish, 

 which prey upon the spawn of the finer and more valuable fish, such as whitefish, 

 pickerel and trout. In the eastern portion of the district, the fishermen tell him 

 they have had a poorer season than for a number of years — as a matter of fact 

 some of the fishermen of Rossport have barely made their expenses. There have 

 been a few infractions of the fishery laws in the northern portion of his district, 

 and along the boundary line between Minnesota and Ontario on the Lake of the 

 Woods. It is a very difficult matter to secure a conviction in these cases owing 

 to the difficulties of travel. He respectfully suggests the appointment of more 

 deputy wardens, and also the commission of a fast patrol boat on Lake of the 

 Woods near the international boundary. He is of the opinion that the Depart- 

 ment would be wise in permitting no smaller gill-net than 5-inch mesh, as in the 



