1912 GAME AND FISHEEIES. 'ib 



River. And he again wishes to express his regret that something has not been 

 done to protect this valuable fish by placing a reasonable limit on the size of 

 sturgeon, and thereby prevent the killing of very small sturgeon. An appeal to 

 the fishermen has no effect, unless there is a " Thou shalt not " attached to the 

 appeal against wilful waste in killing very small sturgeon. The catch of pickerel 

 has been good in the vicinity of Blind River, and as far west as Joliette Island 

 and vicinity. Pickerel fishing in the vicinity of Spanish has been fully 30 per cent, 

 better than last year, and the fish are of a good size. The stringent regulations 

 as regards size of pickerel allowed to be shipped have done wonders for the pro- 

 tection of the pickerel fishing in his district, and a much better class of fish is now 

 shipped. The catch of whitefish and trout has been a fairly average catch, except 

 in the vicinity of Thessalon, where the catch has not been up to the average; and 

 it is necessary for the fishermen in the vicinity of Thessalon to have the privilege 

 of fishing in some other locality in the latter part of the season, if they are to 

 make a reasonable season's catch with gill nets. He has found it necessary in 

 some cases "to insist on the fishermen supplying the local demand. The chief 

 difficulty seems to be that the average local dealer's orders are uncertain and fluc- 

 tuating, and therefore not a reliable market for perishable goods like fresli fish. 

 However, there has been no serious complaint, and no nets seized for illegal 

 fishing. 



Red deer are very plentiful, if one can judge from the number seen by him- 

 self, and reported by others. Moose also are in no wise scarce, and many hunters 

 are in the woods all along the line from Sudbury to the Soo. On the last day of 

 October he went by train from Blind River to Thessalon, a distance of thirty miles, 

 and counted thirty-one men with guns leave the train at the different stations, some 

 coming a long distance for the sport. But that is a big district, and no better op- 

 portunity could be wished for by the lover of sport than can be found between 

 Webbwood and Bar River — roads, rivers and lakes to travel on, with the woods 

 dotted for miles and miles with old deserted, and new and busy, lumber camps, 

 giving the choice of a dry bed in the lumber camp, or a tent, as preferred, and the 

 best of fish in the inland lakes. 



The wolves are very numerous back north, and last winter played havoc Avith 

 tlie red deer, and he would strongly urge on the Government the necessity of in- 

 creasing the bounty on wolves, and also make some better arrangement, whereby 

 the hunter who kills these pests can secure his bounty money with less delay and 

 trouble than at present. He considers an Overseer should be in a position to secure 

 and pay over the bounty without the delay of waiting, which cannot be avoided 

 under the present arrangement. Also the objection is raised that the man who 

 kills a wolf would like to retain the skin as a trophy, or send it to a friend, which 

 he cannot now do. Considering the large territory to be looked after, he con- 

 siders the game laws are very well observed. Several convictions have been made 

 by himself and others in the district, and they have had a good effect in keeping 

 down illegal hunting. Sunday hunting is somewhat hard to prevent, the offenders 

 being mostly employees of the lumber mills in the district. 



Partridge are very plentiful this season, and a great number have been shot — 

 some before the open season, as many understood the season started on September 

 1st. But an object lesson, by which the parties lost their guns and game, and were 

 fined as Avell, had a good effect. But in such a large district it is impossible to 

 more than reach the offenders now and then. 



Ducks are very plentiful in the vicinity of Spanish and Oak Lake, but some- 



