86 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVAL SERVICE 



8 GEORGE V, A. 1918 



(a) The main object to be attained by instituting a closed season for fishing is 

 the protection of the beds during the breeding season. Incidentally, however, a 

 second benefit naturally accompanies the one sought, for by limiting the length of 

 the season, the extent of the fishing will likewise be diminished. Since the chief 

 commercial shells so far shipped are Quadrula plicata and ^lndulata, and since these 

 species have short periods of gravidity during the summer months, the closed season 

 restriction peculiarly applies to the Grand. But the river also supports other shells 

 of some commercial value which have long breeding seasons, and thus the protection 

 afforded would not be sufficiently wide-reaching. This will be particularly true in 

 case of artificial propagation. Besides, an interruption of fishing operations during 

 a few summer months would seriously interfere with the industry. 



(h) At present the shells are obtained in one way only, as described above. This 

 method is fortunately not the one against which complaints are generally made. 

 Although it roots up the bed it does not unnecessarily injure the mussels which are 

 too small for commercial purposes, and these should be returned to the water. 



(c) It is obvious that there is a limit to the size of a shell beneath which it is pure 

 wastefulness to retain it. The fishermen and the button manufacturers lose time in 

 handling the material and the beds are depleted at a much greater rate than they 

 would otherwise be for the same finished product. A limit for every species is, as a 

 rule, impracticable if for no other reason, at least for the fact that the determination 

 of species is sometimes difficult. After a size limit has been decided upon, considerable 

 details will have to be worked out in order to satisfactorily enforce any regulations 

 agreed upon. 



(d) One of the most immediate protective measures is that of closed areas. This 

 best meets the case of the long breeding species and gives them an opportunity to 

 restock areas, preventing for a term of years the disturbance of gravid clams some 

 of which, when disturbed, discharge the young even though not mature. It also favours 

 the building up of beds by allowing the young clams to establish themselves. The 

 system on which a river or portions of it are to be closed, and the time and duration 

 of areas closed can best be determined by studying field and biologi'^f'l conditions. 



(e) By the granting of fishing permits as at present on the Grand, no doubt the 

 numlber of shellers is there'by limited. It is a question, however, just how far the 

 interests of a private person or firm are safeguarded as well as those of the fishing 

 grounds. Although such a fishing permit was granted with a view to stimulating 

 shell prospecting it nevertheless undoubtedly discriminates against other persons or 

 firms. If fishing licenses were granted to resident fishers, thereby eliminating the 

 exploiters or such i^ersons as would not wish to follow up the industry, no doubt good 

 results would be obtained. This would also leave to fishers the opportunity to seU 

 to .such firms as paid the best prices. 



RIVER AUX SABLES, 



In the brief survey of this river for shells I confined my attention chiefly to its 

 lower stretches from which reports of abundance of shells had come in. 



The east branch of the river rises a short distance north of Jaffa, in the township 

 of Hibbert, county of Perth. The west branch has its course several miles to the west 

 of this point and the two branches unite near the northern boundary of Stephen 

 township. After a course of about 90 miles the river enters Lake Huron at a point 

 12 miles, almost due west, from the confluence of the two branches. This U-shaped 

 river is remarkable for its meandering course and for its apparently recent geological 

 history. 



Until about 25 years ago the river outlet was not as now, but at a distance 

 of 10 miles further south, near the village of Port Franks. It is an artificial channel 



