1899 1 GAME AND FISHERIES. 55 



There are a number of fishways in. the dams in the rivers bat he thinks it would be 

 advisable to pat in more as there are some dams which are deficient in this respect. 



Overseer Moore reports : 



That the several close seasons have been well observed ; that there was some attempt 

 to finh with nets, which he stopped by seizing the nets, bat that he was unable to catch 

 the owners. That the large number of tourists and others visiting the lakes in his dis- 

 trict had good success catching bass and masknionge. 



He would suggest that tishways be put in the dams on the Otonabee River, and at 

 Young's Point, and that Stoney Lake and Clear Lake should be stocked with bass and 

 masknionge fry so as to keep up the supply. 



He visited the lakes in his district several times each month between April and 

 December. During the summer some dynamite was used to kill fish, but he was unable 

 to oatch the parties. 



The report of Overseer Mclntyre shows that the fishing in his division was good, 

 much better than in 1898 ; that the only fishing carried on was by angling and trolling, 

 and that there were no infractions of the fishery laws brought to his notice. 



Overseer Oock reports : 



That in 1898 the returns of fish caught from the Trent waters were 88,794 lbs. 

 of coarse fish, valued at $2,823 05. In 1899 there were 121,807 lbs. of coarse fish, 

 valued at $4,177.07. The difference iD lbs. was 33,013, and difference in value, $1,354.02 ; 

 so therefore there was a slight increase, and in his opinion it was caused by the fisher- 

 men knowing better how to set their nets. 



There seems no end to coarse fish if the close seasons are properly observed and 

 they are given a chance to breed. 



More than nine-tenths of these fish are shipped and sold in theUnited States. 



He has no recommendations to make. The close seasons were observed fairly well, 

 especially by licensed fishermen. Several persons were convicted of illegal fishing and 

 , the nets confiscated. 



There are saw mills all along the waters, but mill owners are very careful and he has 

 no complaints of dumping refuse. 



There are four mill dams and one natural falls on which there are no fish ways. He 

 finds for the want of these fishways, the fish are graded, and he would recommend that 

 some steps be taken to provide fishways. 



Fbontenac, Leeds, Oarleton, Prescott and Renfrew Division. 



Overseer Olyde reports : 



That as nearly as he can ascertain after careful enquiry about one third 

 of the catch in his division is consumed in Canada and the balance shipped to 

 the American markets ; that the close seasons have been strictly observed, that two cases 

 of illegal fishing came to his notice during the year, that he brought the offenders before 

 a Justice of the Peace and they were fined; that there are no saw-mills in his division 

 that affect the streams ; that he would suggest some action to induce or compel the des- 

 truction of all dog-fish caught by fishermen as they are very destructive to the spawn of 

 other fish, and that they are very numerous in the Rideau River. 



Overseer Craig reports : 



That the catch this year is a great deal larger than that of the previous year, al- 

 though the waters in some of the fishing districts were very low ; that there does not 

 seem to be any scarcity of fish, and that the fishermen have done very well, but in some 

 of the lakes suckers and ling are proving injurious to the game fish by eating their 

 spawn, and he would recommend that permits be granted, to those who will strictly 

 obey the law, to catch suckers with gill nets in the spring when they are running. 



Herring are very plentiful in the back lakes. 



The close season for salmon trout in his district he believes to be as nearly correct, 

 comparing one season with another, a3 it could possibly be made. 



Foreign anglers made some very good catches of bass last season. 



Overseer Goulette reports : 



That on the St Lawrence River black bass are plentiful but below the usual size and 

 that pike have been plentiful in the deep channels and of the usual size, but in the marsh 



