30 THE REPORT UPON No. 13 



good; the reason for this being Government dredging in the river, and the fish, he 

 believes, go out to clear water. The bass fishing was good in other parts of his 

 division. He has had no complaints from the tourists in regard to fishing. The 

 tourists at the Duquesne House and Foster's Island reported good bass fishing. 

 There were more tourists in his division this year than last; but he did not sell as 

 niany licenses, as they got their licenses on the way over. The deer are more plenti- 

 ful this year than they were, the reason for this being the Department's limiting 

 the number to one deer for each hunter. He thinks this is a good thing, and he 

 would like to see the use of dogs put a stop to, as there are more deer wounded 

 that are run by dogs and get away and die than are got by hunters. He has had 

 no convictions of illegal deer hunting this year, and the Game Laws have been 

 fairly well observed, with the exceptions of a few pot hunters that he had before 

 the magistrate for killing and disposing of partridges. The ducks are very plenti- 

 ful this year. He never saw them so plentiful. Mink and muskrat are very scarce. 

 He would recommend a close season for those animals for a period of three years, 

 and at the next open season all trappers be licensed. Trappers should be licensed 

 anyhow, for this reason— they go out hunting and trapping mink and muskrat, 

 and, at, the same time, put out poison bait for fox and wolves, and no Overseer is 

 able to tell where they go, and it would cost the Department considerable money 

 for their officers to locate them; whereas if they were licensed, one would know 

 just where their division is, and would have a chance to see just what they were 

 doing. He would again recommend that all trappers be forced to bring their furs 

 to the nearest Overseer to have them examined before shipping, and inspected by 

 him, and that no furs be shipped without the authority of the Game and Fishery 

 Overseer out of his division. This would protect the beaver and otter and other 

 fur-bearing animals in close seasons. 



Overseer J. T. Williams, of Penetanguisliene, reports: During the past sea- 

 son of 1911 more tourists visited his district than ever before. The Game and 

 Fishery Laws were well observed in his district the past season. 



Black bass were very plentiful. He had thirteen licensed fishermen this sea- 

 son. The catch of trout during October was very large, but the catch of whitefish 

 small. 



Ducks were more plentiful this year than last. 



Partridge are not as numerous as last year. 



Deer were very scarce. 



Overseer John Woods, of Parry Sound, reports that the fishing in Deer Lake 

 was very good this season, and in other small lakes around there seem to be plenty 

 of bass. The tourists were numerous at Deer Lake, and the deer up the C, P. R. 

 seem plentiful. Partridge have not been as thick for years, and he thinks it was 

 a good move to shorten the season for the partridge. 



Lake Huron (Proper) and River St. Clair. 



Overseer H. A. Blunden, of Sarnia, reports: The fishing season opened at 

 about the usual time, allowing the fishermen to set their pound nets ; but owing to 

 a long spell of south-west winds the fishermen had light catches during May and 

 June, more particularly those who set within a few miles of the mouth of the St. 

 Clair River, but those in the neighborhood of Blue Point, and as far north as 

 Grand Bend, reported better catches. Whether it was by his close watching an^ 

 posting notices in different parts of the country, there were no violations in re- 



