REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. CXV 



The luosfc eftectual inoasurc of relief, and one which we strongly urge be carried out, 

 is a restriction on the extent of fishing, Avhich undoubtedly already far exceeds a 

 safe limitation. It is impossible to determine positively the maximum numljer of 

 pound nets which could be lishcd without danger of depleting the supply, as the 

 latter is an uncertain and lluctuatiug (juantity, and the matter will therefore have 

 to be settled arbitrarily; but we are convinced th;it within the small area to which 

 this kind of fishing is confined the total number of pound nets in use should not 

 exceed 150, to be divided between the two countries in proportion to the extent of 

 shore line belonging to eacii. I^ven this number we regartl as too large to insure the 

 ultimate preservation of the sturgeon, but we have been constrained not to reduce it 

 still further in view of the fact that the industry has already been firmly established 

 on so large a basis. 



Besides the limit.atiun upon the nuinl)er of pouud nets to be employed, we would 

 recommend that not over two such nets be allowed in any one string; that the 

 leaders to the same be not over 50 rods long, each ; that the inner end of any pound 

 net or pound-net string be set in not less than 10 feet of water, and that the outer 

 end of the same extend not over 1 mile from the shore; and that no pounds be 

 fished within 1 mile of the mouth of any stream which the sturgeon are known to 

 enter. The object of such provisions is to insure as much freedom of movement for 

 the sturgeon as possible, both during and subsequent to the spawning run. 



We also consider it advisable that no gill-net or trawl-line fishing be permitted in 

 the pound-net region, oi* south of a line extending due east from American Point at 

 the mouth of Northwest Angle Inlet to the Peninsula, exceiJt the use of gill nets by 

 the Indians for supplying their own needs. 



While a close time covering the spawning season of the sturgeon could not fail to 

 be beneficial, in order to be efi'ective it would require to begin at such a date and 

 to be continued for so long a time as practically to interfere with the entire sjiring 

 and early summer fishery, the most profitable of the year. A close season is, however, 

 suggested for the wall-eyed pike and whitefish, by restricting the pound-net season 

 to the period beginning May 15 and terminating October 31, which is essentially in 

 accordiince with the present custom. 



Protection should be afi'orded the young sturgeon by requiring the return to the 

 water alive, of all individuals taken in the nets which measure less than 4 feet long. 

 At present they are retained when as small as about 3^ feet, the ordinary maximum size 

 being 54 to G feet. No caviare is said to be obtained from sturgeon under 4 feet long, 

 and none of those containing caviare landed during our visit were less than 4^ feet. 



The capture of small whitefish, wall-eyed ])ike, lake trout, etc., should be restricted 

 by regulating the size of mesh, which should measure not less than 4i inches in 

 pouud nets and 5 inches in gill nets. 



A"o fish offal, garbage, sawmill waste, or other pollutiug agencies should be thrown 

 or allowed to pass into the waters of the lake. 



Fishing for sturgeon in Rainy River, except for domestic use, should be pro- 

 hibited. Further inquiries require to be made in Rainy Lake and the more eastern 

 waters of the system before deciding ujion the measures necessary to protect their 

 fishery resources. 



W ATEKS CONTIGUOUS TO THE BOUNDARY LINE BETWEEN BRITISH COLUMBIA AND 

 THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. 



(1) The following recommendations are intended to apply only to those waters 

 adjacent to the Itoundary line between British Columbia and the State of Washing- 

 ton which are traversed by the main body of the sockeye salmon, and to which our 

 inciniries were chielly restricted. This area may be roughly defined as comiirising 

 the Strait of .luau de Fuca and thoSe parts of the Gulf of Georgia and Puget Sound 

 (Washington Sound) lying between tlio ])iiiallels of 48^- 10' and 49^ 20' noith latitude, 

 together with their adjacent bays and tributary streams. We consider, however, 

 that it would be advantageous to extend the scope of any joint regulations which 



