THE REPORT OF THE [ No. 68 



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Exportation and Sale of Bass, &c. 



The importance of the legislation prohibiting the sale and exportation of 

 bass, maskinonge and speckled trout as an agency for their protection cannot be 

 overestimated, as it has in a large measure removed the desire for taking 

 these fish. 



Permit to Take Fish for Stocking Private Waters Necessary. 



The wisdom of the section requiring that, where persons are desirous of ob- 

 taining fish from public waters for stocking their private ponds or even other public 

 waters, they shall first obtain a permit from the Department so to do, was early 

 demonstrated, one application being received from within fifty miles of Toronto 

 for permission to take ten thousand brook trout from the streams of the county 

 to be deposited in private ponds, where the privilege of angling may be had any 

 day during the open season on payment of forty cents a pound for the fish 

 caught ! Boys from the neighboring village had theretofore been employed for 

 small sums to catch the fish. It is needless to say that the privilege was not 

 granted. 



The Two Pound Prohibition. 



The fishermen in every locality are unanimous that the two pound prohibi- 

 tion with respect to trout and whitefish is a very potent measure for the pro- 

 tection and perpetuation of these most valuable fish, putting an end, so far as it is 

 possible to do so by legislation, to the wanton destruction of the young fish. 

 if they had been allowed to be taken for a few years longer it would simply have 

 meant their elimination. The law, so far as known, has been violated in but few 

 instances. 



Examination of Packages in Transit. 



It is believed that the provisions which permit boxes and packages to be 

 opened in transit, and render the contents liable to confiscation if fish of an illegal 

 size are found therein, have made shippers more careful, and companies more 

 strict in regard to the nature of the packages which are received for shipment. 

 Indeed, we have found the officers of the express and railway companies in entire 

 harmony with the department and anxious to render every assistance in the en- 

 forcement of the law ; and we take this opportunity of acknowledging the num- 

 erous services so rendered. 



Penalties. 



The repeal of the provision in the Act allowing a Magistrate to exercise dis- 

 cretion as to the amount of fine to be imposed and making the minimum fine 

 $10, has exerted a very salutary influence on the minds of would-be offenders. 

 When the fine was but $1, or an offender was let go on suspended sentence, the 

 law had not much terror for him. 



Enforcement of the Law. 



The next thing to having a good law is to have it well enforced, and this 

 enforcement is perhaps the chief though not the most pleasant duty which the 

 department has to perform. In all cases our overseers have been instructed to 

 discharge their duties fearlessly and without favor, but in a manner the least 



