CVI REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



That ii nniforni sysfcem of regulations common to the entire extent of each body of 

 water along the lioundary lino is required to insure the protection of its resources, 

 is fully shown hy the conditions which we have found to exist in nearly all of them, 

 whether hordercd on the side of the United States hy a single State or hy several 

 States. The failure to secure adequate results in tliat direction has naturally hoen 

 due to the diversity of legislation, hut it has resulted in large part from the general 

 lack of accurate inibrination regarding the habits of the several fishes to servo as a 

 basis for intelligent action. While we have been able to establish some important 

 facts respecting the natural history of the commoner market species, much more 

 remains to be accomplished in that regard, and the subject should be giAcn duo 

 prominence in the future. 



All questions, outside of navigation, with which we have had to deal have been 

 considered solely from the standpoint of the preservation of the several fisheries, 

 and we have endeavored in each instance to provide for the most liberal amount of 

 fishing which, in our judgment, is warranted by the circumstances. In so doing we 

 have been led to suggest greater license in some regions than is granted by existing 

 laws, but wherever a State on the one side or the Dominion Government on the other 

 would impose greater strictures than are here recommended we see no objection 

 thereto. 



We are convinced that no system of regulations can bo properly administered 

 except by the registration or licensing of the fishermen, as a basis for restricting 

 the character and amount of apparatus employed in each locality, while, on the other 

 hand, we feel confident that the fishermen themselves would be greatly l)enofitod by 

 such a measure, through the protection of individual rights thereby assured them. 



Much of the irritation occasioned from time to time, especially in the region of 

 the Great Lakes, through the fishermen of one country extending their operations 

 into the territory of the other, has undoubtedly resulted from the imperfect knowl- 

 edge which prevails respecting the relations of the intervening water areas. In 

 fact, the belief is widespread that wherever the lakes exceed 6 miles in width each 

 country has jurisdiction only to a distance of 3 milos from its shores, leaving a 

 neutral area or high sea between, to which the fishermen from both sides are privi- 

 leged to resort iu common. 



On the official maps of the Great Lakes the boundary lino is not shown, nor can 

 its position be accurately marked in most places until new surveys shall be nuido 

 conjointly l)y the two Governments. It would be greatl}'^ to the advantage of the 

 fishing interests in that region, and much annoyance would bo proventod in the 

 future by having the boundai-y line redefined and appropriately located on a series 

 of charts made available for distribution among the fishermen. 



ST. JOHN RIVER SYSTEM. 



In order to restore and protect the fishery resources of international interest iu 

 the St. John River system, the following measures seem to be demanded: 



(1) That all dams throughout the system be provided with suitable fishways, 

 except those used exclusively for log driving and containing gates, and that the latter 

 shall be kept open at all times when the driving of logs is not? actually in progress, 

 and just previous thereto for the collecting of water. 



(2) That the construction of all now dams bo subject to governmental authority 

 and conform to such recjuiremonts in each case as the circumstances may warrant. 



(3) That the practice of throwing sawmill waste of any kind into the water be 

 everywhere prohibited ; and that all existing accumulations of such waste in streams 

 where it may be detrimental to the movements or spawning requirements of useful 

 fishes be removed. As the sawmills situated in the city of St. John have been 

 able for many years to dispose of their rubbish without recourse to the adjacent 

 river, it is not considered that this provision would work undue hardship iu other 

 places. 



