90 THE SMALL-MOUTHED BASS 



ing ponds, all ready for use, in hundreds along the shore. 

 Any of the fishermen who live throughout the year on Geor- 

 gian Bay would be glad to earn a few dollars in stocking 

 these ponds and inlets with bass, which could then be allowed 

 to breed naturally (and their young to escape into the open 

 bay). By this method, re-stocking could be carried on 

 indefinitely and at small expense. 



But the whole problem is not easy of solution. Where 

 there are two parties: on the one hand, fishermen, 

 who have grown up from youth with an oar in one 

 hand and a net in the other, whose whole life has 

 been one of independence of the laws which govern mere 

 landsmen, who regard themselves as having in some 

 way a divine right to extract fish from the water by any 

 means within their power, and finally, to whom a fish diet 

 is as necessary as a meat diet to the ordinary dweller in 

 cities; and on the other hand, politicians, whose daily life 

 is consumed in an attempt to catch votes by fair means or 

 foul, who trim their sails to every passing breeze, and who, 

 leading a life of continual excitement and worry, choose any 

 port in a storm, there is not much consideration likely to 

 be given, except in the form of occasional bait, to the poor, 

 miserable angler. And, until someone in power, with 

 brains enough to realize its value and independence enough 

 to carry out a plan of improvement, makes a study of con- 

 ditions and forces the proper authorities to act, there will 

 be no redemption of Georgian Bay. 



