1908 GAME AND FISHERIES. 



ment would liave liked. Those lakes, however, which were re-stocked were 

 done so most successfully, and the results will doubtless in a few years' time 

 be a source of much gratification to those tourists who make their summer 

 home in the vicinity of these lakes. One inland lake which lies in close 

 proximity to an important inland city was stocked with fingerlings, and 

 should in the near future afford to the inhabitants of that city good fishing. 

 I am glad that you have given your consent to the establishing of a breed- 

 ing pond for bass at Brantford, which place is excellently situated for hand- 

 ling them on account of the facilities offered by the different railways, and 

 it is the intention of the Department to use every means in its power to make 

 this venture a success, which in my opinion is the best means of carrying 

 on the important work of re-stocking. Should this prove successful, many 

 thousands of fingerlings will be available for re-stocking next autumn, and 

 this would encourage the Department to use other ponds for this purpose. 

 The experience of some of the adjoining States with bass ponds has been 

 exceedingly successful. Sometimes the first year's experience was not very 

 encouraging, but after that, apparently there was no trouble, and from a 

 small beginning they have now in many instances very extensive hatcheries. 



Angling Permits. 



Tourists who visited us this past summer expressed themselves as being 

 much pleased with the fishing, which must have been good, if the reports 

 of our ofiicers can be relied upon. The sale of angling permits was in excess 

 of last year to a considerable extent, in spite of the falling off of the revenue 

 from Nepigon. The only regret the Department has is that the family per- 

 mits that were issued, in many instances were abused. Many officers were 

 satisfied in their own minds that in some instances they were transferred 

 several times, but the officers were unable to procure sufficient proof to lay 

 an information; and from the numerous requests received from them that 

 they should be abolished, I felt it my duty to ask for your consent to have 

 this class of permit discontinued, and accordingly an Order-in-Council was 

 passed abolishing them. The revenue from these permits should increase 

 year to year, as the tourist traffic is bound to increase owing to the many 

 excellent summer resorts the Province can offer to all sorts and conditions 

 of men. 



Patrol Service. 



I am glad to say that last year's patrol service was most satisfactory, 

 as far as it went. I venture to say that never in the history of the Province 

 have the fisheries received that protection they did last year. The "Edna 

 Ivan" was chartered and put in commission about the first of May, and kept 

 in commission until the end of November. She patrolled the waters of Lakes 

 Superior, Huron, St. Clair and Erie, as well as the Georgian Bay and North 

 Channel of Lake Huron, and the result was most satisfactory. Many a dis- 

 pute was by this means settled that otherwise would have been impossible, 

 and arrangements of a similar nature for next year would be what the 

 Department would like. Several excellent launches were supplied to different 

 officers, particularly on the Georgian Bay, enabling them to better discharge 

 their duties. The yacht "Vega," which was procured for the officer in 

 charge of the North Channel and part of the Georgian Bay, was a happy 

 find, and is not only a credit to the Department, but should render excellent 

 service in the protection of those important fisheries, where such open viola- 

 tions have been carried on in the past. 



