254 



2 o'clock p. m. 



Meeting called to order by the Chairman. 



Mr. Amsden moved that the invitation of the Buffalo, Rochester and Pitts- 

 burgh Railroad to visit the Caledonia Hatchery be accepted, and that the com- 

 mittee leave at nine o'clock Wednesday morning, make a visit of two hours at 

 the Caledonia Hatchery, and return in time to assemble here at one o'clock. 

 Carried. 



Chairman : There are four representatives here from the St. Lawrence 

 Ano-lers' Association from whom the committee would be glad to hear. 



Mr. Skinner : There is one of our committee here, Mr. Howard Folger, of 

 Kingston, who is deeply interested in this question, and as his business calls him 

 away this evening, we would be pleased to have him make a few remarks, 



Mr. Folger : Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen — My fatljer expected to come 

 here until the last minute, and then asked me to take his place. Of course I have 

 examined the matter under discussion very closely, and am interested in it very 

 deeply. We are situated at the head of the Thousand Islands, and greatly inter- 

 ested in the subject, and we know the popularity of the Islands depends upon 

 the fishing ; that is a point of great importance, and as the rivers of that point 

 merge into each other, the American and Canadian waters, there is no place where 

 it is of more importance to have the laws assimilate and have them bound to each 

 other. My father wished me to state that he regretted not to be present, and he 

 would be glad to concur with the committee in some action which would protect 

 the fishino- interests. I did not come with the idea of mvino- but rather of re- 

 ceiving information. 



Chairman : You are a member of the Anglers' Association ? 



A, Yes, si I'. 



Q. You concur, I suppose, in their views of nets on the river ? 



A. Yes, sir ; I think the great point there is the fishing, 



Q. You live in the Canadian jurisdiction ? 



A. My home is on the Canada side, but I am on the American side during 

 the summer, in connection with the Thousand Islands Steamship Company. 



Q. Are you familiar with the feeling on that side ? 



A. Well, I haven't talked very much with the fishermen, but the feeling 

 comes more from the other side against the Canadians, I think. You see they 

 are allowed to net in the Canadian waters, and the government allows them 

 to net. 



Q. What do you think of that system ? 



A. I think it is very deleterious to the river interests and to the game fish in 

 general ; it destroys fishing, 



Q. Would the people on that side sustain a law abolishing all netting ? 



A. I think they would on the river from the head of the river down. And in 

 the Bay of Quinte, which is one of the greatest fishing grounds for sporting fish 

 such as muskallonge and bass, I think you would receive a hearty co-operation 

 for abolishing nets all along the river. 



Mr. Skinner : Mr. Chairman, Gentlemen— I could say a good deal on this 

 question that is of value and importance, but my desire is to condense my re- 



