36 THE REPOKT UPON No. 14 



Overseer Thomas McKenny, of Thornbury, reports that the fishing was fairly 

 good for part of the year, and that tlie average weight of the fish was greater than 

 last year. 



The laws have been fairly well observed, but he regrets to say that night line 

 fishing is still carried on to some extent in Owen Sound Bay and round Griffith's 

 Island. 



When in Owen Sound last summer he visited a fish-freezing establishment 

 and found a quantity of fish with the marks of hooks in their mouths and no marks 

 of gill nets, which made him feel sure that lines were being used. He spent nearly 

 a week_ trying to locate them, but regrets to say that he failed to discover any. 

 He states that it is almost impossible to find them owing to the new method of 

 setting them, i.e., they take double ranges, one at right angles to the other, then 

 ascertain the depth of the water at that point and measure out that depth less 3 

 or 4 feet, thereby leaving the buoy that distance under the water and making it 

 almost impossible for officers to detect them. He feels sure, however, that the 

 seizures made by himself and Overseer Jermyn last year have had good effect and 

 lessened line fishing. 



He thinks it advisable to refuse to grant herring net licenses as they are not 

 fished to any great extent for public use, and they are better for line fishing. 



Fall fishing was unusually late this season in his district and some fishermen 

 only got one good catdh before the close season commenced. The fish seem to 

 come to spawning grounds very much earlier up the lake and gradually come to the 

 lower end of the bay, so that men in his district get but poor fishing compared 

 with those further north. 



Overseer James Myers, of Holstein, reports that the chief fish in his district 

 are speckled trout and bass. 



The catches were fairly good this year. 



He has had his district well posted with game and Fishery Laws, and only two 

 violations of the Fisheries Act came to his notice, these were for taking under-sized 

 trout and were settled out of court. 



There was one violation of the Game Laws; this was killing hares out of 

 season, also settled out of court. 



Deer are becoming more plentiful, partridges are also doing better. 



He thinks that the mink and muskrat seasons should open on the same date, 

 either November 1st or December 1st. 



Haldimand County. 



Overseer James Vohes, of NanticoTce, reports : 



Black squirrel appear to be slightly on the increase. Several complaints reached 

 him about the shooting of squirrel out of season, and he was fortunate enough to 

 catch two persons. The fine inflicted in each case will, no doubt, be a warning to 

 others. 



Muskrat are quite as plentiful as in the previous year or two, and the law is 

 fairly well respected now, previous convictions having had good effect. 



Mink are very scarce. 



Quail are on the increase, he has heard of several being seen in different parhs 

 of the county. The close season for these birds is evidently having the desired 

 effect. 



