REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. CIX 



(5) That the capturo of bla<k bass be entirely prohibited from November 1 of each 

 year to June 15 I'ollowing; that angling methods only be allowed for this 8])ecies 

 and the catch by each angler be limited to 15 lish daily ; and that all bass taken in 

 nets, and all bass measuring less than 10 inches long taken by anglers be immedi- 

 ately returned alive to the water. 



(6) That the capture of wall-eyed pike by any moans be prohibited from April 1 

 to May 31, inclusive, of each year. 



(7) That joint regulations be also adopted with respect to any game or other fishes 

 jiot specifically mentioned which may require protection. 



RIVER ST. LAWRENCE BETWEEN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE 

 PROVINCE OF ONTARIO. 



As an arrangement approved of by the sporting community has already been 

 entered into for the greater part of the waters under discussion between Canada 

 and the State of New York and the necessary legislation provided for, we consider 

 it unnecessary to suggest any other regulations than those already agreed to. We are, 

 however, of the opinion that a small amount of commercial fishing, made with fyke 

 nets, fished during the winter months in creeks or marshy places for such species 

 as bullheads, perch, suckers, sunfish, etc., could do no harm. If such nets were 

 allowed they should not be set before Noveml>er 1, and they should be removed from 

 the water by March 31. Fished during such a season, in suitable localities, there 

 could be no risk of their taking bass, wall-eyed pike, or maskinoug^. A set-line 

 fishery might also be allowed for such fish as sturgeon, eels, ling, and channel cat, 

 as the removal of some of these fishes would certainly be of benefit to sporting 

 interests. 



Under the arrangement made Ijetween Canada and the State of Ne^v York it was 

 enacted : 



(1) That no commercial fishing be permitted in the waters of the St. Lawrence 

 between a line drawn from Cape Vincent, in the State of New York, to the city of 

 Kingston, in the Province of Ontario, and a second line from the town of Prescott, 

 in Ontario, to the city of Ogdensburg, in New York. 



(2) That within the waters above included the close season for bass, maskinong^, 

 wall-eyed pike, and grass pike be from the 1st day of .January to the 9th day of 

 Juuc, inclusive, in each year. 



(3) That the limit of the number of bass to be taken by each rod per diem be fixed 

 at twelve, and that the number of rods to each boat be limited to two. 



(Ij That all undersized and immature fish be returned alive to the water, and that 

 no bass under 10 inches in length be taken. 



While we do not consider that the close season as enacted above by any means 

 fully covers the spawning season of the bass, which in the region of the Thousand 

 Tslands extends from the 15th of May to the 1st of July, at least, yet when taken in 

 conjunction with a size limit, a limit to the number taken by each rod per diem, and 

 a further limit of the number of rods per boat, it may be allowed that the protection 

 is ample for the present. 



We would recommend a continuance of the above arrangement and would further 

 suggest that it be extended so as to include the rest of the St. Lawrence from the 

 lower limit above mentioned, between the cities of Ogdensburg and Prescott, to 

 the iioint where the river ceases to be the boundary between the two countries, at 

 the crossing of the line of 45"^ north latitude. 



LAKE ONTARIO. 



In view of the extent to which the supply of both whitefish and lake trout has 

 become exhausted in Lake Ontario, any regulations looking to the protection and 

 increase of those species, in order to be effective, should be decidedly stringent. 



