56 THE EEPOET UPON No. 14 



Overseer H. W. Reid, of- Parry Sound, reports that the fishermen in his 

 division inform him the last season was a very fair one. The sprilig and summer 

 fishing was very good but it| was light in the fall; owing to the mild weather in 

 •October the fish did not come on the shoals until very late and then it was too 

 stormy to do any fishing. . One man informed him that his nets were down thirteen 

 days before he could take them up. 



There were not so many tourists as usual; owing, no doubt, to the war the 

 number of Americans that visited the district was less than ordinary. Angling 

 was very good and there were very few complaints. 



Partridge shooting has not been very good, although it was reported at the 

 beginning of the season that there were plenty of birds. 



The deer season was an average one. There were a large number of hunters 

 in the woods, and there were very few who did not get their deer, though a large 

 number were small does. 



Buck shooting was very poor so far, the birds have not been coming south on 

 account of the mild weather. 



Mink and muskrats are reported to be plentiful. 



Overseer Murdoch ^Vatts, of Byng Inlet, reports that the catch of whitefish 

 and salmon trout was much larger than in previous years. Pickerel fishing in the 

 Magnetawan Eiver was very good, though not so good as two years ago. Bass 

 fishing was very poor and very few were caught by the sportsmen; although there 

 seemed to be plenty of them in the water they did not bite so well as usual. 

 Maskinonge were very scarce and only one was caught in the Magnetawan Eiver. 

 This solitary one, however, weighed thirty-four pounds. There were not so many 

 tourists in his district last season, owing no doubt ito the outbreak of the war. 



Moose were very scarce last year but red deer seem to be holding their own 

 and he has received no complaints from the hunters regarding them. 



Beaver and otter are very scarce, also mink and muskrat. He recommends that 

 there be a close season for these animals for three years. He is glad to know that 

 fur dealers and buyers are licensed but he thinks the fee is too small and should 

 be raised to $10. He also recommends a trappers' license, the fee to be $2. 



Partridge are very scarce, and if there is no close season for them in the near 

 future, they will be a thing of the past in his district. He would recommjend a 

 •close season of three years. 



Duck were not so plentiful as in former years no doubt owing to the fine 

 weather during the fall and the ducks not having come down from the north very 

 •early. 



Peel Oounty. 



Overseer John Bemrose, of Claude, reports that speckled trout fishing was not 

 so good as usual on account of the lack of water in the streams. He does not 

 remember having seen them so low for years. Bass fishing was poor for the same 

 reason, some of the lakes were three feet lower than usual. 



The game birds in his district consist mainly of partridge, which are very 

 plentiful, having increased wonderfully since the open season was shortened. 

 Squirrels and rabbits are also becoming more plentiful since their open season was 

 reduced. 



Muskrats and mink seem very scarce, there having been a great run on them 

 (luring the last few years. He thinks it would be a good thing to give them a close 

 season for two or three years. 



