1911 GAME AND FISHERIES. 77 



beds. It has got so now that men will lie in their canoes in the heavy rice, watch- 

 ing for ducks flying over; they take very long shots, and do more harm in scaring 

 the ducks than they would if they were shooting from the edge of the river beds 

 out of blinds and over decoys. Partridges are more plentiful this fall, also black 

 squirrels. 



There are no sawmills in his division. 



He would like to say a few words about frogs. He thinks if there was a pro- 

 tection on them till the first of July, which would be after they had deposited 

 their spawn, they would have as many bull frogs in five years as they ever had. 



Overseer Moffatt, of Glen Cross, reports that the fish in his district are trout 

 and suckers, and are about as plentiful as other years. He would recommend the 

 season for trout to close on the first of the month. The law has been well observed, 

 no illegal fishing having been brought to his notice. 



The game in his district are mostly foxes, muskrat and mink. The latter are 

 getting scarce on account of their fur being so valuable. 



Overseer F. J. Moore, of Ldkefield, reports that during the past year the fish- 

 ing laws have been fairly well observed in his district. He has had a few cases 

 with some of the settlers, but let them off with a warning, which had good effect. 



The past spring was the best for fish spawn they have h9,d in his district 

 for several years, for the reason that the water was kept up for several weeks, 

 which gave the small fish a chance to get out of the marshes into deep water. 



Tourists have had fairly good luck with rod and spoon this year, particularly 

 bass fishing; maskinonge has not been so plentiful, particularly during the latter 

 part of the season. He would strongly recommend that Stony Lake be restocked 

 with parent bass if they could be got. He thinks it of great importance that the 

 fish supply be kept up in these waters, as Stony Lake is fast becoming a great 

 summer resort for tourists, who come from all parts of the United States, as well 

 as from our own province. He does not think the fishermen would mind paying 

 more for their permits if there was good fishing, as they seem delighted with our 

 waters. 



He has issued over two hundred and fifty fishing permits this year, and there 

 are also a number of Americans come here who get their permits on the way over. 

 He has also issued seventeen guides' licenses and two minnow licenses, so that it 

 is easily seen there are a great number of people on these waters during the sea- 

 son. He thinks it would be a good thing if arrangements could be made with 

 the Dominion Government in regard to the rising and falling of the water in 

 Stony Lake in the spring, and he thinks this could be done without much injury 

 being done, if the matter was taken up. If this could be done a great part of the 

 fish spawn would be saved which is now lost by the falling of the water before the 

 spawn gets to its maturity. He would again suggest that the close season for bass 

 and maskinonge be from the 1st of April till the 15th of June, as these fish run 

 as soon as the ice disappears. 



The game laws have been fairly well observed during the past year, particu- 

 larly in regard to deer hunting. He thinks the Fish and Game Department passed 

 a good act when they limited the killing of deer to one for each hunter. Ducks 

 are not very plentiful in his district. Partridge are more plentiful this season. 

 He would strongly recommend that open season for plover and ducks and water 

 fowl of all kinds come in at the same time, as parties shooting plover sometimes 

 kill ducks as well. Trappers have had a good season, particularly trapping musk- 

 rats. Mink is very scarce. 



