16 THE EEPOET UPON No. 13 



Trappers of fur-bearing animals were the biggest trouble they had in that 

 district owing to the number of lumber camps that are in operation in New Ontario, 

 and the number of men that were trapping in those camps who did .not care for the 

 law as far as killing game was concerned, and -it was; almost impossible to convict 

 those people. They keep the skins hid in the bush until the season opens, .and then 

 they sell them. There is only one way to get after those trappers, that is to put a 

 license on trapping and make the fee not less than ten dollars for each resident 

 trapper, then it would be easy to convict if found trapping, without a license. 



In conclusion he would say that considering the number of aliens they have .in 

 the district the law has been well observed. There have been few violations, but 

 those that broke the law were punished to the limit, and it has. been a warning to 

 others. The overseers in his district have done their duty with the, exception of one. 



Warden C. N. Sterling, of Kenora, reports that during the year he has visited 

 most of his District several times and has found, this year, a decided improvement 

 in tlie keeping of the Game and. Fish Laws. 



He would recommend that more Overseers and Deputies be appointed along 

 the line of the Transcontinental Railway, and .'also along the boundary line between 

 the State of Minnesota, U.S.A., and our Province. 



The District is a large one and the additional protection which he recommends 

 would, he thinks, help greatly towards the maintenance of this part of Ontario 

 as a reserve and a future source of revenue to the Province. Foreigners are now 

 looking toward this part of the Province as a sporting ground. 



Fish. 



During the past year, fishing has been fully up to the standard of former years 

 in the western part of the District, whilst in the eastern section, along the north 

 shore of Lake Superior, the catch is reported to be very light, especially in white- 

 fish and trout. 



Black bass fishing has not been so good as last year. The stocking j of the 

 lakes adjacent to the greater lakes of that District has proven a success; but what 

 was done by the Province, by placing fry in some of these lakes, must be kept up 

 if the work already done is to be effective. The fishing for black bass is a great 

 attraction for sportsmen and would become a great source of revenue to the Prov- 

 ince if it were kept up, which can only be done, in his opinion, by the re-stocking 

 of the old grounds, or the stocking of new grounds. 



FUR-BEAEING AnIMALS. 



Mink 'is fully up to the standard of last year and the regulation regarding the 

 season for tliis animal has proven most beneficial to the quality of the fur that has 

 been taken in the past season. In this regard, he thinks that all trappers taking 

 fur, whether resident or non-resident, should be licensed, because fur-bearing 

 animals have been a source of great commercial revenue there, which revenue would 

 soon die out if fur-bearing animals were allowed to be killed in all and any season. 



In some 'portions of this District, it is difficult for trappers to get to towns, 

 where they can dispose of their catch, in time to comply with the law, and he thinks 

 some latitude should be allowed in 'such cases. It very often happens there where, 

 a man who has caught fur within legal limits he is unable to walk or paddle to a 

 commercial centre and still be able to disfpose of his catch legally. 



