1912 GAME AND FISHEEIES. 93 



The patrol boat "Naiad/' in charge of Capt. Carson, has its work on Lake 

 {Simcoe well in hand, with good effect on the poachers. 



Ducks are very few in number this season, they seem to have taken new routes 

 during their migration. Possibly the scarcity of feed in these waters has had 

 something to do with the scarcity of ducks. 



Partridge, he is pleased to report, are very plentiful, but they have a hard 

 time with the poacher. Shooting before the open season has been frequently 

 reported, but he finds it most difficult to get any information, as the settlers and 

 farmers are very averse to giving information to the Overseers. 



Overseer D. McPhee, of Uptergrove, reports that with regard to the fish in 

 Lake Simcoe, trout are increasing rapidly, and whitefish are plentiful. Bass ar& 

 in abundance, but small herring are also plentiful and lunge are also on the 

 increase and he might say that the lake evidently is full of carp. Ducks also are 

 plentiful, and partridge are increasing rapidly, while mink and muskrat are very 

 scarce. 



At Mud Lake, Mara, fishing was very good during the past season, maski- 

 nonge, bass and pickerel being the chief fish caught there. Ducks were there in 

 abundance, and hunters report great shooting in that district. 



Partridge also were plentiful also lots of muskrats there. He has had little 

 or no trouble in his district during the past season ; the law being well observed. 



Overseer 8. Patterson, of Dunherron, reports that he has kept a close watch 

 in his district during the past year, and has found no one violating the law. Both 

 game and fish seem to be more plentiful than last year. 



Overseer M. Timlin, of Atherley, reports: The past season for fishing has 

 been very satisfactory in his district, and the tourists were all satisfied. 



The law has been well observed in the different close seasons, and" no viola- 

 tions of the Fishery Laws came to his notice. 



Herring, lunge, bass and pickerel are the chief fish caught there. 



The Game Laws were very well observed, as he has had but one conviction, and 

 that was for illegal shooting of ducks in close season by an American, 



Muskrats are plentiful in the marshes. 



Partridge and mink are scarce. 



There are four sawmills in his district. 



Overseer Robert Tillett, of Roach's Point, reports that the bass and maski- 

 nonge fishing was very good, better than last year. There was some illegal fishing. 



He got a gill net at Snake Island in July and he also got one at Fox Island 

 in October. 



There is abundance of salmon and whitefish in that part of the lake, and the 

 people around would like to have the close season start the first of October, and 

 they would also like to have a license to spear through the ice in the winter 

 months. There has been some illegal spearing last winter, for he got some spears, 

 and the offenders were punished, and they say if they could get a license to spear 

 they would help protect the fisH" in close season. He thinks the lake is being better 

 protected each year. The steamer " Naiad " has been a benefit to Lake Simcoe. 



There are very few fur-bearing animals around there. There seem to be more 

 black squirrels than usual. There are very few partridge and no snipe or plover, 

 but there are more wild ducks this year and more geese than there have been for 

 years. 



