54 THE REPORT ON [ No. 27 



he attributes to the very low water and the hot weather in Jane and July causing the 

 trout to hide more in low water. 



The fish taken were used for home consumption. 



No abuses came under his notice. The fisheries are watched very closely here at 

 all times. 



The chief close season is the trout season, and it is watched very closely. The 

 farmers have given a helping hand by forbidding trespassing on their lands or fishing on 

 their places 



There was no illegal fishing to his knowledge. 



In years past, he says, sawdust and mill refuse have been dumped into the rivers in 

 his district, but none this year. The sawdust is a great injury to the fish, especially 

 trout. There are five fish ways in his division, four of which are in good order and one 

 in only fair order. Two of these have been repaired by the owners. 



Overseer Olunis states : 



That the fishing in his district was light ; that ail the fish were caught by means of 

 angling and were used for home consumption ; that the close seasons were well observed, 

 and that no violations of the fishery laws came to his notice. 



Lake Scdgog. 



Overseer Bowerman reports an increase in the catch of maskinonge, but a decrease 

 in the catch of bass, owing perhaps to the large catch through the ice during the winter. 

 Seventy- five per cent, of the fish taken in these waters is used for home consumption. 



To the head waters of Lake Scugog, known as the Scugog Game Preserve, the fish 

 go to spawn and before maturity suffer much and are in fact to a great extent destroyed 

 owing to low water. He would suggest that screens be placed in the three culverts 

 early in the spring to prevent the fish from entering the preserve. Nothing has been 

 left undone to see that the laws were observed. The most rigid inspection has been 

 exercised. 



There has been no illegal fishing. One tine of $3.00 was imposed and the parapher- 

 nalia confiscated. The law with regard to the depositing of saw-dust is well observed. 



There are no fishways in this district and none are considered necessary. 



Petbrboro Oounty. 



Overseer Yellands reports : 



That he is not in a position to submit any statistics, owing to the fact that no leases 

 or licenses are issued in his division, and that fishing is not followed as a calling by any- 

 one, although a quantity of fish are caught by the Indians and sold to agents, who in 

 turn sell them to the local dealers. 



From information received from the fish dealers he is of the opinion there was a 

 very large catch of fish during the year. Of course the dealers have bought from other 

 divisions as well, but he does not suppose the other overseers would use those figures but 

 would leave it to him to report for his own district. 



" There are four fish dealers in Peterborough; and it will be seen by the returns that 

 they have handled fish caught in this division, to the amount of 18,300 lbs. of bass, 

 24,800 lbs. maskinonge, 300 lbs. catfish, 200 lbs. perch, making a total value of $2964. 

 This amount is obtained only from the dealers and it will be safe to estimate that tourists 

 and private individuals caught one-third of the whole amount, which, if added, would 

 make the catch so much greater in proportion. He believes the catch has been larger 

 than last years', owing to the fact that extra precautions were taken. Thanks to the 

 Department for their protection during the spawning season." 



About 40 per cent, of the fish was used for home consumption, and the remaining 60 

 per cent, shipped to other points in Canada, chiefly in Ontario. 



No abuses t isted. The close seasons were extremely well observed. He had only 

 two convictions . which fines of $5.00 were imposed in each case. He confiscated three 

 nets that were t in the water for the purpose of catching fish, and these nets he destroyed 

 at once. He has no complaint to make against the mill owners with regard to saw-dust, 

 as he beli ves they have done their best to prevent any refuse getting into the water. 



