1914 GAME AND FISIIEiilES. ^H 



The laws have been well observed with the exception of a little trouble which 

 he had on March 28thj, regarding illegal duck shooting, and again in the latter 

 part of February when muskrat houses were opened and traps set in them. He 

 took the traps and stopped further trouble, but was unable to apprehend either 

 of the law-breakers. 



Overseer C. Tivamley, of Cavan, reports that the speckled trout were not 

 so plentiful this year, owing to the low water. He strongly recommends that the 

 close season should begin on September 1st. 



'Bass are more numerous, they came up early to spawn and remained up 

 the creek all the summer on account of the sewerage at Peterborough. 



Black ducks were very plentiful, also partridges. The Italians working on 

 thu (J.l'.K. ga\e him a great deal of trouble. Black squirrels are plentiful. Mink 

 nre scarce, and muskrats becoming more plentiful. 



The law was well observed. 



Overseer John Watson, of Caesarea, reports that the Game and Fishery Laws 

 have been fairly well observed in his division, with the exception of the one 

 regarding shooting before sunrise and after sunset, which has been violated to 

 a great extent at the Cartwrigiit and Port Perry bridges. He has also heard 

 of some shooting at other places, but not very much. 



With regard to the fi,sh, he would suggest that speckled trout fishing be 

 prohibited for at least two years, and that a limit should be put on the number 

 of bass and maskinonge caught daily by each person, i.e., two maskinonge and 

 four bass. 



It is his opinion that the fishing will never amount to very much in Scugog 

 Lake, unless the water is kept up to the top of the dam at Lindsay. He thinks 

 some steps should be taken to have this done, as it would improve the fishing, 

 shooting, and trapping and it would be more healthy for the general public. 



Ducks, partridges and rabbits are very plentiful, there were also a number of 

 geese in the spring. He would suggest again that the open seasons should be 

 as follows: 



Rabbits — October 15th, to January 1st. 



Ducks — September 15th to December 15th. 



Mink — November 1st to January 1st. 



Muskrats — April 1st to May 1st. 



And as far as he can find out from the hunters and trappers they would 

 approve of the change. 



He thinks that trappers should be obliged to take out a license, also that 

 guns should be licensed except those carried by farmers on their own land. 

 Further that all dogs that chase rabbits during tiie months of April, May, June 

 and July should be kept tied up. It would also improve the shooting if a limit 

 were set on the nuinber of ducks killed each day by any one person, he thinks 

 35 would be a fair limit. 



Elgin County. 



Overseer K. McClennan, of Aylmer, reports that whitefish and herring fishing 

 was exceptionally good, in fact, it was better than in 1911, and the prices were 

 good. The spring fishing this year was not so good as it was last, but the prices 

 have been better. The laws have been well observed: there was, however, one 



