48 THE REPORT UPON No. 13 



belonged to a party who 'had a license in Pierce's Bay, and who claimed that he 

 was catching nothing and thought he would move the net to where it was found 

 to try the fishing there, intending to tag it next day. His net was returned to 

 him with a warning. 



He thinks the closo season for salmon should commence on the 10th October 

 and continue until the 10th November in that part of the Province. He says 

 the overseers have no chance under the present conditions, as the poachers flock 

 from all directions to salmon waters in October on pretence of trolling, but this 

 is only an excuse. While trolling in day time, they as a rule are netting at night, 

 and if an overseer makes his appearance, their reply to him is, every time, "I am 

 trolling and within the limits of the law." But why do they come often 20 miles 

 just at the spawning time, and lots of them farmers that fish no other time of 

 the year? 



He thinks that another bad move as regards the protection of salmon was 

 the abolishing the limit of four salmon to a rod. As the law is now, if an overseer 

 comes up to a man in a boat trolling right in the spawning time, say the loth 

 October, if he has a barrel of salmon in his boat he has altogether likely caught the 

 most of them with nets, but he is sure to say that he caught them trolling. The 

 overseer is then powerless; no matter what he thinks he can do nothing but let 

 the poacher go. While the catch per rod each day was limited to four (which 

 is as many as can generally be got), if he had more than four the overseer had 

 him all right. But the way the law is now, if he had one hundred in his boat, 

 the overseer has no business to ask him how he came by them, unless he sees his 

 net, which he is sure to have, but very 'likely it is in the water and cannot be seen 

 by the overseer. He says he has been connected more or less with the protection 

 of the salmon for seven or eight years, which places him in a position to know 

 what he is talking about. 



Overseer George M. Slate, of RocJcport, reports that the season of 1912 has 

 been a good year. Fishing has been about the same as 1911, only black bass fishing 

 has been better than in former years. 



There are about as many ducks this autumn as last. Black squirrels are 

 quite plentiful. Partridge are very scarce. There were not any violations to speak 

 of. 



Overseer William Spence, of Athens, reports that this season has been a very 

 successful one for both game and fish. There has been only one case of illegal 

 fishing, but on the whole the game and fish laws were well observed. There was 

 an increase in the number of guide licenses sold this year. He would suggest a 

 license to be granted to farmers for about one week to catch whitefish for their 

 own food supjj]3^. • 



He thinks it would be a good idea to' have the close season for salmon in 

 October, during their spawning season, instead of November. 



Partridges are quite plentiful, which is due to the wise protection of having 

 only one month open season. 



Mink and black squirrels are scarce. 



Muskrat are scarce. Fouud several houses disturbed, had two fined. He 

 thinks it would be wise if each person were allowed a limited number. 



Overseer R. B. Storey, of Escott, reports that the game and fishery laws have 

 been well kept this season. Pishing has been fairly good, and game more plentiful 

 than last season. 



