I 



1913 GAME AXD FISHERIES. 75 



Overseer William McGinn, of Orillia, reports that angling for bass in the 

 beginning of the season was very poor, but the latter part of the season has been 

 excellent and the sample large; also pickerel are becoming more plentiful. Musk- 

 alonge trowling has been good, some very large ones having been caught. The 

 parties having a license to net carp found it a failure, the water being so high being 

 the trouble. They gave up the business in despair. 



In Lake Simcoe the bass fishing has been very poor. Have been out with 

 fishing parties all tlirough the season and have never had a fair catch. But trout 

 are very plentiful, and some very large. Catches have been made with the trowl. 

 This is accounted for by the careful watching of Captain Carson and the crew of 

 the patrol boat " Xaiad.'' 



Wliitefish are also very plentiful. During the season there have been very few 

 tourists in that district, on account of the cold, wet weather. 



Regarding game. Mink, muskrat and fur-bearing animals are very scarce in 

 tliat section of the country. They are almost extinct in most cases. 



Dncks aie also scarce on account of no rice in these waters. 



Partridge are becoming quite plentiful. 



Deer is almost a thing of the past. 



The law regarding game, especially partridge, has not been as well observed as 

 in the case of illegal fishing. He has had several complaints of illegal shooting of 

 partridge, but found it impossible to convict, as the settlers would make reports 

 but would not stand by them. 



Overseer Ilarrij Mayor, of Fainswicl:, reports with regard to fish, there have 

 been quite a number of trout taken, but they are by no means plentiful. AVliitefish 

 and herring are very numerous, and although there are a great number caught, the 

 supply does not seem to diminish. He regrets that bass are still on the decrease, 

 and although he has tried to find the cause of the decrease, he can furnish no reason- 

 able solution to the problem, and he thinks the matter is well worthy the attention 

 of the Department, and should be looked into. 



Lake Simcoe should be an ideal place for bass, and one would naturally think 

 they would multiply instead of diminish. 



As regards game in that locality, the conditions are much the same as la=!t 

 year. Quite a few partridges have been seen, and he thinks they are also more 

 plentiful. 



Ducks and other water fowl are not quite so numerous, while hares ami 

 .quirrels are easily holding their own. 



Overseer Samuel Patterson, of Dunkerron, reports that he has had no reason 

 to inform on anyone in his district. Regarding the big fish, they seem more 

 plentiful than last year, and the wild ducks and partridges seem quite numerous. 

 Muskrats and mink are rather scarce. 



Thunder Bay District. 



Overseer IT. //. S. Gordon, of Port Arthur, reports a particularly good i.-easuii 

 fishing throughout the districts under his supervision. 



Port Arthur and Fort William District. — In this district the fishermen report 

 better fishing than has been enjoyed for years. The gill-net men state that it has 

 been many years since there has been the run of fish of this season. The increase 



7 G.F. 



