1912 GAME AXD FISHEEIES. 85 



.should have a license fee of $2.00 and the Department furnish each licensed man 

 with a paper, and have him send in the number of hides sold and price of ea'iih. 

 This would give the Department an idea of what is going on in that line, and 

 also give them more revenue money to protect the fur-bearing animals. Some of 

 the trappers in his division are in favor of this. 



Mink are very scarce and should be protected one month longer, open season 

 starting Dec. 1st in place of Nov. 1st. This would keep trappers out of creeks 

 (ill they were frozen up and therefore they wouldn't catch muskrats. 



Me also thinks that the frogs should be protected as they are very scarce. 



Overseer Ira Toole, of Omemee, reports that the maskinonge fishing ihas been 

 good, and just now, although late in the season, it seems to be at its best. It is no 

 trouble for any person to go out and get their number in a short time. Bass 

 (ishing has 'been excellent too, and the young fry of both these kinds of fish were 

 never as plentiful, at least in his time, in those waters at this season, owing to the 

 water being unusually high in the springtime for the past two years, and staying 

 (hat way until the spawn was hatched out, and also to proper protection in the 

 spawning season. 



Erogs are not increasing very much, so far as he can see, and he thinks one 

 of the principal reasons for this is the increased number of bitterns, which are 

 there in hundreds, and almost live on the small frogs. They also catch large 

 numbers of small fish, but of course the frogs being more easily caught suffer tlio 

 most. The bittern being a wader is protected by the Game Laws, but 'by watching 

 them closely this summer he considers they are the worst enemy the young frogs 

 and fish have in those waters. And as they are not used for food or any other 

 l)urpose that he ever heard of, he does not see why they should be protected when 

 they are destructive on game that is useful. 



Muskrats are barely holding their own, owing principally to the increased 

 number of trappers in the last couple of years, which may be accounted for by the 

 value of fur. Mink might be classed with the muskrat in that respect, as they 

 are certainly not increasing in numbers in that vicinity. He thinks a close season 

 for two years for both those fur-bearing animals would be a good move, and one 

 year would be a great help to keep them from being wiped out altogether. He 

 tiioiight at one time that with proper protection in the close season muskrat would 

 <ontinue to increase in numbers, or at least hold their own, but in the last two 

 years he has had reason to change his mind, as they have had protection there, and 

 both mink and muskrat are certainly getting scarce. Duck shooting was good 

 there when the season opened, there being the largest number of ducks taken on the 

 first day of shooting that he ever saw— -mostly all blacks. The fall ducks are 

 scarce yet, but it is too early to expect many in those waters. Partridge seem to be 

 a little more numerous than usual in that district this fall. 



Overseer John Traves, Sr., of Fraseihiirg, reports that as far as he is aware 

 there have not been any violations of the law. He was informed of a party of two 

 trapping, and after a diligent search over the lake found no traps nor traces of any- 

 thing of that kind. He has traveled over quite a number of different lakes, creeks and 

 marshes this summer, and found the fishing very good in Bigwing Lake for trout, 

 and also fairly good for bass, coming in the river out of the Lake of Bays. There 

 was fairly good fishing in the Lake of Bays for bass and trout. 



Ducks are plentiful this fall. Partridge are very numerous, also beaver, and 

 otter are increasing very fast. He says he takes great interest in protecting the 

 7g. F. ' 



