1914 GAME AND FISHERIES. 47 



year when rod fishing is done and illegal fishing with nets or spearing with torch 

 lights carried on, but he found none of this, although several reports reached him 

 of such work. 



Bass fishing in Lower Beverly Lake was not so good as it has been other 

 years, but Upper Beverly was much better, some fine catches being made. 

 This lake has been licensed for coarse fish for thirty years and more, which is 

 improving the bass fishing. 



Ducks were quite numerous last November, and large numbers shot; he 

 would like to see a limit set on the number shot by each man, the same as for 

 partridges. 



He made several trips to inspect the grounds where muskrats build their 

 houses, and found some of them disturbed, but he was able to find the offender and 

 brought him before a Justice of the Peace, who fined him. This did a consider- 

 able amount of good as he heard of no other trouble during the season, and 

 when spring came the muskrats seemed to be more plentiful than the previous 

 year; he would, however, advise that their close season begin on May 1st, and 

 continue until March 1st, and that trappers should be obliged to take out a license. 



There are very few mink left, and if there is not a close season provided 

 for them for at least three years they will become quite extinct. Black squirrels 

 are quite plentiful, but he considers that the season opens a month too late for 

 them. Partidges are increasing slowly. 



There is no summer hotel or boarding house there, so they get very few 

 tourists, and there are not many angling permits or Guides' licenses sold. 



The cottage owners report that the season has been a good one. 



The Laws and Regulations have been very well observed in this district. 



Overseer Gordon H. ClarJc, of Westport, reports that the fishing* has not been 

 so good this year as in former years. 



Muskrats, black squirrels and partridge j are very plentiful, but mink are 

 very scarce. Ducks have been unusually numerous, and very few have been shot. 

 Deer is quite plentiful, but he thinks people owning dogs should keep them shut 

 up during the close season, as they chase the deer and do much harm. 



Overseer H. N. Covell, of Lomhardy, reports that he has kept a close watch 

 over his territory this year, and there have been no violations of the Fishery Laws. 



There have been no tourists in his division this season, as the accommodation 

 round the lake is very poor. 



Black suckers are very thick in Otter Creek in the spring, but they do not 

 last very long. 



Black squirrels are getting very plentiful also partridges. Black ducks are 

 not so plentiful as they were other years. Mink are very scarce and he thinks 

 the open season for muskrats should be shorter as they are getting scarce. 



Overseer John McOuire, of Jones Falls, reports that during the month of 

 November, 1912, he and his assistant kept up a constant patrol of the waters in 

 his district with the launch "Mermaid.*' During January, February and March, 

 he spent his time seeing that the fishermen got their licenses renewed, and made 

 trips to the different fishing grounds to see that bass fishing through the ice 

 was not being carried on. He found it rather difficult to stop some of the 

 fishermen from doing this, as they did not like being deprived of the fish they had 

 previously been allowed to catch. 



