56 



We trust that our fisliermen, for their own protection, in 

 the absence of positive and necessary legislation, will avoid 

 a further destruction of fish, and employ the means in their 

 power to check the decrease everywhere apparent. 



Many convincing proofs of the certainty of the refurn o^ 

 the migratory lisht'S to the rivers in which they have passed 

 their minority, sustain the theory on which the efforts to re- 

 stock our waters is predicated. It may be well to recite an 

 instance giving unraistakAble evidence. Mr. Wilmott, 

 Fishery Officer of the Dominion of Canada, has recently 

 presented to the Smithsonian Institute, a Salmon weighing 

 about fifteen pounds, which was taken this season in a net, 

 near the mouth of AVilmott's Creek. This fish has two 

 easily recognized marks^ made evidently with a conductor's 

 punch, one in the second, or adipose dorsal fin, and the 

 other in the tail, or caudal fin. These punch holes are 

 accounted for in the following manner by Mr. Wilmott : 

 He has in this creek, (a small stream, stocked some few 

 years since by him with Salmon, artificially propagated,) a 

 trap into which the fish pass, and are taken on the ascent, 

 for the purpose of spawning. The ripe fish, when ready to 

 spawn, are taken from this trap^ and. after they are spawned 

 are returned to the water, but are previously marked. 



Mr. W. informs us that he marks them the first year that 

 they are handled, by punching a small hole in the adipose 

 dorsal ; the second time by punching a similar hole in the 

 caudal. 



The two marks above referred to in this fish, are evidences 

 that it has passed through Mr. Wilmott's hands for two 

 different seasons, and was on its return to its natural stream 

 Avhen taken in a net near the mouth. Possibly the Shad 

 would tell the same tale, if the delicate scales of this fish 

 Avould admit of its being handled and marked, and it would 

 demonstrate the separate and peculiar interest wdiich each 

 and every community has in the increase and preservation 

 of their fish. 



As very many of our fishermen have solicited copies of 

 the report of last year ibr the use of the Code of Fish Laws, 

 compiled from enactments of many years, which repeal and 

 re-enact, with amendments, laws regulating the fisheries, 

 we have apitended to this report, for the benefit and use of 

 our fishermen and those who are most interested in knowing 

 what the law is, the additional enactments, as jmssed by the 

 last Geneial Assembly. 



Respectfully submitted, 



T. B. FERGUSON, 



Commissioner of Fisheries, 



