10 THE EEPOKT UPON No. 14 



they have become a perfect nuisance. Many farmers have been unable to cut their 

 beaver hay, which they relied on to a great extent to help out the feed for their 

 stock, owing to the flooding of their meadows caused by beaver dams. We have 

 dynamited a number of these, but in many cases they have 'been rebuilt in a fcAV 

 days. 



Many shooting accidents have occurred during the past year owing to the care- 

 lessness of handling firearms, especially to boys. I would strongly recommend a 

 general gun license, and this only to be issued to parties above a certain age. This 

 I am convinced would be a preventative to many accidents, would do away with the 

 illegal shooting by the foreign labouring element, and would also debar boys from 

 shooting everything they came across with their '' 22 " rifles, and would also 

 materially help in the preservation of insectivorous bird life. 



Warden William Burt, Simcoe: — 



I have the honour to submit my report for the season of 1915. 



Commercial Fish : The fishermen report that the gill net fishing has not 'been 

 good. The seines have been successful. The carp ponds continue to be successful 

 and carp are increasing in Long Point Bay; the price has been much higher than 

 in most previous years. A general report of the commercial fish in my district 

 indicates that the catch is not as good on the average as last year. 



Speckled Trout: The catch of this species of fish has been greater than in 

 former years, owing to the planting of fry supplied by the Department. 



Brown Trout: The planting of this fish in the brooks in my district has been 

 most successful. These fish appear to be fitted for the streams where the water 

 becomes too warm for brook trout. 



Bass: The fishing in Long Point Bay has been as good as in former years, 

 and the fish have been much larger. The hatchery at Mount Pleasant continues 

 to be an unqualified success, and the supply of fry was much greater than last year. 



Quail and Ruffed Grouse: Quail are almost extinct. Ruffed grouse are 

 much more plentiful than last year and show a very great increase over previous 

 years. 



Mongolian Pheasants: There are a few of these birds in Norfolk county, but 

 the experiment is on such a small scale that no great results have heen obtained. 

 The birds seem to stand the winter well. They are very plentiful in the Niagara 

 district. 



Woodcock : The number of woodcock remains about the same as last year. 



Wild Geese : Conditions regarding these birds are about the same as formerly 

 reported. There are practically none in the district. 



Wild Ducks: The Long Point district shows no sign of a decrease. Black 

 ducks,- mallard and pintail being quite numerous. The canvasback, redhead and 

 blue bills appear in about the same numbers as in former years. 



Black iSquirrels: There is a large increase in the number of squirrels, par- 

 ticularly in Norfolk county and the other counties where they are being protected. 



Fur-bearing Animals: Muskrats continue to increase. The trappers report 

 good catches last spring. Mink seem to be showing some increase. 



There have been a number of infringements of the game laws, but on the 

 whole they have heen fairly well observed. The Deputy Warders and Overseers 

 have performed their duties well. 



Warden V. Ghauvin, Windsor, — I have the honour to submit my report for 

 the season of 1915. I have visited all the fisheries in my district and the majority 

 have reported good fishing. 



