1915 GAME AND FISHEEIES. - 37 



FUR-BEAEING AnIMALS. 



Beaver : ' Have become very numerous. The wise legislation in giving them 

 a close season for years has allowed them to increase rapidly, and observation shows 

 that nearly every creek in the district contains beaver. A dozen dams may be 

 seen in an hour's walk and in many places damage has been caused to the roads. 

 It would appear to be quite safe and even desirable to make an open season once 

 more for beaver. 



Otter: Are very scarce and its protection should be extended indefinitely. 



Muskrats : Do not seem to be holding their own in the district. 



Mink: Are few and scattered. 



Wolves : While of late years great numbers have been taken by poison and 

 possibly as many more have "been killejd in this way and the bodies not found, 

 it is a fact that these animals remain numerous in the district, and are a menace 

 to the woodsmen as well as vicious destroyers of large and small game at all times. 

 One wolf will account for about a dozen deer in a season. The value of one deer 

 to the Province is at least fifty dollars. Every wolf accounted for means the 

 preservation of many deer to the Province, a sure means of revenue. A bounty 

 of fifty dollars would make it worth while for trappers and woodsmen to hunt 

 them and would assure their quick extermination. As it is, the steps to be taken 

 by a wolf hunter in order to secure the bounty, are so many and tedious that fre- 

 quently his expenses offset the amount of the bounty and as a consequence he makes 

 no special effort towards the destruction of "the pirate of the pines." 



General. 



Owing to the large number of foreigners employed on railway construction 

 in the district during the last few years, there have been considerable infractions 

 of the game laws, though there have been few convictions, it being very difficult 

 to secure evidence sufficiently conclusive to place the culprits ^Vhere they belong." 



It was endeavoured, however, by taking away all weapons in possession of 

 foreigners, to render them incapable of doing damage. The construction having 

 been completed this cause has been removed. 



The laws have been observed fairly well, but some people are so constituted 

 that while they would not think of contravening the criminal code, they will with- 

 • out compunction break the game laws. 



Overseer V. J. Jewell, of Batchawana, reports that the fishing was better last 

 year than in 1913. 



Furnbearing animals show little change., 



Deer and moose are scarce. 



Beaver are very plentiful and in some places are doing a lot of damage. 



Wolves are very plentiful and something should be done to exterminate them. 

 Possibly this might be done by raising the bounty to $25. 



Overseer P. W. Kent, of Kentvale, reports that there are less fish than last 

 year in the small streams. Trout fishing is nearly a thing of the past. This he 

 thinks is due to the fact that there are a great number of cranes nesting near the 

 streams and they catch the fish. In the lake the fishermen say that the fishing is 

 about the same as last year, but near the International line they are caught in trap 

 nets before they have time to grow. He has been able to find two trap nets and is 

 learning where he is most needed. 



