1911 GAME AND FISHERIES. 7 



immature fish. Reports have been circulated that the fishery laws have not been 

 enforced in the Province. Of course it is not difficult to find fault when pre- 

 disposed and having an equivocal object in so doing. If the fishery laws have not 

 been enforced in the Province during the last four years, I would like to know 

 what enforcement they received, and for what purpose, during the twenty years 

 preceding 1900. Those whose duty it was to collect arrears due previous to 1900 

 have concluded fishery protection was a secondary consideration in such appointments. 

 It is generally conceded that the forests regulate the flow of water in the water 

 (Courses, and ensure a supply during the dry seasons, while they prevent sudden and 

 disastrous floods. While there is some doubt as to the extent of the effect that 

 forests have on the rainfall, there is no longer any doubt as to the beneficial effect 

 that forests have in conserving water resulting from rainfalls. It has been proved 

 that the rainfall in forests, as compared with the open country, is in the propor- 

 tion of 100 to 92.0, while the evaporation in the forests is only one-third of that 

 in the open country remote from forests. It is alleged that failure to conserve 

 the forests in Europe has caused most disastrous results, not only from uncon- 

 trollable floods, but also from long continued dry weather, resulting in rivers being 

 reduced during the dry seasons to a series of death-dealing stagnant pools, resulting 

 from evaporation caused by the unwise destruction of the forests. It is conceded 

 that the absolute destruction of the forests is a prolific source of drought, and 

 frequently disease. The Department is frequently asked by farmers and others 

 having spring streams running through their property what should be done to enable 

 them to establish trout ponds or stock the streams. To be successful, the banks of 

 both should be planted with trees for the two-fold purpose of preventing evaporation 

 and providing shade for the fish; any of the species of willow are suitable for the 

 purpose. 



Re-Stocking. 



This year's experience with the raising of bass fingerlings with the single pond 

 at Brantford was a pronounced success. Over 50,000 of these were placed in the 

 various inland waters of the Province, thus ensuring in a few years good angling, 

 both to our own anglers and to the thousands of tourists that visit our Province 

 each year. I must here mention that much of the success attained was through 

 the faithful service rendered by Mr. J. T. Edwards, who was placed in charge. 

 The knowledge he has acquired in the two years will fit him well for the service 

 required of him in the more extensive work in connection with the series of ponds, 

 which are now partly constructed in the village of Mount Pleasant, five miles from 

 Brantford, and in which we hope to raise at least 300,000 of these fingerlings next 

 year. This place for the erection of breeding ponds was wisely chosen, as water 

 in abundance can be had, and it would be difficult to find a more natural place 

 for fisih to congregate. These ponds are situated on the T. H. & B. railway, and only 

 a mile and a half from the Grand Trunk, which railways will afford the required 

 means for transporting these fish when they are ready for re-stocking purposes. 



Angling Permits. 



More angling permits were sold this year than last, notwithstanding the 

 unfortunate strike on one of our most important railways during the height of the 

 tourist season, necessarily keeping many away that otherwise would have come to 

 enjoy the unexcelled fishing which this Province can offer to its annual visitors. 



