43 THE EEPORT UPON ^o. 13 



warm, the wliiteiish did not come in tlie bay. However, the last ten days there 

 were plenty of fish, but, owing to the high winds most of the time, the fishermen 

 lost nearly all their whitefish, the nets being so full of weeds they could not lift 

 them. A number of miles of gill net were lost, and he does not think the fishermen 

 have made anything from their gill nets; but he thinks there was about the same 

 amount of whitefish as last year, as some of the seines have hauled as high as 600 

 at one haul, but some of them have not done A'ery much. 



Angling has been the best he ever knew in the Bay of Quinte. There was a 

 fair number of non-residents in his division, and all report good angling. 



Ducks were quite plentiful, but the weather was so quiet that they would sit 

 in the middle of the bay by thousands. There were not so many broad bills and 

 red heads, but plenty of black ducks. He would recommend no sale of ducks. 



Muskrats are on the decrease, and he would recommend no trapping for two 

 years, as he knows it Avould make a great difference. There were about two miles 

 of trapping ground in his division last year that was not trapped, and there are, 

 he would say, about twenty times as many rat houses this fall. 



He thought he had a case of violation of the game laws for shooting ducks be- 

 fore the season opened, but could not procure evidence to convict the party, as he 

 did not see the shooting himself. A great many have told him that the Game Laws 

 have been observed the best in years. 



Overseer Tlios. Gault, of Beseronto, reports that he has spent considerable 

 time this year patrolling the waters of his district and is quite satisfied that the 

 fish have been well protected. A^ery few violations have come under his notice. 

 Bass fishing was very good and fishing with hoop nets has been extra good. As 

 for whitefish the water has been too warm and they are not plentiful. 



Game is good, ducks are numerous, muskrats are plentiful. 



Overseer H. W. Hayes, of Murray, reports that he has interviewed the hoop- 

 net fishermen from time to time this fall and they report a satisfactory catch. One 

 fisherman said he found his nets one morning full of black bass wliich lie says he 

 liberated. 'They all complain that there are very few pike. 



Lake fishing has been very poor this fall on account of wind and weather. 

 A good many lost their nets entirely. 



In regard to game. Hunters that he sold licenses to all got their number, 

 one each, and they said deer seemed plentiful. 



In regard to muskrat and mink, he would suggest that all trapping be stopped 

 for a year or two, as it is almost impossible to see a muskrat house in the marsh in 

 his district. 



Ducks have been very plentiful in his district this fall. He has had several 

 complaints from hunters that fishermen in Weller's Bay have been setting their 

 nets on the feeding ground of the ducks. He asked for the names of the parties 

 that he might take action at once. He could not get the names, as one said he 

 didn't know and another said he did not care to be known as an informer. The 

 hunters make a great fuss but are unwilling to help the Overseer. 



Partridge seem to be more plentiful than they were last fall. 



He hears that black squirrel are very plentiful a few miles north of here. 



Cotton tail rabbits are getting very numerous, and he is afraid steps will have 

 to be taken to get rid of them. 



Overseer Henry HoUiday, of Wolfe Island, reports that the hoop-net fishing 

 in his district for the past year has been on an average with other years. The 



