1912 GAME AND FISHERIES. 39 



that the ice hung in the bays here unusually late, and during their spawning 

 season. Heavy winds this fall put most of the pound nets out of business for a few 

 days and occasioned a severe loss to the fishermen, and the low price of fish has 

 also cut down their profits considerably. 



During the month of November last year the whitefish fishing was fair, but 

 not quite so good as the year previous. Owing to warm weather prevailing through- 

 out October, the fish were later coming in. The spawn takers from the hatcheries, 

 however, did very well — about 65 million whitefish spawn going to the Pennsyl- 

 vania State Hatchery at Erie, and about 50 million whitefish spawn going to the 

 Ojitario Hatchery at Sandwich. He has no report from the Sandwich Hatchery, 

 but the hatching at Erie was successful, and large quantities of whitefish fry were 

 put into the lake. 



The angling in the Grand River, although good at first, was very poor later on 

 in the season. 



The law was well observed by all the pound-net fishermen. 



Black squirrels appear to be holding their own. Muskrats again are plenti- 

 ful in the marshes, and it was necessary last winter to give a sharp lesson to sev- 

 eral parties for infractions of the law. Since then he has had no trouble. It 

 seems to him a great mistake to allow the trappers to take mink as early as No- 

 vember 1st, and not December 1st, as before. There is no doubt that large num- 

 bers of rats will get into these traps, and it will be impossible to prevent it, and 

 lie would also again recommend, on the advice of the hona fide trappers, that all 

 trappers should hold a license from the Department. This would considerably 

 simplify matters for the overseers, and would put a stop to a lot of illegal trapping. 



The duck shooting on the Grand River was very good. A fine lot of ducks 

 showed up there and they were thoroughly protected right up to the last day. 



Plover and woodcock were plentiful this fall, and several quail were also 

 located around here. 



Lake Ontario and Bay of Quinte. 



Overseer T. F. Best, of Niagara-on-the-LaJce, reports that the law has been 

 very well observed in his district, he having had but one fine for infraction of 

 game law and five fines for illegal fishing. 



Has sold 20 angling permits to non-residents, principally Americans. Bass 

 were very scarce, and in few cases were anglers able to take their legal catch. 

 Whitefish and herring have been quite up to the average this year. 



He is glad to report that we are not troubled with American fishermen using 

 drag nets along our shore, between Niagara and Queenston, as in former years. 



Our fishermen at Niagara are suffering considerable loss at times on account 

 of cinders from the large steamboats being dumped into the lake, which shift 

 about with heavy seas; also with weeds and other refuse. In some cases the fisher- 

 men merely save the corks and leads, the nets being completely destroyed. 



Ducks are very scarce in his locality. 



Pheasants, in the early spring, were seen in good numbers, but since the open 

 season, although there are quite a number of shooters, few birds have been shot, 

 as farmers have been very strict in prohibiting shooting on their premises. 



He would strongly recommend a shorter open season for pheasants; quite a 

 number of sporting men have expressed themselves in favour of an open season of 

 fifteen days. 



Muskrats are the principal fur-bearing animals, and are in fairly good 

 numbers. 



