1914 GAME AND FISHEEIES. 67 



Overseer Edward Dulmage, of Oak Lake, reports that owing to the terrible 

 fires, which destroyed everything, it is hard to give a correct statement of the 

 quantity of game. 



Deer have had to hunt for food and shelter, and are not so plentiful. Partridges 

 are not so numerous as they were some years ago. Muskrats and mink are about 

 the same as previous year. 



Bass in Oak Lake are more numerous, and the surrounding lakes are as well 

 stocked as other years. Trout are increasing in Oak Lake. All the other fish in 

 the district are about the same as in former years. 



The Game and Fishery Laws have been fairly well observed. 



Overseer Edward Fleming, of Hastings, reports that he has not heard of one- 

 fish being speared illegally in his district during the season so well has the law 

 been observed. The illegal fishers did not go up to Hastings in the spring as they 

 have done other years. 



There have not been so many fish caught this summer as during previous 

 seasons. 



There are plenty of ducks on the river this fall. Muskrats are not so plentiful,, 

 and partridges are getting very scarce. 



Overseer Wellington Lean, of Apsley, reports that the Game and Fishery Laws 

 have been well observed in his district during the past year. Very few tourists 

 visited the lakes this summer on account of the forest fires, which were raging in 

 the best fishing season. On the whole fishing has been about average. 



Partridges seem scarce owing to the forest fires. Deer are as plentiful as they 

 have been for a number of years. He advises that the dogs should not be allowed 

 to chase the deer, as they are the cause of more being wounded and left to die than 

 the hunters kill. Beaver are becoming quite numerous, and are to be found on 

 nearly all the lakes and creeks in his district; if they are protected for a few years 

 they would be as plentiful as they have been in past years. He thinks it would 

 be a good thing if a larger bounty were put on wolves, viz., $25, which would 

 encourage people to kill them, as they are the worst enemies the deer have. 



There are only two mills in his district, and the owners are observing the law 

 with regard to the sawdust, etc. 



Overseer John McFarlane, of Keene, reports that the fishing in his district 

 has been fairly good, especially bass angling, and the law has been fairly well 

 observed. He does not think that there were any fish taken through the ice, as 

 most of the people are in favor of the regulation prohibiting this. There may 

 have been a few fish taken with the hook and line during the close season, but not 

 many. 



Trapping was very good considering the number of trappers in his district, 

 many of whom come from the other side of the lake to catch muskrats in the 

 spring, and they all did well. Mink are very scarce. 



Ducks were very plentiful on the lake in the spring, more so than they have 

 been for many years, and they were not molested, but in the fall the hunters are 

 difficult to watch, as they will break the game laws if they can ; there has been more 

 moonlight than usual, and they will shoot after sunset and before sunrise if they 

 are not watched. 



