22 DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISHERIES No. 9 



(e) Possession of more than legal catch of pheasants, on Pelee Island, 16 birds 

 seized, convicted and fined $160 and costs; 



(f) Taking excessive numbers of undersized speckled trout, in the District 

 of Parry Sound, five persons apprehended, — convicted, penalties in all totalled 

 $123.75; 



(g) Taking excessive numbers of undersized speckled trout, in the County of 

 Renfrew, three persons apprehended, — convicted, total penalties in each of 

 the three cases $126.75; and 



(h) Illegal possession of beaver, involving a licensed fur dealer, in Northern 

 Ontario, — 23 charges, convicted and fined a total of $16,395 or in default 

 of payment to be confined for two years and six months, less one day in 

 a Reformatory. In addition to this sentence there were seized from the 

 offender, 444 beaver, 10 otter, 7 marten, 1 fisher, 2 mink, 2 cross fox and 

 31 muskrat. 



We ask the sportsmen to notice two things in connection with these various 

 offences. The first is that no stone is being left unturned by the Department 

 to bring the law-breakers to justice. The second is that illegal depredations, if 

 unchecked, may assume extensive proportions; as is evidenced by details of the 

 cases above noted. 



THE FISH CULTURE BRANCH 



The vast waters of our Province, among the finest in the world, constitute 

 our most widely distributed recreational agencies, and their importance from the 

 recreational and health standpoints is of immeasurable value to our people. This 

 attraction lies in the entrancing beauty of our lakes and streams, and the excellent 

 fishing which they provide. The development and maintenance of these game fishing 

 interests in a practical manner is one of the primary functions of the Department. 



Ontario's commercial fishing industry is also of considerable economic im- 

 portance, and in point of annual marketed value of fresh water fish, Ontario stands 

 first among the Provinces. In appendices 3 and 4, information pertaining to this 

 valuable enterprise is compiled for reference purposes. 



In its wider and truer meaning fish culture is closely linked to aquatic 

 biology, physics, commercial fishing and angling, and it is difficult to give a comprehen- 

 sive definition of the term. However, for all practical purposes it may be said that a 

 progressive fish culturist is one who measures his success in terms of the good 

 fishing resulting from his labours, and in view of the results being achieved in 

 this connection fish culturists should be very optimistic about future possibilities 

 in this field. 



During the regular open seasons there is a tremendous drain on the fish 

 supply, particularly in the more populated areas where waters are more readily 

 accessible. The menace of over-fishing which is one of the major causes of depletion 

 has become more seriously apparent since the development of the automobile and 

 motor boat; these two useful contrivances have made it possible for a much larger 

 percentage of the population to go fishing. In view of these conditions, a practical 

 restocking policy is followed by such regulations and practical measures as are 

 consistent with the conservation of the fisheries. The eminently reasonable aim of 

 fish laws is to ensure a plentiful supply of commercial and game-fish to future 

 generations of Canadians. 



Conservation means wise use. Fish do not grow by magic and in order to 

 obtain larger and better fish, they must be permitted to grow and reproduce normally; 



