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1913 GAME AXD FISHEEIES. 61 



The fish spawn last spring was well protected^ as the water remained very 

 liigh late in the season, and the spawn was hatched and out in deep water before 

 it went down. Maskinonge fishing has been better this season than for a number of 

 years. Black bass has not been so good as other years, although some good catches 

 have been had. Black and wood ducks have been scarce and very hard to get, as the 

 water this fall has been extra high, therefore ducks can feed on any place in the 

 marsh and not be disturbed. 



Partridge are also scarce and very closely hunted. There are very few black 

 squirrels to be seen this season. 



Muskrats are about the same as last year, and should be protected more closely, 

 as they are very closely trapped every spring. 



Skunk and raccoon should have a close season, as trappers catching them have 

 a good excuse for being in the trapping grounds, therefore they have a chance to 

 catch an odd rat or mink. Skunk, coon, and mink should have a close season 

 together, and open season for rats should start the 1st of March and close the 15th 

 of April. The carrying of guns during the close season should be prohibited en- 

 tirely, as people discharge them on Sunday and other days as well, and if asked 

 to stop say they are not shooting game. Of course Overseers have no proof unlesa 

 they see them with the game. 



It would be a good idea for the overseers between Hastings and Peterborough, 

 to meet once a year and have a talk together. Much good could be done in this; 

 way. 



A numher of trappers in this division are yet in favour of a trapper's license. 



Ontario County. 



Overseer Gilbert Gillespie, of Brechin,, reports that the laws were well ob- 

 served in his district. There were no reports of net fishing, and he did not find 

 any one so doing. It was very rough weather during ISTovember on that side of 

 the lake. There was no jacklight to be seen on the lake during the fall. He found 

 no illegal fishing during the winter season. In May and June trout was plentiful. 

 Black bass fishing was not very good this season, very few having been caught 

 there. Angling for trout in October was not good, the weather being too windy ; could 

 not get out with small boats. Eeports from the islands were good. He found 

 no fish oifered for sale in the butcher stalls. 



Ducks are not plentiful and there are no duck hunters looking for them. 

 There aro a few muskrats, and no trappers. No mink to be got. 



Overseer Charles E. Halward, of Cannington, reports that most game is plenti- 

 ful this year, especially ducks. The game laws have been well observed around 

 there. He has watched his district carefully and has not found a single case war- 

 ranting a prosecution. He thinks the present game laws are all that could be 

 desired, except that he thinks there should be a daily limit on the number of ducks 

 shot. 



Overseer George Hood, Senr., of Scugog, reports that during the summer and 

 fall of 1911 the bass were very plentiful. The bass were what are ordinarily called 

 green bass. The bass caught were of a very large size. During the winter there 

 was a great deal of fishing through the ice, and everyone reports big catches of bass. 

 lja.st year the lunge fishing in Lake Scugog was the best known for years. He had 

 to report that when the ice went out in the spring of 1912 a great many dead lunge 



