1916 GAME AND PISHEEIES. 17 



first ten days — November 1st to lOtli — ^becomes spoifed because of the mild weather, 

 the season having changed very much during the last few years. 



From Overseer Herbert Edwwrds, of Nairn Centre, for the Townships of 

 Merritt, Nairn, Lome, Baldwin, Foster and Goshen. 



Black bass and pickerel are plentiful in the lakes around here. 



Last hunting season there were lots of deer, 136 being shipped out of here, 

 and there seems to be lots of them this season. 



1 think the hunting season for deer should be put 15 days later, as it was 

 warm weather last year, and it is warm again this year; under such conditions 

 I am afraid meat will not keep. 



There are a few moose but not very many. 

 Partridge are very scarce. 

 Muskrats and mink are plentiful. 



Beaver are very numerous, and are increasing very fast; most of the creeks 

 around are dammed up by them. 



From Overseer Charles Fitzsimon, of Sault Ste. Marie, for the Province 

 of Ontario. 



Moose: From all accounts, moose are fairly plentiful. Quite a number have 

 been seen this summer north of the Montreal River, where they have been very 

 scarce in previous years. Further north, in the region between the Canadian 

 Northern and National Transcontinental Railways, moose are to be found in 

 considerable numbers. South of Espanola, on the Algoma Eastern Railway, 

 there are very good moose hunting grounds. Taking a radius of say fifty miles 

 from the Soo, while there are moose enough to furnish sport for all who care 

 to go after them, conditions last year, where there were two cows to every bull — 

 often — and very young bulls, there will be fewer heads this season than, last. 



'Caribou: Very few caribou. A few used to be found in the Bruce country 

 south of Michipicoten Mission, but the Indians have probably cleaned them 

 out. Some small bands cross the Algoma Central Railway between Franz and 

 Oba during the early winter, but caribou are not in numbers sufficient to provide 

 material for a hunt. North of Hearst they may be hunted with good chances 

 of success. 



Red deer: Fairly plentiful. Are finding their way further north. Quite 

 numerous in the near vicinity of the Soo. 



Bear: Have been numerous. 



Ruffed Grouse: Cold and wet season generally accounts for small broods and 

 few birds this fall. Birds were fairly plentiful last season, but very scarce and 

 very wild this season; mostly old birds. 



Spruce Partridge: Very few. This species seems to be fast disappearing. 



Duck: Some fair bags have been made in the Echo Bay waters this fall. 

 There are no large flights; a few scattered flocks drifting in to these waters to 

 rest and feed, on their long southern flight. The deep channels and bays of 

 the Grand Manitoulin Channel offer fine feeding and resting grounds for wild 

 ducks, and much larger flights and better opportunities for sport are to be found 

 there. 



Some wild rice was planted in one of the larger lakes north of the Soo last 

 summer, but I have not as yet a report on the success of the experiment. 



Hare: Quite plentiful. Very numerous around Franz and Oha. 



2 G. 



