THE REPORT UPON No. 13 



become a prominent factor in our game supply — one or two open seasons would 

 result in exterminating them. It was found necessary to again prohibit the shoot- 

 ing of them in the Province. 



FUK-BEABING AnIMALS. 



Beaver are reported to be increasing, many complaints reaching the Depart- 

 ment of damage to roads and grass lands by flooding from dams erected by them. 

 On an investigation of damage complained of, it was found (to some extent) to 

 be the result of the unprecedented wet spring and summer. 



Otter. — Isolated com. plaints have been made of the destruction of fish by these 

 active denizens of our northern lakes and rivers. So far as I have been able to 

 learn they are not in sufficient numbers to be a menace to fish, as reported. 



Muskrat, mink, and the coarser fur-bearing animals are not decreasing to any 

 appreciable extent. 



The staff of the Department, inspectors, wardens in charge of their respective 

 districts, overseers and deputy game and fishery wardens, as in the past, have 

 been most faithful and efficiei^t in the discharge of their respective duties. 



It is my pleasant duty to again extend my sincere thanks to the employees of 

 the Departments of the Honourable Attorney General and the Honouralble Minister 

 of Lands and Mines for their valuable and effective assistance. 



I also tender my sincere thanks to the various Railroad and Navigation Com- 

 panies for their valuable assistance so kindly given to the Department during the 

 past year. 



Re-Stocking. 



The Bass ponds at Mount Pleasant have reached such a proportion that the 

 question of hatching bass in large quantities is now possible under favourable con- 

 ditions. The past season has been a most successful one, considering the difficulties 

 that had to be overcome, and next season, barring accidents, the output of these 

 ponds should be very great indeed, and the most important of the inland waters 

 of the Province should receive an adequate supply. Mr. Edwards, who has been 

 in charge of this hatchery, has discharged his duties in a most satisfactory manner, 

 both as to the care and rearing of the young bass, as well as the construction of 

 new ponds. 



Angling Permits. 



The sale of angling permits was not as great this year as last, owing, no doubt, 

 chiefly to the cold and wet summer, but another reason is given as well. The pre- 

 sent craze for motoring has diverted to a considerable extent the tourist traffic 

 from their former haunts ; but those non-residents who did avail themselves of the 

 privilege of angling have observed the laws and regulations, except in a few in- 

 stances. 



Patrol Service. 



There was added to the present patrol service this year an additional gasoline 

 boat, which chiefly patrolled the waters of Lake St. Clair, Detroit River, and the 

 western portion of Lake Erie. This service was most satisfactory and prevented 

 to a great extent infractions of the Act, which occur so frequently in the vicinity 

 of the International Boundary Line. The crews of all the patrol boats gave satis- 



