1900 ] FISHERIES DEPARTMENT. 15 



out like cables. The guides are anxious that the tourist should have good fish- 

 ing, and the rivalry is keen as to which boat shall bring in the largest trcut ; and 

 when a fish is struck their exclamations of delight are second only to the uproar 

 created by the swift running waters In places where the current is too strong 

 for paddling, and not angry enough to necessitate a portage, the guides pole the 

 canoe along ; and, as inch Wy inch headway is made, it seems a battle of tue weak 

 against the strong, wonder prevails as to which will ultimately triumph, and 

 speculation arises as to what consequence would follow the snapping of the trusted 

 spruce or the capsizing of the canoe. Occasionally such a contingency arises as 

 the snapping of u pole, but the skilful bowman has never yet proved unequal 

 to the emergency. 



Near the head of the river is Virgin Falls — a miniature Niagara. At the 

 foot of the falls may at any time be seen, disporting in the foam, hundreds of 

 whitetish and speckled trout ; and the former takes the fly as to the " manner 

 born." A few miles above the falls is Lake Nepigon itself, a most beautiful sheet 

 of water, measuring some 70 miles long by 50 wide, with a coast line of about 

 600 miles. The lake is thickly studded with islands — it is estimated some one 

 thousand in all. The descent of the river is not the least enjoyable part of the 

 trip, and is of course accomplished in a much shorter time, as most of the rapids 

 are '' run " in the downward journey. Frequently the canoes of several parties 

 may be seen descending a rapid in quick succession — a most thrilling sight. 



As the Nepigon is the source of considerable revenue to the Department, and 

 as the number of visitors to it is increasing annually, it had from time to time 

 been suggested by parties who had visited the river that certain improvements 

 should be made which would render a visit thereto more enjoyable and attended 

 with less hardship and inconvenience — such, for instance, as the construction of 

 landing-places, the improvement of the portages, the making of trails to desirable 

 pools now almost inaccessible, and better sanitary arrangements. A question 

 had also arisen as to whether certain privileges applied for to the Crown Lands 

 Department would or would not militate to the detriment of these world- 

 renowned fishing grounds. That the Department might be in possession of the 

 special personal knowledge necessary to deal with these matters, and with others 

 as they may arise, a visit of inspection was made by the Commis ioner and 

 Deputy Commissioner during the month of July. 



As an additional outcome of the visit the undersigned would most strongly 

 urge the desirability of reserving a strip of land on each side of the river, in 

 addition to the one chain already reserved, that the scenery may be properly pro- 

 tected and preserved for all time in its pristine beauty. 



Nepigon Trout. 



An experiment which I should like to see tried, and the result of which I 

 would watch with great interest, would be the fertilizing of the eggs of the 

 brook trout in some of the preserves with the milt from the male of the Nepigon. 

 Milt can be retained for days in hermetically sealed jars, and has been sent one 

 thousand miles or more by mail, and on its arrival used to impregnate eggs that 

 afterwards yielded over ninety per cent of fry. If any of our trout culturists 

 would care to make the experiment, the Department will endeavour, to have a 

 supply of milt obtained by its officers at the Nepigon. The milt must not be 

 diluted with water, and the eggs should be impregnated within six days from 

 the time it is taken. The result it is believed would be a hardy and vigorous 

 offspring. 



LEASING OF LAKES. 



During the year, letters were addressed to the overseers in outlying districts, 

 nstructing them to report upon such lakes in their divisions as, in their opinions 



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