1899 ] GAME AND FISHERIES. 37 



able, but it was found that a length which would in some waters meet the case, in others 

 would represent a fish of a much greater weight ; so that a weight limit was ultimately 

 decided upon. It will be satisfactory to know that before the adoption of the condition 

 the views of as many fishermen and purchasers of fish as possible were ascertained by per- 

 sonal visits to different points in the Province and otherwise, and that no objection was 

 made to it, but the contrary, many remarking that if the condition were observed it would 

 do more to replenish and secure the perpetuation of the trout and whitefish than any other 

 means that could be adopted, not excepting the strict observance of the close season. To 

 the credit of the fishermen it may be said that the restriction has been uniformly well 

 observed during the past season. The significance of this condition will be apparent to 

 every one when he recognizes that a whitefish or trout does not spawn before she has 

 attained a weight of two pounds, and that the taking of a fish below that weight means 

 that there has been eliminated from the supply not only a fish that has not contributed 

 her quota to the perpetuation of her species, but that one has been placed upon the 

 market of practically no commercial value. The fishermen cannot be so shortsighted as 

 not to see that in taking the immature fish they are destroying the "goose that lays the 

 golden egg." 



The Protection op Our Game Fish. 



Our inland lakes and rivers afford the highest class of sport for the disciple of Isaac 

 Walton. In them may be found the gamey .black bass, speckled trout, and maskinonge. 

 The world affords no better speckled trout fishing than can be obtained in the great Nipigon 

 and tributary streams, specimens having been hooked of nine pounds in weight Year 

 after year increased numbers of tourists visit our country from near and far to participate 

 in our fishing. Except in the famous Nipigon, no fee is charged for an angler's permit 

 where the person is temporarily domiciled at one of our hotels or boarding-houses and 

 engages our boats and boatmen. In the Nipigon district the fee for a permit good for 

 two weeks has been ten dollars to non-residents of Canada, and five dollars to Canadians, 



It is the bounden duty of the Department to jealously guard the waters of these 

 inland lakes and rivers to prevent their depletion and to make them a fruitful and per- 

 petual source of pleasure and profit ; and it is to be hoped that our people will become 

 every year more and more alive to the importance of their preservation, and begin to 

 recognize them as one of the most valuable of their heritages. To this end, therefore, 

 our machinery should be perfected in every possible way. Information has been received 

 from all over the Province during the past year indicating a diminution of these fish in 

 almost every locality. This is chiefly attributed to three causes : (1) overfishing on the 

 part of tourists, (2) depredations of poachers and pot-hunters, (3) illegal netting. If our 

 game fish are not to be entirely exterminated, more potent means of protection 

 and preservation must be adopted than are afforded by existing regulations, or than can be 

 accomplished by our overseers, in view of the large area of territory each has to supervise. 

 Probably no remedy so effective could be suggested for theii preservation as to prohibit 

 their sale ; and prudence and the best interests of the community at large point to the 

 adoption of this measure as the proper one. The importance of this is emphasized when 

 it is borne in mind that residents in localities where good angling is to be had derive 

 therefrom not only an important and wholesome addition to their food supply, but that 

 they are directly pecuniarily benefited by the considerable sums of money which are 

 necessarily expended for board, supplies, guides, boats, boatmen, etc., by the tourists 

 visiting these localities. The prohibition of the sale of the ruffed grouse or partridge was 

 most acceptable to the people generally, and its benefits were immediately perceptible in 

 the increase of this bird in all parts of the Province. 



The undersigned would, therefore, respectfully recommend that the sale and export 

 of all game fish — speckled trout, small and large-mouthed bass ani maskinonge — be 

 prohibited for a period of not less than three years. 



Stocking op Depleted Waters. 



In some places where by improvident fishing or from other cause the waters have 

 been depleted, assistance has been given those interested in re-stocking these waters with 

 parent fish. In this way a Bure result is obtained ; and while it is generally admitted 



