;1911 GAME AND FISHERIES. 47 



in the category of sunken punts, for such they really are, and also shortening up' 

 the distance of placing decoys from 200 yards to 50 yards. The offences are- 

 almost always committed in this respect by hunters who hunt for sale, as the real 

 sportsman seems desirous of obeying the law and preserving the game. He would 

 strongly recommend the prohibition of sale of wild ducks, as they are certainly 

 not nearly as plentiful as in former years, and are being slaughtered and driven 

 away by pot hunters. 



He would also suggest that the snipe sea&on be the same as the duck, as he is 

 satisfied that many a black duck has been shot before the season, and the excuse- 

 for carrying a gun was that they were hunting snipe. 



The partridge are pretty plentiful, and a good number shot. It would be a 

 wise rosjulation, it rtp})ears to him, if the season were shortened so that the open 

 Sf-ason be from the 15th October to the 1st November so as not to run into the 

 deer season, when a great number of birds would be killed which would not be- 

 otherwise. 



Deer are reported in the north part of this district as being very scarce, and' 

 the wolves very bad, which may in a measure account for the scarcity. The 

 settlers and farmers are strong advocates of the abolition for a number of years- 

 OE the use of dogs to see if there will be any increase in the number. 



Overseer William Sargant, of Bronte, reports that he has been over his di- 

 vision carefully, and finds the catch about as good as last year. He does not, 

 think there is any improvement to speak of, except in whitefLsh. He saw one- 

 catch with a small piece of gill net of about twenty-five or thirty fish, which would 

 average from five to eight pounds each. There had not been the like of it there 

 for many years. Trout was hardly so plentiful, but the fishermen would realize- 

 about the same amount of money, as prices were much better. The fishermen alF 

 use from six to seven inch mesh for trout, and find it pays much better than a 

 smaller mesh. Herring fishing is the principal industry of the division, and he 

 i.'^ pleased to report that the herring are getting larger every year. He has been 

 over his district several times during the year, and always found the law well 

 observed. There is a desire on the part of those engaged in fishing to observe the 

 law. Angling in the Twelve and Sixteen Mile Creeks has been about the same 

 as former years. He has noticed some very nice black bass being caught. He 

 mentioned in some of his former reports that he was afraid that carp would ruin 

 the angling in those streams, but he has great\v changed his mmd, as he cannot 

 see that they are doing any harm. 



In regard to game, there is very little in his division. He is pleased that the 

 law in the County of Halton forbids the shooting of squirrels and partridges, and 

 he is quite sure if this law remains in force there will be a marked improvement 

 in a few years. He tliinks the law in regard to duck shooting should be changed 

 so that no man could slioot more ducks than for his own use. He cannot see 

 much sport in a man shooting ducks to sell, as some men make a business of it, 

 an<l he thinks it should be stopped. 



Overseer J. W. Taudvin, of Kingston, reports that the angling in his district 

 for the past season has been the poorest in years, the catch of bass being very 

 small in comparison to last year, owing to the chub staying out in deep water, and 

 they being the principal food of the bass, they also were in deep water wlien they 

 should have been in shoal water. Rough weather had a good deal to do with it 

 also. In the month of July there were only eleven days that could be called 



