1907 GAME AND FISHERIES. 13 



Game a^d I'ishekies Inspectors. 



Toronto, Dec. 31st, 1907. 

 E. TiNSLEY, Supt. Game and Fisheries, 



Sir, — After travelling over a large portion of tlie Province during the 

 fishing season and over a smaller portion during the closed season, I can 

 say that I have found nearly all of the overseers and officers of the Depart- 

 ment to be very attentive to and faithful in the discharge of their various 

 duties. 



The commercial fishermen are fairly well satisfied with the season's 

 catch, although in many localities not as large as in previous years, this 

 shortage in many cases being due to the late opening of navigation, caus- 

 ing them to be almost three weeks late in getting started. 



In connection with this, I wish to call your attention to the almost 

 universal belief among fishermen that wherever there has been young fish 

 from hatcheries dumped on their fishing grounds that they can see the good 

 results. This is especially true in the case of the men fishing above Point 

 Edward, in Lake Huron; they know (they do not think) that the whole 

 credit for the improved fishing is due to the Sandwich Hatchery. 



I am of the opinion that if we had a number of these hatcheries at 

 different points on the lakes that the results would be noticeable in a very 

 few years, this I believe would be the case with whitefish more than any 

 other kind. I would also call your attention to the difficulty your overseers 

 have in enforcing the close season in some parts of Lake Erie, caused largely 

 by the fact that in other parts of the same lake the close season for white- 

 fish has been abolished. 



Regarding angling permits, I do not find that there is any feeling among 

 tourists or others against them, all acknowledge that it is the correct thing 

 to do, but at the same time saying that most of this should be used in the 

 restocking and protection of the angling grounds. 



The licensing of guides is a matter worthy of your consideration. Not 

 as a matter of revenue, but of protection. If these guides were licensed, 

 the Department would have a certain amount of control over them and could 

 make it part of their duties to see that the regulations as to the number and 

 size of fish caught were adhered to, and no one can be in as good, a position 

 to do this as the guides. 



I have talked to a number of anglers about this and nearly all of them 

 agree with me in saying that this would be one of the best ways possible to 

 enforce the regulations. The only objection that I have heard to this being 

 done is the fear that it would be liable to create a monopoly, as they claim 

 that there are not too many guides at present. But I am of the opinion 

 that this would not be the case ; by making the fee merely nominal it would 

 not be a hardship on anyone and it would have a tendency to decrease the 

 hours of labor, as a guide's day would end when his party had caught their 

 legal number of fish, and this chance of shorter hours no doubt would 

 encourage more men to engage in the business. 



I might say that the above rule is in use in some localities and works 

 well. 



The Department should have a few bass ponds for the hatching of black 

 bass, there being no doubt that the young bass are much better for restock- 

 ing purposes than the parent fish. 



