1909 GAME AND FISHEKIES. 



in this same pond which has been secured for that purpose for another year, pro- 

 viding no unforeseen circumstances should arise. This will, I hope, lead to the 

 establishing of a series of ponds, which will enable the work to be carried on on a 

 much larger scale, and allow the re-stocking of those waters which have been depleted 

 in years gone by, by settlers who had no regard for the welfare of future generations. 

 It will also be the means of re-stocking inland lakes, that were never known to have 

 fishing of any importance, but which are now becoming settled more and more eaqh 

 year by the summer Tourists. The State of Michigan with their bass ponds at Grand 

 Eapids this year deposited over a million and a half of these bass fingerlings in the 

 waters of that State, and there is no reason why the Province of Ontario should not 

 do likewise. 



Angling Permits. 



The sale of these Permits was much in excess of last year, giving only another 

 proof of the increased Tourist traffic, which the Province attracts with its numerous 

 resorts for holiday making; not only is a pleasure derived from the summer outing, 

 but the health-giving qualities are of ffuch a nature that one experience leads to 

 another. The abolishing of the much abused Family Permit has given general satis- 

 faction, and I am glad to say that from the Officers' reports must less illegal fishing 

 was done by the summer tourists this year than in former years. 



Patrol Service. 



The last few years of patrol service has been a decided improvement, but this 

 year was so infinitely better that a comparison with former years is out of the ques- 

 tion. The purchase of the "Navarch" and placing her on the Bay of Quinte, Lake 

 Ontario, St. Lawrence Biver and Rideau Waters has proven to be a wise decision. 

 The illegal fishing which was openly carried on in some of these aforementioned 

 waters in utter defiance of the local Officers met its reward this year, when thousands 

 of yards of net, boats, guns and many illegal contrivances were confiscated by the 

 officers of this boat, and in many instances the culprits were caught and dealt with 

 in a manner that should at least make them think that the Department intends to 

 carry out the laws and regulations a wise Legislature decide to enact. The 

 Department has received many compliments upon the attractive appearance this 

 boat presented wherever she went ; and it certainly was a decided improvement upon 

 the craft which formerly were known as the Ontario Government Patrol Boats. The 

 work that this boat began this year will, I trust, be carried on next year with as 

 great a success, and there is no reason why it should not be even greater for at least 

 she will go into commission six weeks earlier, which, through unforeseen circum- 

 stances, she was* prevented from dping last year. 



The "Xaiad" which for the first time last year patrolled the waters which the 

 "Navarch" did this, was placed upon the Kawartha Lakes and Lake Simcoe, with the 

 result that laws and regulations were never so well observed. The tourists who 

 openly boasted of their large daily catch of fish much in excess of what the law 

 allowed, were this year much more observant of the laws and regulations knowing 

 full well that should the officer in charge of this boat apprehend them in their illegal 

 work prompt action would be taken to prevent a re-occurrence. The work this boat 

 did on Lake Simcoe in breaking up illegal net fishing was alone worth the cost of 

 her maintenance. It is expected, and reasonably so, that next year even better 

 results will be obtained, the officer will be more familiar with his work, and it is 



