1912 GAME AND FISHEEIES. 77 



There are quite a number of beaver colonies in that district and none oi the 

 settlers seem to be molesting them. 



Otter are also quite numerous. 



Deer are getting more scarce every year, owing, he thinks, to the wolves, 

 which are their worst enemy, killing far more than the hunger. lie, himself, 

 found last winter where the wolves had killed one on the ice. He put poison in 

 the carcass, and was successful in getting three wolves in one night, and a fourth 

 one some two weeks later. He thinks the bounty should be raised on wolves. It 

 would be more inducement to the trappers to kill them if it were raised to $20 or 

 $"35, and thereby save our deer. A stray moose goes through those parts occasion- 



ally. 



He thinks the Game and Fishing Laws are fairly well observed as far as he 

 knows. 



Overseer David Little, of Blairton, reports that in the upper part of Crow 

 Fiake the lunge and bass seemed to be more plentiful in the fore part of the season 

 than in the latter part. The fishing in Belmont Lake was fair through the season, 

 and the bass and lunge in Oak Lake were not very plentiful this year. The fishing 

 in all the waters in his division was fairly good. 



Partridge were very plentiful, and there was a great increase in black 

 s(iiiirrels compared with previous years. Ducks have not been so numerous. 



l?ed deer seem to be more plentiful, as they have been seen in Belmont Town- 

 ship, near the boundary line between Belmont and the Township of Seymour. 



Overseer Manly Mayhee, of Cameron, reports that the law regarding winter 

 fishing was well observed. Spearing through the ice, he tTiinks, is a thing of the 

 past. The catch of muskrats on McLaren Creek and Goose Lake was very large this 

 year, and the muskrats are building up their houses again as numerous as in 'the 

 past. The spawning season is early around Sturgeon Lake, so he would advise the 

 close season for maskinonge and bass to start April 1st. Some times they are 

 caught the first part of April on the trolling line and the fish are full of spawn. 

 The bass were far more numerous this year than for years previous. The maski- 

 nonge were as plentiful as usual, but there are a number of our local men that 

 do not like the idea of those launches fishing. They can run a lot of lines with 

 dilferent bait at a time, and never get tired like the man with the canoe. He 

 would again suggest that the number of fish and not the size be considered. It 

 has come under his notice that several that have been put back in the water were 

 badly damaged. 



The ducks were plentiful the first part of the season, but not so plentiful now. 

 The fall ducks seem scarce. The frogs seem to be very scarce. It would be well 

 to protect tliem for a year or two in Victoria County. Partridge is more plenti- 

 ful than usual this year. Eabbits in the swamps are very numerous. 



Tlie Fish and Game Laws have been well kept during the last year, and he 

 has no illegal acts to report. He sees that some of our Overseers advise that every 

 man that carries a gun or rifle should be obliged to have a permit or license. In 

 the first place it would conflict with a right that they have long enjoyed. As for 

 the farmers, they like to have a day's hunt in the year, or the privilege if they 

 want to without looking for a permit. Besides he thinks it would be harmful to 

 the military system, as the boys, in general, that join the militia are very fond of 

 firearms and an outing, being the reason why our volunteers distinguish them- 

 Kclvcs when thev are called out for action. 



