58 THE REPORT UPOX Xo. 13 



KORTHUMBERLAND CoUNTY. 



Overseer C. H. Cassan, of CampheUford, reports that the fishing this year has 

 not been good. After the season opened it was fairly good during the last of June, 

 but during July, August and September, it was not so good. He thinks the reason 

 was that the weather was cold, and there have been quite a lot of Government works 

 going on in his district. There are four contracts at work, and there has been 

 quite a lot of dredging and the waters have been dirty. The law has been pretty 

 well kept this year, although there has been some illegal fishing where the contracts 

 are going on. The bass fishing has not been good, and he would recommend that 

 the waters be stocked. There have not been as many Americans this year as last. 

 If they could keep the waters stocked tlie revenue from non-residents would be 

 better, and he would recommend that a bass hatchery be put in in that district, 

 as there could be one at Healy's Falls, and would not cost much. He was much 

 pleased to see the duck season come in at the first, as he thinks it is the proper 

 time. 



The bull'heads seem to be getting quite plentiful. He thinks if there could be 

 some net licenses it might be a good thing, but would not have too many fishing. 



He would recommend a close season on frogs. There has been very good fishing 

 tshis month. There have been some good catches, mostly pickerel. 



Overseer Tlios. II. Cheer, of Brighton, reports that the Game and Fish Laws 

 have been well respected in that vicinity. The catch of trout and white fish has 

 just been fair this season, but there has been a large catch of rougher varieties. 

 There bave been several applications for domestic license, and he has refused to 

 submit tlie applications to the Department, as one domestic license will cause more 

 trouble than a dozen licensed fishermen. 



Ducks of most all species have been fairly plentiful this season, but snipe and 

 plover are very scarce. Under the present protection squirrels are becoming more 

 plentiful, and he thinks the protection should be continued. 



Partridge are very scarce, and he thinks the open season should be limited to 

 fifteen days, and that the open season for partridge and squirrels be at the same 

 time in order to keep tab on the hunters. 



Muskrats are getting scarcer every year, and he thinks the open season is too 

 long and suggests it be made from the fifteenth of March to the last day of April 

 of each year, which would prevent the destruction of their dens and houses. 



There is hardly any mink left, owing to the long open season, and the high 

 prices paid for this fur, and he suggests the open season be made very short, if 

 allowed to be caught at all. 



Overseer W. II. Hayes, of Murray, reports that in his district fishermen report 

 a very good catch of bullheads in the Bav of Quinte this fall ; verv heavv catches 

 of 'herring are reported from Lake Ontario, as high as L300 fish in one lift. Tlie 

 fish are the largest seen for years. He has had two violations of the fishery law, 

 and seized two bullheads nets after the law had run out in the spring. 



Ducks are quite plentiful, more hunters than usual this fall, and they report 

 very heavy bags. On Labor Day he caught two men. not residents of the district, 

 hunting. He seized their boat, decoys, and guns. They were brought before the 

 magistrate, who fined them. There is scarcely a muskrat or mink in his district, 

 where they formerly were plentiful. He would recommend a close season for two 

 years. TTnless something is do^-e r'^ey will become extinct in his district. 



