66 THE EEPORT UPON No. 14 



MUSKOKA DlSTKICT. 



Overseer F. A. Ilanes, of Huntsville, reports that bass and speckled trout are 

 increasing and coming up the rivers and creeks more, as he has taken the trouble 

 to find out where they are. 



There are several lakes which should be stocked with bass and speckled trout, 

 this could be done at a very small cost. 



Deer are increasing very fast, and he has seen more this year than he has 

 seen for the last five years; another man who has been out a great deal says the 

 same thing. 



When the season opened there were a great many partridges round the lakes, 

 but ducks are scarce as there is not much feed for them. 



Mink are plentiful and beaver seem to be increasing; he has seen several in 

 the lakes. 



Muskrats are decreasing. 



Overseer William Robinson, of Kilworthy, reports that the law has been fairly- 

 well observed in his division this season. The tourists have had a good summer 

 and there have been more campers this year than for many seasons. 



The fishing was good at the beginning of the season, but during the last two 

 weeks in July and the month of August it was astonishing what a number of 

 undersized dead fish were floating on the water. A fish which has swallowed the 

 hook cannot be saved, and Overseer Robinson thinks that if there was no restriction 

 as to size there would not be so many fish destroyed. He thinks the restric- 

 tion as to the number caught a good thing, so that if an undersized fish is caught 

 that would count as one, and not be thrown back to die and another one caught 

 in its place. 



Deer seem to be plentiful. Partridges and ducks are about the same as last 

 year. Muskrat, otter, and beaver are increasing fast, and mink are more plentiful 

 this season than last. 



There are three mills in his division, but they are keeping their refuse out 

 of the rivers and lakes. 



Overseer William Smith, of Oravenhurst, reports that he -has made a diligent 

 patrol of the Muskoka Lakes throughout the year, five months of which — June 

 to October — he was in charge of patrol boat "Meenagha." 



During this time all the summer resorts were visited frequently and all back 

 channels and islands which could not be reached by steamer were thoroughly 

 patrolled. 



He found that the Game and Fishery Laws were well observed, there being 

 only one violation of the Fishery Ref^alations, which was the setting of a net in 

 Lake Rosseau, but he failed to apprehend the owner. 



There were two violations of the Grame Laws, a conviction was' made in one 

 case, but the other was dismissed. 



The fishing in June and July was better than during previous years, but in 

 August the very hot and smoky atmosphere kept the anglers from the water. 



Two car loads of bass fingerlings wete deposited in the lakes during the 

 season, which he feels sure will add greatly to the stocking already done. 



He thinks the partridges and ducks will compare favourably with last year, 

 although the great territories which were swept by fires destroyed many partridges. 



