1913 GAME AND FISHERIES. • 79 



Rats were fairly plentiful from the reports of those trapping, as there was 

 something like from sixteen to eighteen hundred rats caught within three miles of 

 Fenelon Falls. 



Ducks have been about the same as other years. 



Overseer H. B. Parher, of Bohcaygeon, reports that during the past year the 

 fishing has been better than it has been for some years, especially the maskinonge. 

 The lake appears to be full of snaall ones just over and under the limit 24 inch, 

 although there were a great number of very large ones caught this season. 



The bass are about the same as usual as to size and number. 



The spawning season for both bass and maskinonge was fairly good last spring. 

 The tourists are increasing every year, both anglers and hunters. 



Deer seem to be about the same as usual. Muskrats are fairly numerous, but 

 it is very hard to get some people convinced they are making a mistake by trapping 

 them in the fall. 



Mink are about the same as usual in number, for they are caught by some 

 people they call "hogs," who will kill them when the hides are practically worthless. 



Beaver are on the increase all over the back country. 



Partridges are very numerous this fall. 



The early fall duck is very scarce this fall, he believes, owing to the water 

 falling very low last spring, and then about the 22nd of May the heavy rains came, 

 and the Lakes and inland marshes alike rose to a height that they very seldom get, 

 even with the spring freshets, and probably drowned out their nests. The late fall 

 ducks are at present coming in, in large flocks. 



Wolves are getting numerous here and work havoc among the deer. 



Overseer C. W. Parkin, of VaJentia, reports that maskinonge and bass were 

 very scarce throughout his division during the past season, caused to a certain 

 extent by the low condition of the water, and some perished during the severe 

 wiuter weather. Then when the new cement dam at Lindsay was constructed, 

 there was no proper provision made for the fish to come up to the Scugog waters, 

 as fish always work up stream when spawning. He maintains there should be a 

 proper fish-way provided in said dam to permit fish coming up to Scugog 

 Lake. The bass were fished out through the ice during the winter, therefore the 

 tourists who enjoy casting for those gamey fish were deprived of that pleasure. It 

 seems ridiculous that a body of water so suitable for the breeding of such fine fish 

 should be depleted by a few fish hogs during the winter months. If the Govern- 

 ment would see fit to make the close season from the 15th of December to the 15th 

 of June, it would stop the winter fishing, and the true sportsman would be able to 

 enjoy good sport fishing for bass during the summer months. 



Muskrats were plentiful last spring and trappers secured large numbers. 



Partridges are becoming more numerous every year. 



Mink are increasing in numbers in his division. 



Har&s or cotton-tail rabbits are becoming very numerous, and he has had 

 many complaints from farmers against the law protecting them. They breed so 

 fast and are so destructive, they are becoming a great nuisance to the country. 



Ducks are very plentiful. • He never remembers seeing so many beautiful red- 

 heads and blue-bills on that lake as there are at present. The hunters are getting 

 large bags. He would be pleased to see the pump gun demolished as the automatic 

 was. 



