S THE EBPORT UPOI^ • No. 13 



The observance of the laws and regulations was much better this year, very few cases 

 of infractions of the Act being reported to the Department, and I am of the 

 opinion that the tourists, who have gone, in many instances, to great expense in 

 erecting cottages and improving their surroundings, will realize that the regula- 

 tions enacted were solely in their interest — to protect the fisheries for their enjoy- 

 ment, not for one or two years, but for all time to come; and when they realize 

 this (and they have already done so in some instances) their co-operation with the 

 Department in enforcing the laws and regulations will be an assured fact. 



Patrol Service. 



Never in the history of the Province have the fisheries received the protection 

 they had this year through the vigilance of the patrol boats of the Department. From 

 the early spring, as soon as the waters were navigable, these boats were on constant 

 patrol, never ceasing their vigilance night or day, if the occasion required. The 

 logs of the boats, published in this report, will show that thousands and thousands 

 of miles have been covered during the period they were in commission. The 

 " Edna Ivan" patrolled the Great Lakes, and did not go out of commission until 

 the first of December, when, in fact, all fishing had practically ceased for the 

 season. Her Master was most painstaking in the performance of his duties, pre- 

 venting to a great extent illegal fishing that had in former years been carried 

 on in a most brazen-faced way. Had such protection been given to the fishing 

 in our Great Lakes in former years, they would not have been in the depleted con- 

 dition they were in when handed over to the Province. The few years that this 

 Government has had tliis service in its charge have shown such a marked improve- 

 ment, notwithstanding the inadequate close seasons, that from all sections of tlie 

 country reports have been received expressing satisfaction with the result. The 

 " Navarch," w'hich operated on the Bay of Quinte and River St. Lawrence, and to 

 some extent the Eideau waters, with its competent crew, always alive to their duties, 

 did excellent service, and you had the opportunity of witnessing for yourself tlie 

 usefulness of its work. Many illegal nets were discovered by it, and promptly 

 confiscated. These waters need the most careful protection of the fisheries, in 

 the interest both of the net fisherman and the angler. The " Naiad," which 

 patrolled the Kawartha Lakes and Lake Simcoe, rendered most excellent service 

 to the Department. The officer in charge spared neither himself nor crew night 

 or day when duty required. I must especially mention that a particular service on 

 Lake Simcoe during the spawning season of salmon trout, when for days and nights 

 the crew had but little sleep, and tlie consequence was that, with the assistance 

 of the local overseers, illegal fishing at that time (which in former years had been 

 carried on so openly in spite of the local officers, who did their best with the 

 means at their disposal) was practically stopped, and the result of these fish being 

 protected during their spawning season will in the course of a few years be 

 apparent to -all. 



I am glad, sir, that you gave your consent to the purchase of the " Ella C." for 

 the protection of the Big and Little Eideau, and the experience with this boat 

 during last season certainly justified the expenditure, for these lakes as well as 

 the remaining Eideau waters are becoming more popular each year. Handsome 

 cottages are being erected, as well as club houses, and their annual visitors reluc- 

 tantly leave for their homes. 



The "Vega," which was assigned to the North Channel of Lake Huron and 



