1908 GAME AND FISHERIES. 33 



shape. The fishermen in his district fish no herring nets less than 2^ inch 

 extension measure, with the exception of one man, and he has orders to 

 destroy it before his application can be received for a license for 1909. The 

 herring caught were of a good size, and he heard of no complaints of small 

 and useless herring caught at any time during, the season by the fishermen, 

 while complaints were continually heard of the Bronte, Grimsby, Jordan, 

 Port Dalhousie and Niagara fishermen, who are reported to use exclusively 

 a 2| inch mesh, glutting the markets with small herring, to the injury of his 

 fair fishing licensees. 



He would recommend that the size of the herring gill nets in the waters' 

 of Lake Ontario be confined to the two sizes — 2| and 2|, all nets under 2^ 

 to be destroyed before next fishing season, and the 2| inch mesh be allowed 

 one year to be fished out, and then 2f can become the lawful size under 

 Order-in-Council, or otherwise the blue back herring of Lake Ontario may 

 be classed with the ciscoes, which are almost extinct. He would strongly 

 recommend that no herring fishing be permitted during the months of June, 

 July, and August. This will stop the catching of small and immature white- 

 fi-h. which congregate on the herring grounds at this particular season, and 

 daring these months. 



The spearing in Burlington Bay during the winter was a part failure, 

 owing to the continued dirty water and bad ice. 



The usual good trolling for pike in the bay was enjoyed by the fishing 

 public. Angling for black bass was good, and one sportsman made some 

 good catches, being forced to stop fishing on four different days, owing to 

 his having caught his lawful number. This party and his son brought to 

 the overseer's house 16 black bass for his inspection, a lawful day's catch, 

 weighing 40 lbs. 



The angling for sun fish, cat fish, perch and eels continued good through- 

 out the season, and taking into consideration the number of anglers who line 

 the shores of Burlington Bay from spring to fall, it is a wonder there are 

 any fish left. 



The usual number of whitefish fry and pickerel fry were received by me 

 and planted in their proper grounds — 1,000,000 and 500,000 respectively. 



The taking of carp in Burlington Bay was tried again, but owing to 

 high water not many could be taken out. 



The ducks on Burlington Bay have greatly increased in numbers this 

 fall, being 25 to 1 last year, and he has no complaints of a shortage of ducks 

 of any kind. In September the ponds were full of rail, having witnessed 

 dozens at one time in Big Creek Pond, and everywhere else it was the same. 

 There was also good duck shooting early in the season, and altogether 1908 

 has been the best season in a great number of years. 



The protection service of Burlington Bay has always been a difficult 

 question, but he is pleased to say that this year it is in a perfect condition. 



The gasoline patrol boat "Panger" was placed in his hands on the 5th 

 September, and after it was repaired he caught three men shooting from a 

 launch at the Beach. He fined them |5 each, and seized 400 yards of net 

 cut in Lake Ontario, and did a great deal of patrolling on the bay. No other 

 attempts of shooting from launches on the bay were made. The launch will 

 be of great service next year, as he will have his protection complete then. 



Several contraventions took place, and all were more or less severely 

 punished. 



There are some quail east of the city, and he suggests that an open sea- 

 son for meadow larks during the month of November might be made. 



o G. F. 



