1915 GAME AND FISHEIUES. 59 



are covered with fisliiiig crafts during the season, there being a great many tourists 

 and cottagers from all parts of Canada and the United States. 



He is of the opinion that a great many tourists are not keeping tlie law either 

 with regard to the legal number of fish taken or the size of the same, and they 

 will have to be closely watched. His district contains 26 lakes and nearly a hun- 

 dred miles of rivers and creeks. It would be impossible for him to watch every 

 individual who hunts or fishes, so he prosecutes whenever possible and keeps as 

 close a watch as possible. 



Hunters have had fair success with red deer, there being as many, if not 

 more than last year. The nuinber of hunting licenses sold was double those taken 

 out last year. There have been absolutely no complaints from anyone that the 

 law has been broken -during the deer hunting season. 



From the information he can gather from the trappers and from personal 

 oibservation, the small fur-bearing animals are becoming less plentiful owing to 

 the amount of trapping done by the residents; almost everyone does a little trapping 

 and they seem to be observing the law well. 



There are scarcely any game birds with the exception of partridges, which 

 seem to be increasing slightly. Ducks are a little more plentiful. 



Overseer F. J. Moore*of Lakefield, reports that during the past year the Game 

 and Fisheries Act was fairly well observed in his district, with the exception of 

 a few cases of parties hunting and killing deer without a license, which cases he 

 reported to Inspector Hunter, who disposed of them. 



He lifted a quantity of traps which were set in muskrats' houses, and also 

 seized about two hundred yards of net set for maskinonge. Beyond these cases he 

 had very little trouble with the enforcement of the laws. 



The past year was an exceptionally good one for the spawning of bass and 

 maskinonge, as the waters in the lakes were so low last winter that in the spring 

 it had to be' kept up for navigation purposes, which gave the spawn a chance to 

 mature and- get into deeper water before it was lowered. 



Tourists had a fairly good season fishing with rod and spoon, more par- 

 ticularly for bass. Maskinonge were not so plentiful. He would recommend that 

 Stoney Lake be restocked with bass, as it is of great importance that the supply 

 of fish be kept up in these waters, Stoney Lake being a great summer resort for 

 tourists from all parts of the United States, as well as Canada. He is of the 

 opinion that the anglers Avould be willing to pay more for their permits if the 

 fishing were kept up, as they seem well pleased with these waters. 



He would suggest that the close season for maskinonge be from the first day 

 of April until the sixteenth day of June. 



Deer were quite plentiful in this district last season. Partridge are nlso in- 

 creasing siTice the «a]e of same has been prohibited. Ducks are not so plentiful. 



The trappers had a good season catching muskrats, but mink are scarce. 

 Beaver are increasing very fast, and are now following the streams towards the 

 settlements. -He would suggest that the Department assist a little more in pro- 

 tecting these valuable animals. He would also suggest that the carrying of fire 

 arms be prohibited during the close seasons, as there are so many tourists, and 

 these is no necessity for them to carry guns. 



Overseer John Watt, of Petcrhoroufjh. reports that bass fishing was very good, 

 and although there was every indication of there being a great many maskinonge 



