68 THE REPORT UPON No. 13 



are scarce. Otter and mink are certainly game destroyers, the otter destroying 

 many fish, also beaver. The mink destroy young ducks before they are able to fly. 

 Wolves are numerous away from the settlements. In his journeys through the 

 woods he found some deer that had apparently been killed by them. 



Overseer Joseph Viholl, of Outlook P.O., 8t. Joseph Island, reports that the 

 law has been well observed in his district since his appointment. There have been 

 fewer American poachers than there used to be, and a great increase in the num- 

 ber of tourisits. He has endeavored to do his duty as far as possible, has delivered 

 quite a number of summonses for Mr. Eddy, and other duties he was instructed to 

 do. Angling was better than it was ever known to be before, and the tourists were 

 greatly taken up with the fishing grounds. 



Fur-bearing animals, also moose and deer, are increasing very rapidly. The 

 hunting is the best ever known on St. Joe Island. Since the hounds were not 

 allowed to run at large, the deer have not been run off, which is a reason for this 

 increase. He says, in conclusion, that St. Joe Island will be a great place for 

 game and fish if protection is continued, but a launch is much needed, and if he 

 had one he could do good service. 



Overseer Edward Fleming, of Hastings, reports that the game and fishery 

 laws have been well observed in that part of the River Trent. Very few fish came 

 up or down the river through Hastings this summer. He thinks the reason Ava= 

 that they were working on the canal and blasting, and the noise would scare them 

 away. 



There has been good shooting on the river this fall, ducks being very plentiful, 

 espeeially black ducks. 



Overseer George Fox, sr., of Dalrymple, reports that black bass was plentiful, 

 in the season, pickerel scarce, maskinonge very scarce. 



Ducks were plentiful, partridges on the increase, also muskrat, mink very 

 scarce, and deer on the increase. 



He thinks the law has been well observed so far. 



Overseer C-has. E. Halward, of Cannington, reports that the Game and Fishery 

 Laws have been very well obrerved there during the past season. There is very 

 little fishing there as yet, but it will probably be better later on, as the river has 

 not been stocked long yet. 



He has noticed a marked increase in the partridge since their protection, and 

 thinks it would be as well to give them a little more 3^et. Hares are plentiful, and 

 there are also a few ducks. Game of all kinds seem to be more plentiful this year 

 than usual. There are still a few mink and muskrat there, and in regard to the 

 mink he would like to suggest that the season be from Nov. 1st to about the middle 

 of March, as our prettiest and best furred mink are caught in November, while 

 the spring mink are faded out by the hot sun, making them far inferior in value; 

 and besides, as March and April are their mating season, they are easily caught 

 then. He has had no occasion to prosecute any one. He heard of some parties 

 shooting ducks early and warned them, but he caught no one in the act. 



Overseer F. II. Heneilly, of W ark worth, reports that he is satisfied from en- 

 quiries, and also from observation that there have been more fish caught in his 

 district than the year previous. The abolishing of the use of nets in the Trent 

 River is, in his estimation the principal cause of the increase. 



All the fish caught in that district are used for home consumption. 



