40 THE REPORT OF THE No. 31 



size, but this practice is fast disappearing, and it is most gratifying to note 

 the eagerness with which every one endeavours to have the law respected. 



The close seasons have been well observed, and illegal netting has prac- 

 tically ceased. Great care has been taken by the saw mill owners in dis- 

 posing of all refuse to prevent the pollution of the waters. 



Overseer Willmott, Beaumaris, Lake Muskoka, reports that during the 

 past season sportsmen have met with good success in portions of his district. 

 while in other places there have been complaints of a falling off as compared 

 with previous jears. He is afraid much waste of fish exists among camping 

 parties, especially in new sections of the country where fish are abundant. 

 Many such parties do not seem to know when they have enough, and even 

 if acting within their rights as regards numbers, frequently have far more 

 fish than they can possibly use, and the surplus is wasted. 



The action of the Government in re-stocking some of our northern lakes 

 with bass from Lake Erie meets with the highest approbation from both 

 tourists and residents. He mentions that it is not advisable to send any 

 shipments for Lakes Muskoka, Rosseau or Joseph after the beginning of 

 July, as the navigation company's steamers are then placed on their sum- 

 mer routes, and it is impossible to get satisfactorv transportation. He would 

 again suggest the advisability of having water courses blasted out around 

 small inaccessible falls, which occur between the outlet of Muskoka Lake 

 and the Georgian Bay. This would give these lakes a constant supply from 

 the latter place, and would also introduce maskinonge to these waters, which 

 would be most acceptable. It might be necessary to place fish ladders in 

 a few places, such as Bala, etc., but he thinks that when practicable water 

 ways would be preferable, as these would not be subject to injury by freshets 

 or other causes, but would last for ever. 



There have been very few infractions of the laws. Mill owners and 

 others are as a rule particular as to allowing sawdust and other rubbish to 

 escape into the public waters. 



LAKE SIMCOE. 



Overseer Myers, Orchard, Counties Grey and Wellington, reports that 

 the chief fish in his district are speckled trout, and he believes there is no 

 change from last year in the catch. No trout are sold, all are used at home 

 and caught for sport. 



The close season was well observed, no fishing out of season that he 

 could hear of. No illegal fishing, only some boys taking small trout, who 

 were promptly storied. The mill owners in his district were all careful 

 about observing the law regarding sawdust and mill refuse. There are three 

 fishways in his district in fairlv good order; one was out of order and he -put 

 it in order himself. 



Overseer Tillett, Roache's Point, Holland River and Lake Simcoe, 

 reports that on Mav 9th he started to watch Cook's Bay as there was some 

 illegal fishing going on, but he was not fortunate enough to discover the 

 guilty parties. But taking it on the whole there was very little fishing done 

 in the spring of 1905, owinor to the high winds. ' 



There is a decrease in the number of black bass and maskinonge caught 

 this year as compared with last year. The summer tourists observe the law 

 very well. On October 25th, he went to the Georgian Island and got one 

 gill net which he confiscated. On November 10th he grappled up a net at 

 Fox Island, but could not catch the owner. He says there do not seem to 

 be so many illegal fishermen as in former days. The laws and regulations 

 are very well observed under his supervision. 



