1014 GAME AND FISHEEIES. 79 



Overseer A. Bradshaw, of Lindsay, reports that the catch of bass and maskin- 

 onge in his district was not so large as that of last year. He is of the opinion that 

 the low water during the summer caused this, as the fish were in marshes and 

 weedy places where trolling could not be done. 



At the opening of the season good catches were made and the anglers were well 

 satisfied. 



Frogs do not seem to increase as fast as they should considering the protection 

 given them in Victoria County. 



Ducks are very plentiful, and the wonderful yearly increase is most satis- 

 factory. 



Muskrats were caught last spring in large quantities by local trappers, and 

 good prices were paid for their skins. 



Mink were also plentiful and the prices good. 



The prohibiting of fishing through the ice for bass and maskinonge was a wise 

 and much needed act, and will enable overseers to keep a strict and vigilant watch 

 on poaching. 



The law has been well observed in his division as far as he could find out, and 

 he is of the opinion that with one or two exceptions the people want the laws pro- 

 tecting the game and fish properly enforced. 



Overseer G. E. Burtchedll, of CohoconJc, reports that this has been a poor 

 season for fishing, there being only one or two good catches made during the 

 summer. He cannot account for the scarcity of fish, there seem to be very few 

 good sized ones, they are mostly too small to be caught legally. He states that 

 there was no spearing done. On one occasion he saw lights on the water belonging 

 to people fishing illegally, but it was too windy for him to get near them and they 

 soon had to come in themselves. 



Very few deer were killed in his district as they are very scarce. Muskrats 

 are also scarce, he thinks it would be an improvement if the trapping season ended 

 on the first of April instead of the thirtieth. There are very few mink, beaver or 

 otter, in fact he might almost say there are none, as only one or two have been 

 caught, and he himself never sees any trace of them. During the early part of the 

 summer he saw some nice flocks of duck, but later in the season no ducks or 

 partridges were to be seen.. He thinks the latter were killed off too closely last 

 year and that a two years close season would be a good thing for them. 



Overseer J. J. Irwin, of Dalrymple, reports that there have been principally 

 carp in the canal waters and in the spring an abundance of suckers. Maskinonge 

 and bass are not very plentiful in those waters. 



The Bradford Fish Co. shipped about 31 tons of carp from the lift lock. 



Angling on Mud Lake was not quite so good during the months of July and 

 August, as it was last year. Maskinonge fishing was good during September and 

 October. 



Mink and muskrat are increasing on the canal waters and Talbot Eiver, they 

 are also improving on Mud Lake. Otter are about the same as last year. Ducks 

 were plentiful at the beginning of the season, and partridges have been fairly 

 numerous. Deer are not very plentiful. 



Only one violation of the law was brought to his notice. 



