1914 GAME AND PISHEEIES. 71 



Moose and deer are about the same as last year. 



The game laws have been fairly well observed, with the exception of those 

 regarding moose, as these were killed during the summer around Eat and Pipestone 

 Eivers, 50 miles south-east of Port Frances on Eainy Lake He counted eight car- 

 casses in a distance of ten miles. Some were shot for their heads, and some were 

 left untouched. Reports of this work do not reach him until weeks after it has 

 happened, and it is too late to do any good; a steady patrol of the lake would be 

 the only way to stop it. 



The trappers had an exceptionally good season last winter, a large quantity of 

 fur being obtained. He strongly recommends that there should be a resident 

 trapping license in the country not open to free homestead entry; the trappers 

 themselves would like to see this, as it would enable them to check illegal trapping. 



Wolves are becoming very numerous, especially the brush wolf, which some 

 claim is more "destructive than the timber wolf. 



A large number of tourists have visited his district this year, coming from 

 places as far off as Texas and California ; they all report a splendid trip. This will 

 mean a fine. thing for the district in a few years if it is properly looked after. 



As his district is so large, he has found it impossible to travel over much of it. 

 With the exception of Eainy Lake, it can only be travelled by canoe, and one man 

 cannot manage alone. 



Overseer George 8. Gates, of Emo, reports that he has watched his territory 

 as closely as possible, and as far as he can tell the people living along the river on 

 the older settled part are observing the laws better every year. He has been 

 informed that some of the settlers twelve or fifteen miles north do kill game out of 

 season, but on visiting that portion of the district he has never found anything 

 killed beyond a rabbit or a woodchuck. 



There are many settlers who have no means of getting in provisions unless 

 they carry them on their backs over some very bad trails. 



Deer are becoming more numerous each year, and moose seem to be holding 

 their own in the north. The large timber wolf is not so plentiful, but quite a few 

 farmers have given up keeping sheep on account of the small brush wolf or coyote. 

 Partridges are not quite so plentiful as they were last year. Prairie fowl are 

 scarce, but ducks seem to be plentiful. Beaver are increasing fast, and many 

 new dams are being built all over the territory. Babbits have been becoming more 

 and more scarce since last winter, and there are now few to be seen. Mink, fox 

 and skunk are increasing slowly. . 



Renfrew County. 



Overseer Samuel Andrews, of Mickshurg , reports that he has kept a close 

 watch over his division, and found that the game and fishery laws have been fairly 

 well observed this year. He destroyed one net, which he found illegally set in Mud 

 Lake, during the month of April, but was unable to find the owner. 



He was not able to discover any other violations of the law, there were therefore 

 no fines imposed 



Angling has been fairly good this season, pike and suckers were very plentiful 

 early in the season. 



Ducks and partridges are scarce, also mink and muskrats. 



