1912 GAME AND FISHERIES. 27 



Deer are about the same as usual in numbers. There are not very many shot 

 in that part in open season by the farmers. The Indians shoot them in the winter 

 when the snow is deep, but it is almost impossible to get evidence against them. 



There are some mink and muskrat on the streams, but no beaver. 



The Game Laws have been well respected and there have been no violations. 



Overseer David Irwin, of Little Current, reports that the tourists between 

 Penetang and iSt. Joseph Island are all well pleased with the fishing. The bass 

 are more plentiful than for some years. He finds the guides a good help in en- 

 forcing the law. The fishermen in that district claim the catch is well up to the 

 average. The laws have been well observed. 



As to the game, he finds ducks are more plentiful than last year, and very few 

 shot. The partridge are very plentiful, but he finds too many shot by one person, 

 and thinks there should be a limit for each person, as he heard of three bringing 

 in 98 in one day. 



He finds deer and moose numerous on Manitoulin and Korth Shore, McGregor 

 Bay and Bay Finn. It was reported that one moose and one red deer were shot in 

 McGregor Bay during tourist season, but he could not find out who did it. 



Overseer Thos. H. Johnston, of Royston, reports that angling has been fairly 

 good in the small lakes that are not overrun with steamboats and gasoline launches. 

 The law has been strictly observed in his district. The tourists complain that the 

 Government has never erected any fish slides on the Magnetawan Eiver, and he 

 says one should be erected at the foot of Big Deer Lake, one on Ahmic Lake, and 

 one at Magnetawan Village. He hopes the Department will put some bass in 

 Cecebe and Ahmic Lakes next year. 



There were in the neighborhood of 400 deer shipped from Burk's Falls station. 

 He had two convictions. He took some rifles, which he shipped to the Department. 



Georgian Bay. 



Overseer B. A. Busang, of Wauhaushene, reports that angling has been far 

 ahead of any year since he has had charge of that division. The Iron City Club 

 had to suspend fishing for two days, as they got more fish than they could use, and 

 from one end of his division to the other it has been the same report of good bass 

 fishing. One gentleman told him that he had been coming up for the last 12 years, 

 and that the fishing was better than ever before. There have been quite a few 

 cases of illegal fishing. In May he had nine of his neighbors fined for spearing. 

 He also got one mile of new night line, and 250 large hooks set for sturgeon; also 

 8 trap nets, 1 boat anchor, 400 feet of new line, and 9 steel traps set out of season. 

 He says he travels whenever it is fit to go out, dragging all over where he thinks 

 there might be a net. He is sure that trap nets are nearly a thing of the past in 

 that locality. 



Pickerel are very plentiful. There have been more caught this season than in 

 the past ten years, owing, no doubt, to trap nets being about all cleared out. 

 There are none at present in his division, unless in McCrae Lake. 



The fishermen have lost heavily, on account of their nets being torn to pieces 

 with the gales; they have not cleared expenses this season. Several reports came 

 to him from Tiny Beach of illegal fishing, but he has not been able to go there as 

 his boat is too small. 



Ducks are rather plentiful; partridge very plentiful. He had several reports 

 of illegal shooting of partridge in Matchedash, and also of deer hunting. 

 3 G. F. 



