24 THE KEPOKT [JFON Xo. 14 



ALGOMA DISTRICT. 



Overseer J. R. Bradbury, of Blind River, leports^ that the catch of iish in hit 

 district has been about tlie same as last year, that of wliitefish being larger. The 

 size of the fish shows a large percentage of jum'bo white over five pounds. Trout 

 are slightly more numerous than last year, but smaller in size. The pickerel catch 

 was not so large, about 20 per cent, less than last season, but the fish are a fair 

 size, and the Eegulations regarding them have been well observed. Blind River 

 is the principal point in his district for sturgeon and there have been more 

 caught this year than last. 



There ha? been a very heavy catch of mullet, the price was good and a great 

 many were shipped from the district, which added very materially to the cash 

 receipts of the fishermen, as mullets are great destroyers of salmon spawn, a double 

 purpose is served by catching them. 



The catch of pilots in the vicinity of Str Joseph's Island also show that they 

 are full of trout spawn, though the number caught has been about average; the 

 catch has been somewhat scattered, owing no doubt to the strong winds which 

 probably drove the fish into different localities. 



Pike are about average, but perch seem to be falling off. 



Pickerel and bass angling in the smaller lakes and streams inland was good. 

 Tourists are becoming more numerous during the summer, they go to the small 

 streams, which have proved to be good fishing grounds. 



Deer and moose are fairly numerous, and mink, martin and muskrat are likely 

 to give good trapping. Beaver are becoming very numerous, and are building 

 dams in the farming settlements. Ducks and geese are not plentiful in his district, 

 but partridges are quite numerous and some fine birds to be seen. 



He would advise that the deer season be changed from I^^ov. lst-15th, to Nov. 

 15th-Dec. 1st, for the reason thai for several seasons a great deal of game meat 

 has been wasted because tlie weather is too warm, during the first part of the season, 

 and hunters who come from a distance and kill their deer or moose on or soon 

 after Nov. 1st, must either leave before their party has got its complement of game 

 or see their deer or moose spoil while they wait for their friends; this has a 

 tendency to induce them to kill other animals in excess of their licenses, if they nve 

 to have any game fit to take home at the end of the season. 



As his district has about one hundred by fifty miles of timber land, the people 

 are left a great deal to their own honour with regard to keeping the Game Laws. 

 The majority of the farmers consider that they have a right to shoot what game they 

 require regardless of close or open seasons; and the lumber jacks say that if the 

 settler who lives there does not respect the law, why should they who have no 

 interest there? Some claim that they might as well have the sport as allow the 

 wolves to kill the game. The wolf bounty has been go reduced by the Government 

 taking the skins that it has ceased to be an inducement to hunters to destroy the 

 wolves. 



He only made two convictions this year ; both of which were for killing moose 

 out of season. 



If the Department had the support of the people for whose benefit the laws 

 were made, it would be an easier matter to protect the game. 



Overseer Fred. Eddy, of Carterton, reports, that game has increased on St. 

 Joseph's Island, especially moose, deer, partridsres and beaver. Ducks are about 

 the same as they were last year, and muskrats not quite so plentiful. 



