1911 GAME AND FISHERIES. 67 



more often this season and finds he has fewer complaints coming in, and the people 

 get more accustomed to keeping the law. This year he had no complaints about 

 the close season, and there was a splendid catch of speckled trout in season. So it 

 looks as if the law was well kept. Last year he spoke of the disappearance of all 

 the parent bass which were put in the River Credit, as he could not get any account 

 of any being caught, but this year they have been catching large numbers down 

 at Meadowville, so that would go to uphold the idea that the bass all went down 

 below the mill dams and are not able to get up again, and that would show the 

 necessity of putting on fish ladders. 



Game — Partridge are quite plentiful since the law shortened the open season. 

 Black squirrels are not so plentiful this season. He thinks they are there one 

 season and perhaps north another season, according to the severity of the winter 

 and the amount of feed. 



Fur-bearing Animals. — Now to the taking of muskrats, he thinks they should 

 be protected for a couple of seasons in his district, or not a rat will be seen in a 

 few more years ; also mink, they are simply slaughtering them ; there is a shooter 

 for every animal. 



If no change in the law for taking these animals is made, then he thinks 

 there should be a good, stiff license to carry firearms, so as to stop every boy in the 

 district from shooting everything on sight. 



Overseer W. E. Collins, of Strathroy, reports that there were not many fish 

 caught this season, owing to the high water coming too soon, but the anglers had 

 lots of sport catching pike and pickerel. There are lots of carp in the waters in 

 his district. 



There is one sawmill in that locality, but they do not put sawdust in the stream 

 now. 



He has had no fines imposed. No violations of the Act came to his notice. 



There are lots of black squirrels, but not many quail, and there are a few 

 partridge left. 



Overseer Arthur Corsant, of Masonville, reports that the fishing has not been 

 so good this year as last, the spring fishing being very poor. There was a decrease 

 in the catch of suckers and mullets; black bass and pike were more plentiful. 

 There were very few speckled trout in the streams in his district. 



The only game in his division are rabbits, black squirrels and muskrats, and 

 a very few partridge. 



The close season has been very well observed, no violations having been re- 

 ported to him. 



Overseer Oscar Crooner, of Kearney, reports that fish are not numerous in the 

 rivers and lakes in his division. Bass and pickerel are not found at all, although 

 they are plentiful in the lakes farther down the Magnetawan. He would suggest 

 the construction of a fishway at Brooks' Falls, a fall of twenty feet or more 

 between Kearney and Katrine. He visited several lakes during the season on com- 

 plaints of violations of the law, but upon investigation found no one willing to 

 make definite charges. He is of the opinion that the law is fairly well observed. 

 He sold fifteen permits to non-residents, but a good many others came there to fish 

 who had procured permits from officials at the border. 



The regulations regarding mill refuse have been well observed. 



Partridge are more plentiful than for three or four years. Beaver are plenti- 

 ful, also otter and mink, but deer not so numerous as a few years ago. Muskrats 



