1912 



GAME AND FISHERIES. 



89 



mentions with confidence as he has been personally on the river about every 

 Sabbath. As the laws have been so well observed would recommend that the 

 Department furnish the fish and game Overseers with a goodly number of copies 

 of the Game Laws, so that all may be able to familiarize themselves with its con- 

 tents. Would again, in conclusion, ask the careful consideration of the Department 

 re issuing of license for night lines. 



Overseer Mattheiv Cox, of Hoive Island, reports that he hears from anglers 

 that the bass fishing is not so good as in other years, but pike, bullheads arid* 

 coarse fish are increasing rapidly. 



The game is plentiful, but not so plentiful as last year. As for muskrats, 

 he thinks there oug^.i to be something dcfie to protect them, as parties from 

 Gananoque and other parts come to Big Bay in his district and destroy many rat 

 houses, and have done very much damage to the Island last fall and this summer 

 by starting fires. 



Overseer James A. Fraser, of Frescotl, reports: Since his last report the 

 Department 'has changed his district some, cutting oif the part where the most 

 poaching was done, so that now he has a pretty good law abiding district, not 

 having made but one seizure this season of any importance. 



On January 7th last he seized a Wincliester from a man who was shooting 

 ducks; other seizures consisted of a few set lines and a quantity of blocks with 

 lines (called block fishing), which he destroyed. Tliis is a small showing in 

 comparison with seizures of other years, which goes to show that the law is being 

 kept better in his district. 



The fishing last season on the whole was pretty good. Some good catches 

 being made in all parts of his district, which comprises 30 miles of the St. Lawrence, 

 pike, perch and a few pickerel, and some good large maskinonge were the prin- 

 cipal fisli taken. Bass is rather scarce, although there were some good catches, 

 some being very large fish. It was rather late when fish began to bite this 

 season. 



Ducks are more plentiful this fall than for years, also plover and snipe. 

 Partridge from reports are plentiful. 



Muskrats are getting very scarce around there. 



He has not heard of any one shooting too many ducks this fall, but he hasi 

 no doubt that such has been the case, and would advise (as last year) that there 

 s'hould be a limit to duck and partridge. 



The water in the St. Lawrence is the lowest it has been for years, making 

 it very disagreeable getting around in lots of places. 



Overseer James McNairn. of Iroquois, reports that the fish in general are as 

 plentiful as in 1910, with the exception of bass, which seem quite scarce, owing, 

 he thinks, to the water being so low in the river and the spawn beds being covered 

 with moss. He also thinks that the close season is too short, and should be made 

 to the first of July. Pickerel and pike are more plentiful than last season. There 

 are about two tons caught in a season, this being nothing in comparison with the 

 amount that could be caught and used if it were not for the spawn eating fish, 

 such as mudpouts and suckers. 



Partridge are more plentiful than they have been for a number of years, 

 the reason being that they liave been protected and the laws observed. 



Ducks are also quite numerous. There have been quite a number hatched 

 within a mile of the town, which is something he has never noticed before. 



