1916 GAME AND FISHERIES. 9 



Fur-Bearing Animals: On account of lack of demand and low prices offered 

 for furs since the war commenced, very little trapping has been done, consequently 

 there is a great increase in all fur-bearing animals, especially beaver, which are 

 becoming so numerous that they are causing considerable trouble, in many places 

 flooding cultivated lands. I would recommend an open season. 



Wolves, especially the species known as the brush wolf, are on the increase, 

 and very destructive on young deer, as well as on small game. I would strongly 

 recommend that the present bounty of $15.00 on timber wolves be abolished, and 

 instead a bounty be paid on all properly cured pelts of wolves as follows : Grown 

 wolf, $10.00; cub wolf, $3.00. This on the surrender of the pelt to the Department. 



Game: Moose and deer are plentiful. Caribou are on the decrease along the 

 railway lines. 



Ducks are scarce. 



Partridge are on the decrease at an alarming rate. I would recommend a close 

 season for at least three years, and for further protection, would recommend a 

 general gun license, according to season. This would greatly assist the officers 

 of the Department in the protection of game. 



Violations: The area of Thunder Bay and Rainy River Districts are so great 

 that I was unable to cover all the territory. I, however, visited the most important 

 parts possible, and regret to report that I found the Game and Fishery Laws abused 

 in many places. Personally I secured thirty convictions, seized three gasoline 

 boats, one rowboat, eleven gill nets, one seine net and six hook lines of about 2,500 

 hooks. Of the eleven gill nets seized, nine were of illegal size mesh, and were 

 destroyed. 



Warden J. H. Willmott, Beaumaris: I beg to submit my annual report in 

 respect to the game and fish in that portion of the Province under my charge. 



The angling at the commencement of the season was not so good as usual 

 owing to weather conditions, but improved as the season advanced, and towards 

 the end was in every way equal to any previous year. 



There is no doubt that netting is carried on in a small degree in many of our 

 inland lakes, principally by settles for their own use, and as nets are only liable 

 to confiscation when in actual use or on evidence of illegal use, it is a difficult 

 matter to apprehend the culprits. I would therefore recommend that anyone own- 

 ing a net should be charged a nominal fee for the possession of such net; that they 

 be allowed the privilege of netting herring during the month of November, and 

 at the close of this month to leave the nets in charge of overseers until the com- 

 mencement of the following November, and that anyone found in possession of nets 

 in the intervening time should be held liable to prosecution. Many of our inland 

 lakes teem with herring, which would be a great help to many poor settlers' families 

 if they could be caught, but netting is the only means of procuring them. 



Deer, I am glad to say, are reported as holding their own as regards number, 

 in fact they are increasing in many sections where they had l)een killed off, and 

 where the remaining few have not been molested and have had a chance to increase. 

 Too much care cannot be exercised in the disposal of licenses. I have heard it 

 reported that in some cases members of hunting clubs have had the disposal of 

 licenses and have only sold to members of their own party who have been successful 

 in procuring their deer, the unsuccessful ones getting off free. 



Beaver have been the source of more trouble than anything else in the game 

 or far line. These animals have increased to such an extent that in many places 



