273 



Application of Report. 



The subjects and recommendations of this report are intended for the con- 

 sideration not only of those members of whom the conference was originally offi- 

 cially composed, but of all who by invitation have since become officially con-- 

 nected with it as representatives of the interest of their respective States. 



(Signed) Richard V. Sherman, 



On behalf of Committee. 



On motion ot Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr Wilmott, the report was received' 

 and adopted. 



The secretary read a letter from H. H.Warner, President of the St. Lawrence- 

 Angling Association, which, on motion, was receired and ordered to be published.. 



Rochester, N.Y., Dec. 7th, 1891. 



A. D. Stewart, Esq., 



Game and Fish Commissioner, Province of Ontario, Court House, Hamil- 

 ton, Ontario. 



Dear Sir, — During the past summer and fall I have been absent in, 

 Europe, and have not had laid before me the action of the International Fish 

 Commissioners, or the Ontario Fish Commissioners, and I find it impossible to. 

 attend the meeting in Hamilton to-morrow, but I wish to express to the differ- 

 ent Commissioners mj' hearty approval of their efforts to devise ways and means 

 for protecting and stocking the waters in your jurisdiction, and I hope vou will 

 devise ways and means that will reach the aim we have in view. 



I am in favour of using every means possible for stocking the inland waters of 

 our country and Canada, at the same time, I do not think it wise to allow the 

 fish we have to be destroyed while we are using our efforts to propagate fish that 

 can be taken out at the will of the netter. Only a few years ago it was a very easy 

 matter to secure sufficient fish — white and lake ti'out — from the lakes of Ontario to 

 supply this section of the country and Canada, but it is a well-known fact that 

 to-day fishing for white and lake trout is almost abandoned from the fact that there 

 is not a sufficient quantity of fish worthy the efforts of the netters. Whitetish and 

 lake salmon are easily propagated, but there is a species of fish in lake Ontario 

 that is very difficult to propagate, and which is about the only game fish left for- 

 anglers ; and I think it the duty of every citizen of both countries to rise up in 

 arms for the purpose of defending this celebrated fish, namely, the black bass. 

 When this fish is once exterminated, or nearly so, it will be about as difficult to 

 restore it as it has been to restore many of the game birds and animals of this 

 locality, which have become practically extinct. Perhaps I go to the extreme, 

 but I am willing to say that I have very little confidence in the honour of the 

 average netter or fisher, for market. Some argue that fish permitted to be netted 

 should be governed by size or weight. I will admit in regard to the whitefish and 

 lake salmon, that this may be about the only means of controlling the catchinor 

 and netting of them, but I question very seriously if allowed to catch down ta 

 within a pound or two pounds, whether they will throw them back, but will de- 

 stroy them, or injure them in taking them from the nets. I am satisfied bv carefully- 

 18 (c.) 



