1911 GAME AND FISHERIES. 76 



Overseer J. H. Laughlin, of New Lowell, reports that as far as he knows there 

 have been no infringements of the law in his district. Several reports have come 

 to him, but when investigated he has found nothing in them. The fishermen in 

 his district report the fishing very poor, except for suckers and carp. Bass are 

 very scarce in his district. 



Partridge are becoming more plentiful. The close season last year was a big 

 improvement. Deer are becoming more plentiful. The close season in the County 

 of Simcoe is a great improvement. The only trouble he has is to keep dogs from 

 running them. He has shot several dogs, which he thinks will be a lesson to others. 

 Muskrats are plentiful. Mink are very scarce. It was a good act to protect them. 

 Hares are very plentiful. Black squirrels are very scarce. 



Overseer Wellington Lean, of Apsley, reports that fishing has been about the 

 same as usual this year. Bass and salmon trout are the principal fish caught. 



He thinks the number of salmon should be limited. There are a number of 

 lakes in his district which have no fish. If these were stocked it would be much 

 better both for the settlers and tourists. Very few tourists visited Loon Lake the 

 past season, as there was only one boarding house open. 



Mill owners are all observing the law. One mill owner was reported to be 

 allowing slabs to be put in the river, but upon investigation he found the report to 

 be false. 



There are no fishways in his division. 



Partridge are very plentiful this fall, owing, he thinks, to the prohibiting of 

 shooting and selling. 



Deer are very scarce. He thinks it a splendid idea cutting the number down 

 to one for each person. If this had not been done, in a very few years deer would 

 have been extinct in that locality. Very few settlers said anything against buying 

 a license last fall. 



Wolves are very numerous, and are killing a number of deer. 



There are several beaver colonies on different lakes in his district. These he 

 has visited several times, and finds no signs of any being killed or traps set. If 

 these are protected a few more years beaver will be plentiful again. 



The Game and Fishery Laws and Regulations have been well observed in his 

 district during the past year. 



Overseer Manley Mabee, of Cam,eron, reports that at the time of his appoint- 

 ment as Game and Fishery Overseer on April 15th, 1910, the spawning season was 

 nearly over for bass and maskinonge. They generally start early in April to spawn 

 in Sturgeon Lake and tributaries, and he thinks the close season should start 1st 

 April instead of the 15th, as trolling when the fish are running makes a bad mix- 

 ture for the overseers. The number of fish caught this year was smaller than 

 usual. Some think that it is owing to the number of gasoline boats, but he thinks 

 that an unusual season accounts for it. There were a great many small dead fish 

 about three or four inches long floating along the shores, and he could not tell 

 what kind they were, although some thought they were salmon. He thinks the 

 law regarding the length of bass and maskinonge should be cut out, as it is claimed 

 that many of them die after being put back in the water, and, besides, it would 

 be better to keep the small ones to make up their count. He says he generally 

 hears about the number caught, but nothing is said about the size unless about a 

 big one. 



