1916 GAME AND FISHERIES. 63 



Plover, snipe, woodcock and other shore birds and water fowl show a decrease 

 compared to other years owing to the shores being occupied by summer cottages. 



Partridge show a decided increase on account of favorable weather for young 

 birds in this locality. 



Pishing in this vicinity has been good. Whitefish during the winter were 

 plentiful and the fishermen who bob for this species of fish report good catches. 



Spearing for salmon trout during February and March showed a good average. 



Spring trolling for salmon trout was good and some good catches were made 

 at the " Deep Hole " and other places. Speckled trout or brook trout were 

 above the average in the creeks and rivers in this locality. 



Fly fishing for herring during June was the sport of the season as the natural 

 fly could be caught and used for this species of fish. 



Black bass were as plentiful as in past years and some good catches were 

 reported. 



Maskinonge in Lake Couchiching and Big Mud Lake were plentiful and the 

 anglers enjoyed some fine sport. 



Pickerel at Washago during the spring were numerous. Salmon trout during 

 October were so plentiful that trollers enjoyed a profitable sport. 



Eock bass, perch, sunfish, suckers, catfish and German carp were in abundance. 



Fur-bearing animals such as mink, muskrats, etc., in this vicinity are as 

 plentiful as in other years. 



Hares are quite numerous in our vicinity and the local hunter always comes 

 home with his hunting bag well filled. 



I think night line license in Lake Simcoe should be dealt with very carefully 

 as it gives the holder of the license an open chance to handle a net if he so wishes, 

 and it does not give an overseer a chance if he sees him out on the Lake for he will 

 always say he was looking at his night line. You would simply have to catch him 

 red handed. 



From Overseer 0. G. Qreen, of Bradford, for the Holland River, on the north 

 side in Township West Gwillimbury, westward to the forks of the River. 



The fishing this year was very good, particularly with the bass and maskinonge, 

 perhaps the best in years. 



Game as usual is very scarce, duck I would say not more than 300 being on 

 the marsh.. 



Snipe very few owing to the high water which has driven them either away 

 or to the high ground. 



Partridge are reported about as usual, but very few are ever killed here. 



Rabbits on account of the high water will be scarce. 



From Overseer J. H. Laughlin, of New Lowell, for the Townships of Not- 

 tawasaga, Sunnidale and Flos. 



I find the game increasing. 



Deer are quite plentiful also partridge. I would recommend having the open 

 season for partridge and rabbits cover the same period. Rabbits are not so plenti- 

 ful as formerly. 



The fish are getting scarce in this district. There are several good trout 

 streams but they are fished out. 



I have had several applications for trappers' licenses, and would recommend 

 that all trappers be required to take out a license. Good trappers would approve 

 of it and it would facilitate the work of the officers of the Department in protecting 

 fur-bearing animals. 



