1912 GAME AND FISHEKIES. 51 



thought to be due to high water. On April 12th he visited the dam on Fourteen 

 Island Lake and found it shut tight and no fishing. And to the best of his know- 

 ledge there is no fishway in Petworth Dam either. There is not enough fish in 

 these lakes for home consumption. Angling was fairly good in Depot Lake this 

 season. There are only pike, sucker and catfish in Depot and Black Lakes. In 

 Rock, Long, Silver and Fourteen Island Lakes, there are pickerel, bass, sucker, 

 pike and catfish. 



In Knowlton and Desert Lakes the herring fishing is increasing very rapidly, 

 owing to a close watoh being kept. They also contain salmon, yellow bass and 

 some black bass. 



Mud Lake between Knowlton and Desert, contain suckers, black bass and 

 catfish. Mud Lake near Murvale contains catfish and a few pike and small bass. 



Muskrat trapping this spring was poor, but they seem to be more plentiful 

 now as their houses are more numerous. He thinks it advisable to allow no trapp- 

 ing till the first of March, to prohibit shooting of muskrat altogether, and charge 

 a small license fee. It is impossible to watch them during the winter season, as 

 the houses are cut, and he can never get proof as to who did it. 



Otter is increasing, owing to his keeping a close watch, mink is plentiful also. 



Partridge and rabbits are becoming quite plentiful, owing to their having 

 been protected. 



Duck were fairly plentiful, but hunters regret that the open season does not 

 begin on the 1st of September, by the 15th the ducks have left. 



Black and grey squirrels are getting more numerous on account of being 

 protected. 



Rumor says one deer has been seen in his district this year. 



On September 6th he had two men fined five dollars each for shooting duck 

 in close season. 



On October 30th, he had two men fined five dollars each for fishing with nets 

 without license, in Knowlton Lake. 



He has done his best to protect the fish and game during the last twelve 

 months ending October 31st, 1911. 



Overseer W. J. Birch, of Delta, reports that the past season on the lakes in 

 that district for campers and cottage holders was a very successful one, there being 

 many more pleasure seekers than in previous years. 



The fishery laws were well observed, and he had no occasion to prosecute any- 

 one. However, he found some muskrat houses disturbed last winter, but being 

 unable to find the guilty parties he could not convict them. 



The rod fishing for bass has been excellent, and a great many small-miouthed 

 ones were taken, weighing as high as 4 lbs. and 6 oz., and large-mouthed ones as 

 heavy as 6 lbs. But he thinks the fishing could still be improved by taking some 

 of the coarse fish out of Lower Beverley Lake, where they are numerous. 



Ducks were very plentiful late last season, and at the opening of this season, 

 but after the first two or three days' shooting they left, and have been very scarce 

 ever since. He would advise duck season not to open until the 1st October. Par- 

 tridge are increasing in that locality, and black squirrels are very plentiful. The 

 open season for squirrels, he thinks, is one month too late. Muskrats were very 

 scarce there last spring. 



Overseer J. B. Bourgon, of RocMand, reports that about the same number of 

 licenses have been granted as in former years, and prospects are that about the 



