1900 ] FISHERIES DEPARTMENT. 41 



are taking more interest in the protection of the fish, particularly when they are 

 on the spawning grounds. No complaints of illegal fishing came to his notice. 



Overseer A. B. Messecar, Bur ford : 



States that the fishery regulations were well observed, not a single case of 

 illegal fishing having been brought to his notice. The angling in the streams in 

 his division is improving. He recommends the transplanting of bass in these 

 waters and believes they will increase rapidly with proper protection. 



Overseer John H. Wilmot, Beaumaris : 



Reports that the angling during the past season has been better than 

 for several years, although the run of fish has been smaller. This more particu- 

 larly applies to bass in the Muskoka chain of lakes. The bass transplanted from 

 Lake Nipissing to the lakes adjacent to Huntsville have proved a marked success. 

 Numerous fry having been seen in the lakes this year which prove beyond a 

 doubt that the conditions were in all respects favorable. The laws have been 

 well observed, although there have be^n several prosecutions for selling bass or 

 speckled trout. Only one case has arisen in which he had any trouble with mill 

 men. There is a growing agitation for a means to be provided for the ingress of 

 fish from the Georgian Bay to the Musk oka lakes. This difficulty could easily 

 be surmounted by the blasting out of small trickle-ways round the existing ob- 

 structions, and would, in his opinion, be the cheapest, easiest and most permanent 

 method of keeping the above named lakes supplied. 



Overseer Smith, Gravenhwrst : 



Reports the fishing operations as being equal to any previous season, and al- 

 though some anglers complain of the scarcity of fish, he is satisfied that the fault 

 lies with anglers and not in the absence of the fish. It is impossible to give an 

 estimate of the quantity taken, but is satisfied it was large. There were several 

 parties prosecuted and fined for illegal fishing. The close seasons were well ob- 

 served, but there are a number of persons residing on the shores of the lakes who 

 have in years past systematically violated the fishery laws, and it is difficult to 

 catch them. One party has now been sent to gaol for violation of the Fishery 

 Laws, and this will, no doubt, have a salutory effect on the others. The law 

 respecting the pollution of waters was not violated, as care was taken by the 

 several mill owners to keep the sawdust and other mill refuse out of the water. 

 There are no fish ways in the division, and he does not consider any necessary. 



REPORT OF CAPTAIN OF CRUISER " GILPHIE." 



S. T. Bas/edo, Esq., Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries . 



Sir, — I have the honor to submit my second annual report of the work per- 

 formed by the Fisheries Protection steamer " Gilphie " for the season 1900. 



The crew went aboard the vessel at Owen Sound on the 30th April, and by 

 the 9th of May everything was in readiness fur work, but, owing to the very 

 heavy weather we were unable to leave port before next morning. We put to sea 

 at 6 a.m., and arrived at Christian Islands at 2 p.m., where we made diligent 

 enquiries as to illegal fishing, but as everything seemed to be running smoothly 

 there I proceeded to Thunder Bay. 



On the 11th at 7 a.m. I left Thunder Bay, calling at Methodist Dock, and 

 grappled for nets all the way to Giants Tomb Island but did not succeed in 

 finding any. I then proceeded to Musk oka Mills and River, and from thence to 

 Penetaug Bay. 



On the following morning we took the sail boat and grappled along the 

 south shore by way of Sawlog Point, thence to Beausoliel Island and on to the 



