1900 ] FISHERIES DEPARTMENT. 



license, which is the most protection ever accorded to it in this Province, as for 

 many years they were slaughtered with almost every conceivable implement of 

 capture. 



It is satisfactory to find from the overseers' reports as well as from other 

 reliable sources of information, that the bass and maskincnge fishing has not 

 been so good for years, due undoubtedly to the careful protection they have received 

 since this Government assumed the administration of the fisheries, and to its 

 provident regulations prohibiting their sale and export, and wasteful fishing by 

 limiting the size and number of those that may be caught. 



THE FISHERIES PROTECTION SERVICE. 



n«AMy~ Appended hereto will be found a list of the overseers and a description 

 of their districts (p. 47), a synopsis of their reports (p. 19), and the report of 

 the Captain commanding the " Gilphie " (p. 19). 



The total number of persons prosecuted during the year was 102,or 36 more 

 than in 1899, evidencing increased vigilance on the part of the overseers ; and 

 the total amount realized from fines and confiscations, and the sale of confiscated 

 gear, was &848.03. In certain cases, it was deemed proper to authorize the em- 

 ployment of counsel, that in not a single instance should there be a miscarriage 

 of justice. One hundred and twenty-three trap nets, 177 gill nets, 46 fyke nets, 

 15 dip nets, 4 seines, 128 ni^ht lines, 1,596 hooks, 1 tug, 1 boat, 2 canoes, and 15 

 spears were confiscated. The most important seizure of the season was of the 

 tug " Crawford," for fishing without a license in Lake Erie. 



LEGISLATION. 



The legislation of last session, consolidating and amending the law, rendered 

 existing provisions more workable, and provided machinery which experience 

 had indicated to be necessary, adding greatly to the efficiency of the Department. 

 The old law had been enacted before the Fisheries were transferred to the Pro- 

 vince, and under circumstances differing from those existing at present. 



Abstracts Published. 



To render the laws less confusing and mere easy of interpretation to, those 

 who are unable to make a careful study of them, they have been crystallized, 

 published on one sheet, and widely circulated, so that there may no longer be rea- 

 son for- violations on what may be termed excusable ignorance, unless such 

 ignorance is born of a desire either not to know the law or not to observe it. 



Exposure During Close Season. 



It is alleged by many that the present law permitting the exposure for sale 

 during the close season of fish causht during the open season is bad in spirit and 

 should be repealed, as it opens the door for easy violations ; and while there may 

 be more or less force in these contentions, yet, on the other hand, it may also, we 

 think, be properly urged that it would be a serious injustice and privation to re- 

 peal the clause and prevent such an important item of food from being offered 

 for sale at any time of the year. Many of our dealers, too, have, justified by the 

 present law, provided at very large expense for the demand during the close sea- 

 son by erecting freezers and cold storage houses, and annually put in hundreds 

 of tons of fish for use during this period. 



