1900 ] FISHERIES DEPARTMENT. 21 



ed. I can't help but think that the time has arrived when some of the large bodies 

 of inland waters, more especially those out of the direct line of tourist require- 

 ments, should be made to add their quota to the wealth and revenue of the Pro- 

 vince, and to this end a systematic inspection of these waters be made, there is 

 probably as much area of water in the New Ontario as the Old, and it seems pre- 

 posterous to conclude that the tourist of Old Ontario requires all the water of the 

 New for his particular benefit." 



District Overseer Thwaite reports as follows : 



" I hereby submit my annual report for 1900, as District Overseer fo r 

 the Districts of Ontario, Victoria, Peterboro and Haliburton Counties. Several 

 times I visited the principal lakes frequented by American tourists, and made 

 careful enquiry into the complaints of visitors, residents, and other parties inter- 

 ested in Stony Lake, that the salmon trout were destroying the young lunge and 

 bass, as these fish were becoming scarcer every year. I caught several salmon 

 trout and opened them to see as to the food they were living on, and from en- 

 quiries from residents on the lake I concluded that the salmon trout were not the 

 cause, to any great extent, of causing the scarcity of lunge and bass, but that over 

 fishing was the principal cause ; and another cause of complaint was that whitefish 

 destroyed the spawn of the lunge and the bass. This may be the case, as in 

 December I caught a quantity of whitefish, the largest weighed about five pounds. 

 The food found in them was entirely the spawn of the salmon trout ; as these 

 whitetish are very numerous in Stony and other adjoining lakes, no doubt they 

 do consume a large quantity of lunge and bass spawn, but this can be ascertained 

 in the spring if the Department wishes. , 



" I would recommend that Stony Lake be restocked with bass and lunge fry 

 also that five (5) fishways be put in dams on Indian River, so that fish from be- 

 low can have free access to Stony Lake,and that the stop-logs be either taken out 

 or left in at Hastings, Young's Point and Laketield until June 1st. If this was 

 done the waters would be kept at a uniform level on the River Otonabee and Rice 

 Lake, and would preserve millions of lunge and bass spawn. 



" I was asked to allow experiment? to be made with hoop nets in Scugogand 

 Rice Lakes to catch catfish, but up to the present time these experiments have 

 not induced anyone to take out licenses to net these fish. 



" In regard to the Act prohibiting the sale of lunge and bass, I may say the 

 new law is approved by all parties, except a few dealers, as it is a step in the 

 right direction to allow these fish to increase. 



" I would also recommend that a small license fee, say $3.00 for thirty days 

 and $5.00 for the season, be charged Americans for the privilege of fishing in the 

 lakes in the Districts under my supervision, as I feel sure this small fee would 

 not debar these tourists from visiting our lakes. 



" I would also recommend the issuing of licenses, fee, say $3.00 for thirty days 

 or $5.00 for the season, to net salmon trout with proper size nets, said applicants 

 for licenses to be approved by the local overseers, and the nets to be set only 

 where they may direct. As you are well aware, this territory brings in very little 

 revenue to assist in the protection of fish, except a few fines, etc. 



" I have no complaint from anyone that mill owners have polluted the waters 

 with sawdust or refuse. \ 



" The following is a short description of the different lakes visited, as per 

 list of questions below : Stony Lake is in the county of Peterboro, townships of 

 Drummer, Burleigh and Smith, is about twelve miles long and from one-half to 

 two and one half miles wide, depth from ten to one hundred and fifty feet ; for- 

 mation, Drummer shore, clay land, limestone and granite, and bluffy, Burleigh 



