1902 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 37 



ation of the dams, procure information, and report upon the subject. Hid report 

 was forwarded to tbe Department at Ottawa , the question of the necessity of 

 tishways being, as has been pointed out in a former report, one for the Federal 

 Government, and not for the ProvincialGovernment, to decide. It may be s lid, 

 however ; that it is not always expedient to erect afishway simply because one is 

 desired, as it would in many cases afford a means of entranc^of undesirable 

 fish to our inland waters, which could not but be regarded as- a calamity. 



Sawdust. 



The law with respect to the pollution of waters with sawdust and mill 

 refuse has been rigidly enforced, and where persistent violations have been 

 committed, after repeated warnings, fines have been imposed as an earnest of the 

 department to stop the practice. Ample opportunity of determining that 

 sawdust is injurious to fish life has been given the department while engaged 

 in transplanting its bass, where the ice used had not been thoroughly rinsed. 

 On an examination of the bass which had died in transmission, particles of sawdust 

 were found between the gills, which it may be assumed caused the death of many 

 of the fish. But the danger to and effects upon fish life from this pollution do 

 not alone arise from this cause, but they are also due to the poisonous gases 

 which are emitted from the decaying deposits ; and these gases are not only 

 most deadly to fish life, but they are a great menace to human health as well. 

 It may be assumed that for this reason in waters in the vicinity of old mill 

 sites no fish are usually to be found. With modern appliances for burning and 

 disposing of mill refuse, and as fuel becomes scarcer and more valuable, com- 

 plaints have been much less frequent. 



The North American Fish and Game Protective Association. 



The Association held its second annual meeting in Burlington, Vermont, on 

 the 22nd and 23rd January, 1902, at which there was a good representation of 

 members from the neighboring States, and provinces of Canada. A number of 

 valuable and interesting papers were presented, and two days were spent in pro- 

 fitable discussion and intercourse. Copies of the official report containing the 

 transactions of the meeting, in which were embodied certain suggested reforms 

 in the fish and game laws, were ordered to be sent to the Governments of Canada 

 and the States in which it was desired the suggestions should become law. The 

 Hon. Mr. Latchford was elected president for the current year, and Ottawa was 

 appointed as the next place of meeting. Mr. Tinsley and the undersigned were 

 in attendance, representing this province. The whole-souled hospitality 

 extended to the visitors by their co-adjutors of Vermont will, it is safe to say, 

 not soon be forgotten, and Ontario will be only too anxious for the arrival of 

 the day when she may have the opportunity of showing what she can do in her 

 own way for the entertainment of the Association. The fact that the next 

 meeting is to be held in the " Capital City," it is superfluous to say, already 

 assures its success. 



Leasing Lakes for Commercial Fishing. 



The undersigned in his annual report for the year 1900 referred to the 

 subject of the leasing of lakes for commercial fishing in these terms : 



" A general policy on the subject of the leasing of lakes for commercial fish- 

 ing should, as soon as may be, be approved and announced, but more especially 

 with reference to the lakes in our new districts. These lakes should be regarded 

 as so many farms, the property of the province, and be dealt with in the same 

 way — leased or rented for a number of years — the province being the landlord 



