36 THE EEPORT UPON No. 13 



Commercial Fishing. 

 No substantial increase or decrease. 



Overseer Hy. Osborne, of Dante, reports that the fisheries under his super- 

 vision, during the past year have yielded a very small catch, in so far as reports 

 that are in, state, much smaller than previous years. He has put in considerable 

 time on the river during the fishing season in order to ascertain the true state of 

 affairs. Complaint was made to him of illegal fishing, and he took man and boat 

 and made tour of inspection. He found and destroyed 35 hoop or barrel nets. He 

 also reported the matter to the district warden, who interviewed the parties. After 

 considerable correspondence the matter was settled. Other than the above, there 

 was very little violation of the Fishery Laws. The division is in very fair con- 

 dition as regards obstructions, there being nothing to impede the passage of the 

 fish or free fiow of water. 



Overseer Theo. Peltier, of Dover South, reports that the catch of fish by the 

 licensed fishermen during the fall of 1909, was better than for some years prior. 



Owing to the extremely heavy winter and late spring the fishermen were 

 unable to use their nets until very late last Spring, having only a few days before 

 close season, but the catch was heavy for the short time. 



The angling in his division has not amounted to much. Dredging operations 

 at the mouth of the Thames Eivor kept the water too roiley to entice fishermen, 

 and, although he kept careful watch for foreign angler?, none were found tbis 

 season. 



Ducks and other game birds were found in about the ordinary number. Quail 



are not so plentiful as they were years ago. Lack of cover enables huntsmen with 



packs of dogs to practically annihilate bevies of quail wlien found, and I would 



recommend that the close searon be still further shortened to eight days at most, 



and that only one dog be allowed with each gun. 



Lake Erie and Grand Eiver. 



Overseer T. J. Briggs, of Bridgehurg, reports that the angling in Niagara 

 Eiiver and Lake Erie has been very good, the black bass very large and plenti- 

 ful, and small grass perch in the lower part of the river numerous. 



On Wednesday, Jan. 26th, there was a rifle skirmish near Black Creek with 

 two men from a motor boat, who were dynamiting fish in Canadian waters to take 

 to the United States, and since then, there has been no one seen along the river 

 breaking the Fishery Laws. The Laws are well observed and lived up to in his 

 district. 



On August 15th, he seized a row-boat from two Americans, fishing without 

 angling permits in Canadian waters — picked up by patrol boat. 



Overseer H. A. Henderson, of Pelee Island, reports that very few fish have 

 been taken in that district, from the fact that the fishing industry is not vigorously 

 prosecuted. No pound nets are now fished, and the fall run of fish was very light. 

 This was chiefly owing to the extremely unfavorable weather through the month of 

 November, 1909, in fact nearly all the fishing that is done there for commercial 

 purposes is during the month of November. The season of angling was very dis- 

 couraging to the fishermen, many of whom availed themselves of the opportunity, 

 but with very indifferent success. No abuses exist in his district, and no illegal 

 fishing of any kind is carried on. What fish there is caught, is nearly all shipped 



