1913 GAME AND FISHERIES. 59 



Overseer J. H. Hess, of Hastings, reports that the game and fishery laws have 

 been well observed. The fishing in the beginning of the season was good, and the 

 qualit}^ of the fish caught was far above the average of other years. The fishing at 

 Hastings was not good, on account of the Glavernment works which are under con- 

 struction causing the water to become dirty. 



The game laws, as far as he can learn, 'have been well observed. Ducks are 

 quite plentiful, but partridge are very scarce in that district. 



Overseer William Henry Johnson, of Harwood, reports that the game and fish 

 laws have been fairly well kept m his district. He discovered one case of illegal 

 fishing — a raft made of rails and boards nailed togetllier and which had been used 

 for Jack — light spearing. He watched for two or three nights, but no person came 

 to use it, so then he destroyed it. 



This has been a good year for the fish spawn to hatch, as the water was kept 

 at a certain height, and gave the little fish time to get out of the marshes into the 

 lake before the v/ater went down. 



The fishing has been good in Rice I^ake this season. There has been a large 

 number of fine fish taken out. 



Quite a number of Americans visited Rice Lake this season, more than there 

 have been for some years previous. They went aAvay well pleased. 



He sold fifty-five permits and eleven guide licenses, and one license to buy and 

 sell game. 



Rat-trapping was very good last spring. 



Mink is very scarce. 



Black and grey squirrels and partridges are scarce. 



Duck shooting is very good. 



He suggests that frogs should be protected, and anybody catching and shipping 

 them should take out a license, as there is good money in the sale and export of 

 frogs. 



Overseer A. J. Kent, of Bewdley, reports that the past close season for bass 

 and maskinonge was well observed, and when the season opened on the 16th of 

 June they had excellent fishing. The older residents informed him that it was the 

 best fishing they had known for over 30 years, at the end of the lake. Whether it 

 was due io protection or high water is a matter of opinion, but no doubt there was 

 some reason for its being so good. 



Ducks were plentiful, but liad to get. The weather was so fine that the ducks 

 would stay out in the open water all day, but as it got colder the shooting became 

 better. Black ducks are not in condition to shoot on the 1st of September. He 

 would suggest the 15th of September, and allow rice bed shooting, as the ducks 

 are slaughtered after they go south. Canada raises the ducks, and we should have a 

 good cliance at them first, instead of our neighbours to the south getting the 

 majority of them 



Partridge were not so plentiful, he believes the wet spring spoiled the hatching. 



Black squirrels soem to 1>e scarce. They were pretty well thinned out last Fall. 



The muskrat houses were not interfered with during the Fall of 1911 and winter 

 of 1912, consequently there were a goodly number of muskrats trapped last spring, 

 and he is of opinion that quite a few got safely away on account of the high water. 



Overseer J. R. McAllister, of Gores Landing, reports that during the month 

 of April they had very cold and windy weather, and did not see so many fis'h in the 



