70 THE EEPORT UPON No. 13 



Eegarding game, ducks are very plentiful. Muskrats and mink are very 

 scarce. He seized six muskrat traps last winter, which he found set in muskrat 

 houses. He entered an action against the parties, and had them appear before 

 a magistrate, and got a conviction; against them. Partridge are very scarce. 

 Black squirrels are holding their own. The game laws have been well observed. 



Overseer E. R. Fox, of Northport, reports that the fish of all kinds are on the 

 increase, more so than the season of 1911. Tiie bass are very plentiful, so that any 

 angler can catch his limit in a few hours. But he notices in calling at the different 

 packing houses that there are a number of small pike that are unfit for use, and he 

 would recommend that all pike retained from the waters be not less than 18 inches 

 in length; also, he would recommend that the open season for gill-nets be the 

 same as for hoop-nets — the 1st of October. There were plenty of ducks on or 

 before the 16th of September, and well looked after as regards lo shooting before 

 the date of open season, but since the open season tliey have been quite scarce, 

 owing to scarcity of food. There were more ducks killed on the IGth of September 

 that he ever remembers on the first day of open season, and all hunters report 

 the same. Muskrats and mink are quite scarce, owing to the large amount of 

 trapping, and they will very sbon be something rare in his division, if there should 

 be open season the same as in the past. 



Overseer E. A. Titus, of Wellington, reports that this season has been a favour- 

 able one for fishermen in his division. Salmon and whitefish have been very 

 plentiful, and those who fished principally for salmon say they never knew them 

 to be more numerous, and when fishing for whitefish had splendid results. Both 

 salmon and whitefish were much more plentiful than last "year. Bass, pickerel and 

 pike are on the increase in Weller's Bay and Consecon Lake. Hoop-net fishing 

 was a success this last spring. Black ducks were very numerous in the early 

 season. Fall ducks are just beginning to come. There were a great many wild 

 geese, but very few killed. Partridge, they tell him, are about the same as last 

 year. Muskrats appear to be as plentiful as last year. Mink, beaver and black 

 squirrels are very scarce in his division. The licensed fishermen he had no trouble 

 with, but outsiders will drop in a net and take their chances of being caught. He 

 has lifted eight pieces of gill net out of Weller's Bay, but he could not learn who 

 the guilty parties were. 



Eaixy Eiver District. 



Overseer Wm. Aymer, of Fort Frances, reports that he has been on the lakes 

 and in the woods continuously, weather permitting, since July 15th. The game 

 laws have been fairly well observed, except in a few minor cases, where a warning 

 seemed to answer the purpose. The fishermen on Eainy Lake have done fairly 

 well the early part of the season, but not so well latterly, owing to the high water 

 changing the run of the fish. 



Game of all kinds is plentiful. Partridge and grouse are on the increase. 

 Deer never appeared more numerous. Moose does not appear to be as plentiful 

 around the lake as before, but rangers and others travelling the woods tell him 

 there are just as many, if not more. He has been told that east of Mine Centre the 

 sectionmen working for the Canadian Northern Railway carry guns on their hand 

 cars, and have been shooting partridge since they were feathered -out. The greatest 

 trouble there is with boys and foreigners owning 32 calibre rifles, and there are a 

 number of Americans owning islands on the lake who bring rifles and shot-guns 



