1911 GAME AND FISHEKIES. 91 



the army of anglers who reside on Lake Simcoe during the summer months, and 

 • who, with their motor boats (which offer such easy and quick facilities for moving 

 around) travel from point to point and shoal to shoal, ever fishing for bass. 



In regard to game, hares, black squirrels and other small varieties of game 

 are quite plentiful. A few coveys of partridge have been seen, and wild ducks are 

 very numerous this fall. 



Overseer H. McDonald, of Beaverton, reports that to the best of his know- 

 ledge the game and fish in his district were as plentiful this year as in former 

 years. He had some trouble during the winter, stopping spearing through the 

 ice, as the fishermen were expecting to get licenfe. He would recommend licenses 

 for spearing during the winter, as he thinks it would help to stop the netting in 

 the fall. He had two parties fined before the season opened for shooting ducks. 

 The close season for bass was well observed this year. During October, and while 

 on board the "Naiad," they grappled some 2,000 yards of gill net. The "Naiad" 

 has done good service this year. ' 



Overseer Wm. McGinn, of Orillia, reports that bass fishing or angling in Lake 

 Simcoe has been very poor, and what bass was caught was on an average small. 

 Salmon trout fishing has been exceptionally good, both spring and fall, especially 

 the fall season. The close season for trout in Simcoe should start the first of 

 October, instead of November, as this is the month they spawn in Simcoe. This 

 would add greatly to the protection of trout in future years. 



They have also another fish called Richardson White Fish, which seldom, if 

 ever, reach the two pounds limit, and are in abundance. They are of no use to the 

 public, as they come under the head of whitefish, and anything under two pounds 

 in weight is not allowed to be caught in these waters. This particular species of 

 whitefish should be allowed to be caught under two pounds in weight, as there is 

 not one in a thousand of them weighs two pounds. 



Bass fishing in Lake Couchiching this season has been exceptionally good. He 

 has seen some splendid catches made this summer. Maskinonge has been also 

 good. They are becoming more plentiful every year. We have a few pickerel, which 

 are getting better every year, and an abundance of rock bass, sunfish and perch, 

 and also any amount of that noble fish called the German carp. In a few years, 

 it will be one of the best marketable fish we will have in our waters. They are very 

 productive, and grow very large. When caught in proper season, say April or May, 

 they are a good firm fish. 



He has spent considerable time this season patrolling his beat, both on Simcoe 

 and Couchiching, and he has had very little trouble from illegal fishermen. There 

 has been very little of that done on his beat. He has only taken up one net this fall, 

 about two hundred yards. There were five trout in same. 



He also chased three different parties in the night. Had they been left alone, 

 they would have set nets on his beat. They managed to get away from him as they 

 took the bush. 



Duck is very scarce. There is no feed for them on these waters. Partridge 

 are very plentiful this season, also rabbits. Black and grey squirrel are almost ex- 

 tinct in that section. Muskrat and mink are very scarce. They have no deer in 

 Simcoe. They have gone back further, on account of the Canadian Northern 

 road going through that portion of the country where they were. 



He may say that he is thankful for the assistance he has had from the steamer 

 ■''Naiad" through the summer, and especially this fall, in the protection of trout. 



