90 THE EEPOET UPON No. 13 



He says that there are millions of carp in Lake Simcoe and the Holland 

 J?iver, and they are there to stay. When the marsh land is floodecl in the spring 

 they are there in millions, and parties can stand in one place and <^atch dozens of 

 them with their hands without ever moving. Some will weigh as much as 18 lb?. 

 They average about 10 fish to 100 lbs. 



He says it is for the Department to find means of making use of these carp, 

 and also find means of catching them after the water leaves the marsh, as they 

 will go back into deep water, but there are thousands of them never get back. They 

 become tangled in the marsh grass when the water leaves, and when men are cut- 

 ting marsh hay they find the skeletons. 



There have been a few ducks shot this fall, but they are not very plentiful, as 

 there is not the rice to feed them that there was in former years. 



He thinks the Government should pass a law against trapping in Cook's Bay 

 for at least a couple of years. About a year ago last spring muskrats were very 

 plentiful, and they appear to be trapped clean out. Last fall he hardly saw any 

 muskrat houses. 



Overseer George G. Green, of Bradford, reports that the fishery law has been 

 well kept, better than ever before, and he has received support from the citizens, 

 who have at last apparently realized the fact that our waters are about depleted of 

 our best game fish. Very few maskinonge have been caught during the open 

 season, but several black bass — more than he has ever known to be taken in the 

 river — were caught this year, possibly owing to feed being scarce in the lake. One 

 good catch was reported nearly at the head of the river, or eighteen miles from 

 the lake. The carp are just as destructive as ever, and he blames these for the 

 scarcity of both game and fish. It is hoped that seines will be operated there next 

 year. He asks the assistance of the Department in making an effort to rid the 

 waters of these fish. He has secured a small net, which he now has. 



Duck, as usual, M^ere very scarce, only a few black nesting there, and not more 

 than 15 birds having been killed all fall. Owing to the marsh drying up, there 

 were practically no snipe. Partridge were perhaps a little more numerous, a few 

 having been taken. Black squirrels are getting scarcer each year, but there are 

 still quite a few in the big bushes. He would recommend that a close season be 

 placed on the river for trapping, as even tlie muskrats are being cleaned out, and 

 a couple of years Avould help it considerably. 



Overseer RoM. Leadlay, of Barrie, reports that there has been more whitefish 

 and trout caught with night lines in Kempenfeldt Bay, than for some years. 



Herring are being caught in large numbers, and are more plentiful than ever 

 before. Bass are small and scarce. Pickerel and lunge are seldom seen in that Bay. 



Partridge are pretty scarce, but ducks are more plentiful this year. 



Deer are also increasing in numbers. 

 ■ He has had but one conviction, and that was for exposing fish for sale out of 

 season. 



Overseer Harry Mayor, of Painswich, reports that the Fishery and Game Laws 

 have been fairly well observed in his district. There were a few attempts made at 

 jacklight fishing early in the spring, but he is satisfied that if any illegal fishing 

 has been done there, it has been of a very trifling nature. He is pleased to report 

 a decided increase in trout and whitefish, and never has he seen the herring so 

 plentiful. He regrets, however, that bass are decreasing in numbers, and believes 

 the time has arrived for that lake to be re-stocked with this variety of fish. He 

 believes the cause of the decrease in bass is due to the waters being overfished by 



