54 THE EEPORT UPON No. 14 



Overseer Thomas Mansfield, of Pickering, reports that last year was no im- 

 provement on the previous years either with regard to fish or game in fact it was 

 not quite so good as the year before. 



Less fisli was taken than formerly, but he accounts for this by pointing out 

 that the wages paid in other occupations are so much higher that the fishermen 

 have given up fishing in consequence. Now one man attempts to do the work of 

 two, but it is difficult for him to locate or keep track of the fish running in and out. 



Ducks were very fair for a little over a week, but the flight was short. 



The law has been fairly well observed in his district. 



Overseer Michael Timlin, of Atherley, reports that the fishing was very good 

 during the past year. Herring, maskinonge, bass and pickerel are the chief fish 

 caught in his district. 



Hares, squirrels and other small game are quite numerous. There is a 

 marked increase in partritlge, and ducks are also more plentiful. Mink are scarce 

 and muskrats abundant. 



Parry Sound District. 



Overseer John Dunk, of Kearney, is pleased to report that owing in a large 

 degree to the splendid winter, free from snow crust, during 1913-14, there are 

 evidences of a large increase in deer. 



Partridge have decreased. This he attributes to the bush fires during May, 

 June and a part of July. He noticed that second hatchings had taken place, &» 

 many small and young par^tridges are to be seen. 



Mink and muskrats arQ very scarce. 



Beaver still continue to increase. Almost every small creek has its colony. 

 On Lynx Lake close to his home beavers could be observed any afternoon in the 

 fall storing their winter food. 



Overseer John Duncan, of Callander, reports the usual number of farmers 

 from the south end of Himsworth came to get some fish in February and March, 

 and all whom he came across were well pleased with their catches, although he 

 did not think much of them, not having seen anyone with a larger fish than a four 

 pound pike. In April the ice became so wet that as far as he could see no fishing 

 was done. He was on the shore every day. In May there were the usual number 

 of unemployed fishing at the wharves, he did not see any pickerel caught up to the 

 80th May, after which time it was easy for anyone to catch the legal number in an 

 hour. He had no trouble with anyone exceeding the limit. 



There were quite a number of bass spawning round the shore near the wharf. 

 He watched a^good many times to see if they were likely to be frightened away, 

 and pointed them out to a num})er of acquaintances who are interested in nature 

 and they as well as himself were surprised < at the indifference of the bass to any 

 kind of bait and the way they would fight off any other fish that would come near 

 them. 



The pike taken during the season were extra large and the few bass that he saw 

 caught were large. None of the bass anglers was able to catch the full number 

 allowed any one fisherman in one day. This must have been owing to. the large 

 number of shad flies and schools of herring which were around all the season. 



On March 16th he saw a flock of wild geese going north and the call of the 

 killdeer was heard all round about that time. 



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