76 THE EEPOET UPON No. 14 



Overseer Harry Mayor, of Painswick, reports that trout, whitefish and herring 

 are as numerous as they were last year, the two last named being particularly 

 plentiful. 



Anglers report that the bass fishing was worse than last season, which was 

 extremely bad, and he thinks something should be done to stop this rapid decrease 

 of these fish. The only thing would be to re-stock Lake Simcoe and prohibit the 

 catching of black bass for three years. 



There are quantities of the coarser varieties of fish, as they are not much 

 sought after. This seems to prove that too many black bass have been taken, owing 

 to the fact that Lake Simcoe is fast becoming a summer resort for tourists from all 

 parts of America, who devote so much of their time to angling; the problem of 

 preserving the best fish in this lake will be a difficult one to solve. 



With regard to game, partridges have increased in a most encouraging manner, 

 and they are now quite up to the standard of former years. Duck and other water 

 fowl are quite plentiful. 



Squirrels and hares are to be found at any time, and he is pleased to say that 



the black squirrels are being well protected by the residents of the neighbourhood. 



' Considering the limited natural wood protection they have it is astonishing 



the way the fur bearing animals, such as raccoon, fox, mink, skunk and muskrat are 



holding their own. 



He is pleased to say that when performing his duties he has always received 

 most courteous treatment from both residents and tourists, and any assistance or 

 information required has been given willingly. 



Overseer William McGinn, of Orillia, reports that bass fishing iii Lake Couchi- 

 ching has been very poor, especially during the early part of the summer, but dur- 

 ing the latter part of September and October it was better and the sample was 

 larger. 



The smaller kinds of fish, such as rock bass, perch and sunfish are very plen- 

 tiful. Maskin.onge fishing has been very good. He knows one man who caught 

 twenty-three this season. He caught five in one week, averaging eighteen pounds 

 each. 



Trout fishing in Lake Simcoe during the spring and fall was exceptionally 

 good. They are becoming more plentiful every year. Great credit is due to the 

 crew on Patrol Boat " Naiad," who keep the nets out of the water at the head of 

 the lake. 



Bass fishing in Lake Simcoe has been poor this season in the north end of the 

 lake. 



There are a few ducks about, but not many as there is no feed for them. Par- 

 tridges are plentiful. 



Game is becoming more scarce in this district every year: 



He has had very little trouble with the poachers, either with the fish or game. 

 There were a few reports of shooting out of season, but it is almost impossible to 

 catch a poacher in the bush, as the farmers and settlers refuse to give any informa- 

 tion other than that they hear reports. 



The bush fires in this district have done much damage to rabbits and part- 

 ridges. The farmers say that they have seen -partridges with their wings so badly 

 burned that they could not fly, and rabbits with their fur burned off their bodies 

 and blinded by the smoke. One settler reports having seen two deer burned to 

 death in Matchedash. 



