1900] FISHERIES DEPARTMENT. 31 



existed in my division this past season. We have had a very calm season, which 

 means that water remains warm on the shore, and that, together with a lot of 

 easterly winds, has been against these kinds of fish coming in shore. We have 

 had no heavy lifts of herring or whitefish this year, that is to say the nets have 

 not all been full at the same time as at other times in the past. While there has 

 been a falling off of the herring and whitefish, there has been an increase of the 

 coarser kinds of fish. The fishermen are all satisfied with the way the Depart- 

 ment has guarded their interests. I would strongly urge the shortening ot the 

 fishing season in the fall for the following reasons, viz.: The way the close season 

 is at present it is no protection whatever to whitefish and herring. I have stated 

 in former reports that the whitefish were not done spawning in November, which 

 month is the close season for whitefish. This present year, very few whitefish 

 spawned in November. There were spawning fish caught as late as December 20th ; 

 and as the herring spawn about the same time T would say that it would be a 

 better protection to these two very important kinds of fish if there was no fishing 

 allowed after November 10th until the first of April the following year, and such 

 a close season would be in the interests of the fishermen, as then there would be 

 no excuse for them losing their stakes or twine as there is at present. This 

 would also stop the gill netting of small whitefish in the spawning time, for any 

 one knows that these gill nets take all small whitefish as well as herring. 



I would also call your attention to the fact that the carp in Rondeau Bay 

 are largely on the increase. The hoop nets that were tried last winter proved a 

 failure, and I do not think that seine will be any better, as these fish dc not move 

 in cold weather. I am of the opinion, if we are ever to get rid of this fish in 

 Rondeau Bay the work will have to be done in warm weather ; and, as they are 

 good at such times, it would be impossible to get fishermen to catch them in the 

 summer months. I would say a better way would be for the Department to hire 

 some one to catch and destroy the carp and all such noxious fish ; this is the only 

 satisfactory way to my mind to get rid of the carp." 



» 



Overseer George McGoll, Vittoria, reports as follows : 



"I find that the take of fish in my division on the whole is an increase over 

 last year except at Port Rowan or what is known as the Inner Long Point Bay 

 Fisheries, where the take ha« nearly decreased fifty per cent, from last year. The 

 year 1899 was however exceptional, the take being probably the largest in some 

 years. There is not the least doubt that the presence of the carp in these waters . 

 has agreat tendency to decrease the take of all other kinds. The fish taken in my 

 division are nearly all exported, very few being sold for local consumption. The 

 several close seasons were fairly well kept. The bass close season being so long 

 and the bass grounds so easy of access to the public, there is a great temptation 

 to infringe on close seasons, but during the year just closed, I will say the close 

 season for bass was kept the best ever was known in these waters. There was 

 no doubt some illegal whitefish fishing done on the front of the Township of 

 Rainham last fall, but I have taken measures to have it reported to me immedi- 

 ately in the event of its repetition in the iuture. 



Then are no saw mills on any of the streams in my division. There is one 

 fish-way on the Nanticoke creek, one mile up from the lake. 



No fish were taken during the close season extension for the reason that the 

 month of October was a very warm month and the fisb kept to deep water, and 

 as soon as the month of November came in it was one continuous gale which 

 blew out the pound nets, and the gill net men could not set or lift nets." 



Overseer Couper, Dunnville, 



Reports the catch of whitefish as fair, and that of pickerel and pike good. 

 The herring fishery was very good until the latter part of the season, when very 



