1899] GAME A.ND FISHERIES. 47 



About one third of the fish caught last year was shipped to the United States and 

 the balance through Canada. *«m<*4 



No abuses came to his knowledge from the time he took charge till the end of the 

 year. He heard of one case of fishing during the close season. The parties were warned 

 that if he heard any more complaints he would have no mercy on them, and they would 

 have to suffer the consequences. This was the last and only time he heard of any illegal 

 fishing. There are no sawmills in his division and no tishways. 



Overseer Van Norman reports : 



That the catch of all kinds of fish will be about the same as that of last year ; that all 

 kinds of fish are reported plentiful ; about 95 per cent, of the fish taken from this divis- 

 ion were exported to the United States ; that the balance was used for home consump- 

 tion ; that the close seasons have been well observed ; that no mill refuse has entered the 

 the water ; and that no illegal fishing or violation of the fishery laws has come to his 

 knowledge. 



Georgian Bay. 



Overseer Labatt reports : 



That there was a decrease in the catch of the different kinds of fish as compared with 

 last year, owing to the prohibition that no fish should be caught east of a line drawn from 

 Sturgeon Point to French River ; that he is not aware of any abuses existing, and that as 

 far as could be ascertained the close season for whitefish and trout was strictly observed. 

 He further reports that illegal fishing was carried on to some extent, and that he cap- 

 tured two trap nets and one hoop net ; that the former, being illegal, were destroyed, and 

 the latter stored ; that the act respecting the protection of the navigable waters was well 

 observed by the mill owners, and that no injury was done to the fisheries of this division 

 thereby. 



Overseer Payette reports : 



That the close season for trout and whitefish was strictly observed, that he seized 

 two trap nets and one hoop net, which were being fished without license, and that the 

 former nets, being illegal, were destroyed. He further reports a decrease in the catch of 

 fish in this division owing to the action of this department in curtailing the area for net 

 fishing. 



Lakk Huron. 



Overseer McAulay reports : 



That the trout are plentiful but owing to the calm weather prevailing the fish r fre- 

 quented the shallow waters which with the lateness of the season helped to mitigate 

 against the fishermen, the catch in consequence being light. 



He also states that although the herring fishing is not prosecuted in his division, 

 there were millions of young herring along the shore and in the bays and rivers during 

 the fall. 



The fishery laws were well observed by the fishermen in his district. 



Overseer Neil Stewart reports : 



That about two thirds of the fish caught in his division are exported and the balance 

 sold in Canada for home consumption ; that the close seasons were well observed, as was 

 also the law respecting the pollution of rivers, all sawdust and other mill refuse from 

 the mills being carted away. 



Overseer Yates reports : 



That there was a large decrease in the catch of trout. The tugs stopped fishing 

 some time before the close of the season on account of the scarcity of fish. They were 

 not able to catch enough to pay expenses. 



The percentage of fish exported from this district was large. The fish sold was'only 

 for local use. *tr=- 



No abuses were reported to him. The several close seasons were very well observed. 



There were no fines for illegal fishing, and no complaints against mill owners for 

 dumping mill refuse into the waters. 



There are three fishways in his division. Regarding these only one complaint was 

 made and that received attention. 



Overseer Steed reports : 



That the catch has on the whole been above the average the past season.' 5 Pickerel 



