THE REPORT UPON No. 14 



Beaumaris, 31 Oct., 1916. 

 To Acting Deputy Minister, Game and Fisheries, Toronto. 



SiE, — I beg to submit my animal report as to the game and fish in that portion 

 of the Province over which I have the supervision. During the past season fisher- 

 men have met with varied success. Since the very hot weather in July anglers 

 have secured very fine catches of bass. These fish seem to be holding their own in 

 the Muskoka waters, and with the liberal restocking which has been carried on with 

 fry from the hatcheries we may look forward to a vast increase in years to come. 

 About six million of pickerel fry have been placed in the Muskoka Lakes by the 

 parties who operate the Port Carling hatchery. These parties are worthy of the 

 highest praise for the trouble they took and the expense they are put to for the 

 public good. 



The change in the close season for lake trout and whitefish is going to have 

 most beneficial effects with regard tb the increase in these classes of fish. 



During the hunting season of 1915 sportsmen seemed to have had satisfactory 

 results. There is no doubt but that the cutting down the number of deer to one 

 for each man has resulted in the keeping up of the stock, which does not seem to 

 have appreciably failed within the past few years. Moose are not so plentiful, and 

 I' think the Department will soon see the advisability of protecting tHese noble 

 animals for a term of years. Had it not been for the illegal killing of these animals 

 there would have been an unlimited supply. 



Partridges are scarce and the two years protection enacted will no doubt bring 

 about anticipated results. 



Beaver, I am most pleased to see, are coming in this fall. We have had more 

 trouble over these animals during the past year than all other game combined. 

 There have been innumerable complaints from settlers who have had their meadows 

 flooded, municipalities and private parties whose roads or other property has been 

 damaged by the work of these animals. In all cases where complaints have reached 

 us we have successfully combatted the evil, either by trapping out the beaver or 

 dynamiting their dams. In resorting to the latter resource, permanent success has 

 not always resulted, as we have found the dams reconstructed in a few days in 

 several instances. Wolves are reported very numerous in several Muskoka muni- 

 cipalities. I have only heard of one of these marauders having been killed. 



Regarding " insectivorous " birds, I noted a marked increai^e during the last 

 spring in several varieties, especially robins. I have no doubt that the legislation 

 enacted in several of the United States, coupled with our Ontario Act, will help 

 in time to replace the depletion of these feathered songsters. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



I am. Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



John H. Willmott, 



Warden. 



