1911 GAME AND FISHERIES. 89 



Overseer William Russell, of Cornwall, reports that it has been a great season 

 for pickerel and maskinonge, which is what they have not had for a number of 

 years. 



Ducks are also very plentiful this fall. 



Overseer Geo. Toner, of Gananoque, reports that during the past year fishing 

 in the part of the St. Lawrence assigned to him to oversee — from the head of Howe 

 Island to Rockport — has been good. The fish in these waters are evidently in- 

 creasing in number, and although many of the game fish are not large, yet it is 

 evident that with efficient supervision and protection the former reputation of the 

 district as a sportsman's paradise will soon be restored. Many American visitors 

 fished in these waters during the past summer, and all were well pleased with the 

 prevailing conditions. It was seldom that they did not catch their full quota of 

 game fish allowed by the law. The guides' reports are very encouraging indeed. 



It is to be regretted that there has been a lot of illegal fishing done here, and 

 he has made strenuous efforts to put a stop to it. He has seized and confiscated 

 a large number of nets. 



One man was fined $50.00 and costs for illegal fishing, another was fined 

 $35.00 and costs for interfering with him in the discharge of his duty, another 

 was bound over in bonds of $600.00 to keep the peace, one man was sentenced to 

 fifteen months at hard labour in the Central Prison for interference and threaten- 

 ing to burn him out. 



From the seizure of hoop nets he has learned that dogfish as well as game 

 fish are increasing in number. He has found as high as seventeen in one bag, and 

 it is a question whether it would not be advisable to devise some means to keep 

 down the number of these fish. 



During the spring of 1910 ducks were very plentiful, especially in the swift 

 water below Gananoque. When the river opened up in that part, and before it was 

 possible to take a boat out, there wa« some poaching, but he drove to the place 

 where the illegal shooting was being done, and he has reason to believe prevented 

 the great slaughter of ducks that characterized the spring of former years. Ducks 

 are also very plentiful this fall, and the law is very well enforced and observed. 



He regrets to have to report that the unlawful destruction of rat houses dur- 

 ing the winter months is having a very detrimental effect. Muskrats are evidently 

 becoming scarcer each year. He has taken as high as fifty-four traps from rat 

 houses that were cut open in the month of March, and had the owner fined $25.00 

 and costs, but some more severe penalty Avill have to be imposed in order to have 

 this law properly observed. 



Lakes Simcoe^ Couchiching and Spareow. 



Overseer Samuel Coulter, of Gilford, reports that the fishing season of 1910 

 has been practically the same as in former years. There have been quite a number 

 of bass caught, but very few lunge, as there was but little trolling done. He can- 

 not say that the law was very well observed, as last winter he fined twenty-four 

 parties, and he thinks that was not all who should have been fined. He thinks 

 there should be a spearing license granted for three winter months, as the people 

 around Lake Simcoe never have a chance to get a fish except in winter time, and 

 they feel the fish are protected for the benefit of the summer tourists. The people 

 also feel that the Department think the tourists are a benefit, but the farmers do 

 not consider them anv benefit to them. 



