84 THE REPOKT UPON Xo. 13 



Overseer D. C. Stuart, Codrington, reports that in his district, fiom Percy 

 Boom to Chisholm's Eapids, the Fishing Law has been fairly well observed. Only 

 once last winter he found where they had been fishing thioiigh tlie ice with set. 

 lines. He took away the hooks and lines and put up notices forbidding the same 

 and had no more trouble. There appears to be an increase of fish, but the increase 

 would be much greater if the Dominion Government would put in the stop logs at 

 Chisholm's Dam and raise the water to prevent the water running out of the drowned 

 land when the dry weather comes on, as the fish go in there to spawn. He has seen 

 thousands of little fish dried up as they could not get out wlien the water wenc 

 down. If this could be accomplished tliej would have one ol the finest fisliing 

 grounds in Ontario. 



Muskrat and mink were quite plentiful last spring, and he has seen several 

 partridge, hares and black squirrels, but the ducks were not as plentiful this fall 

 as they were last. 



Overseer W . H. Switzer, of Gooderham, reports that the close season for fish 

 was well observed, only one instance of illegal fishing having come to his notice. 

 The salmon trout catch was up to the average. Bass was above the average of 

 last year. He thinks the number of salmon should be limited. He visited several 

 lakes, and saw some fine catches of fish, both salmon and bass. There are salmon 

 trout, speckled trout and black bass in the waters in his division. All fish caught, 

 as far as he knows, were used for home consumption. 



There are no fishways in Jiis district. 



The mill owners have observed the law fairly well. 



No tourists visited that locality to his knowledge. 



He says there are some fine lakes in his district that have no game fish, ami 

 if those lakes were stocked with salmon trout and pickerel they would soon have 

 their share of tourists. 



Tile Game Laws were well observed, as far as he knows, 



He did not hear of any illegal hunting going on, and no reports of same came 

 to his notice. 



He believes the deer are a little on the increase, as he has heard some settlers 

 saying they have seen deer at different times during the close season — more so than 

 last year. He thinks it is a splendid idea putting the number down to one for 

 each person, and that if dogs were prohibited for a few years, deer would soon 

 increase. There are beaver, otter, mink and muskrats, but no blac^k or grey 

 s(iuirrels in his district. The wood hare or cotton tails are quite numerous. 



Overseer W. H. Thompson, of Bensfort, reports that the Game and Fish Laws 

 iiave been fairly well observed in his division, not saying but what there has been 

 some illegal fishing going on. Fishing has been fairly good at the mouth of the 

 Otonabee River, especially for maskinonge. 



Black ducks and woodducks have been scarce in the river this season, 'but 

 partridge have been very plentiful. Black squirrels are also plentiful, but he 

 thinks that open season for partridge should start with the duck seasoTi, as ])coplc 

 sfiooting ducks along the shore sometimes go after partridge, and again the 

 leaves are thicker on the trees and therefore they would be better protected. 



Muskrats are not bo plentiful owing to their being a good price, atid the-y 

 are more closely trapped. The rat season should start Mar. 1st in place of Dec. Ist 

 and stop April 15th. It would be better for both rat and trapper, as they wouldn't 

 he so closely trapped and more left for breeding. He also thinks that trappers 



