259 



their operations. They did not confine their operations to wall-eyed pike, as I 

 understood, but caught a large number of other fish, as I am told, including black 

 bass and salmon. 



Mr. Grant : They took all kinds of game fish that is in the river — everything. 



Chairman : The Fish Commissioners could have given no such authority, 

 and it is not likely that they did do it. 



Mr. Grant : We knew they could not do it, and that is why we got the Dis- 

 trict Attorney after them, and we had a trap set for them, but they were too 

 quick for us. It is just the same with all net pirates ; they say they throw back 

 the game fish, but none are thrown back. 



Secretary: Mr. Chairman, I have been very much interested in the remarks 

 the gentlemen have made, and the thought occurred to me whether, before we get 

 through, it would not be wise for this committee to recommend to the main body 

 that some action be taken in the direction, of urging upon both New York State 

 and the Dominion Government — not Ontario, but the Dominion, until Ontario can 

 maintain her position there — the question of prohibiting all netting on the St. 

 Lawrence river ; that that be one of the steps to be taken by the whole body. 

 We will not act upon the question now, but Jet the gentlemen think it over. 



Mr. Thompson : I wish to say one word in regard to your suggestion of 

 prohibiting netting strictly to pound nets. When you get down from the lake 

 into the river there is hardly room to set a pound net. Anybody that knows 

 what a pound net is, knows that it takes a great deal of surface to set a pound 

 net. Down the river there is hardly room to set a pound net ; you see they have 

 wings that extend out a mile, or three-quarters each way, that covers a mile and 

 a half, and we don't have it in the riv^er. To set such a net as that in the river 

 would very soon exterminate everything that is there; it catches everything, 

 from a fish three inches to two feet long ; everything that comes within its 

 raidius is swept in. We are not troubled with them much ; and one thing oc- 

 curred to me, that when you come to make your suggestion, you separate the river 

 from the lake ; because the river we want free from all netting. You take a gill 

 net out, and the pound net, and you leave the hook net, and the hook net is 

 almost as destructive as the pound net, because they have ears running out 

 each way. They don't cost as much money and catch nearly as much fish. 

 Our game protector, on examination, found four or five nets, and he came 

 to me and wanted to know where the division was, and we got the map and 

 studied it; he said he didn't want to interfere with those nets because they 

 were licensed to net in Canada, and we didn't want to interfere and make 

 trouble with our friends across the river, except we wanted to get together and 

 have a uniformity of law. And in making this suggestion, if you would just go 

 to work and cut the river out from the lake — the river from Kingston down as 

 far as the line extends, as far as Canada extends — you will hit the nail right on 

 the head ; you will do just the best thing for Canada and also for the State of 

 New York. 



Chairman : Are there any other gentlemen who wish to be heard ? if not, 

 the chair suggests that the committee proceed to practical business. 



Senator McNaughton : Mr. Chairman, I only say this with reference to the 

 compilation of game laws ; I believe the bill presented, met the approval of mem- 

 bers of the legislature of both parties; I have no doubt that it would have 

 become law but for the dead-lock in the Senate. There were some amendments 

 made that perhaps were not necessary. I know Gov. Hill strongly approved the 



