50 THE REPORT OF THE No. 31 



was fined $10 and costs. The mill owners have observed the law regarding the 

 pollution of streams by sawdust. There are no fishways in his division. Some 

 of the Indians of Wallpoole Island set hoop nets in Ontario waters, and were 

 fishing for commercial purposes. He told them they must apply for license or 

 take out their nets, and gave them ten days to comply with his orders. They 

 were all removed with the exception of half a set and some baited hooks, which 

 he seized and stored. 



Overseer Armstrong, Nipissing, reports that the fishery laws have been 

 fairly well observed in that district. There were six licenses issued, two for 

 domestic use and four with permission to sell. Two parties securing licenses 

 did not make their annual report to him ; one, as far as he could ascertain, had 

 moved out of the district, and the other claims he had no fishing. He is pleased 

 to say that fishermen report that fish appear to be on the increase in Lake Tam- 

 iscamingue, especially herring and whitefish. New settlers also report all var- 

 ieties of trout in many of the small inland lakes and streams. The rising of the 

 water in the lake in the springtime, which is usually about 12 feet, causes a con- 

 siderable amount of low lands to be inundated for at least six weeks every 

 spring. On some of these low lands there are several saw mills. During the 

 low water these mills dump sawdust on what is their dry land, but in high 

 water some of the sawdust is carried into the lake by currents. The mill 

 owners claim they are not liable. 



Overseer Bailey, Nipissing, reports that during the year 1902, there were 

 no cases of illegal fishing brought before his notice, the laws and regulations 

 being well observed. The angling during the season was not very good owing 

 to the long continued wet and cold weather, which made it very unpleasant for 

 camping tourists. There were no violations regarding the pollution of streams 

 by sawdust, as the mill owners use all the sawdust for fuel and making roads 

 around their property. The fish in Lake Nipissing are in no way diminishing, 

 as there is good angling for, bass, pickerel and pike in almost any part of the 

 lake. The tourists are becoming more numerous every season, and are locating 

 and building on the islands to such an extent that there are very few islands 

 left that are not taken. All that is required now is a little advertising to make 

 this lake the best summer resort of Ontario. There is abundance of goocl fishing 

 and shooting on the islands and shores. 



Overseer Barr, Renfrew, reports that there has been an increase in the num- 

 ber of fish caught as compared with the previous year. No fish are exported, 

 but all are used for home consumption. Quite a number of persons have been 

 fishing with hook and line in White Lake, and selling large quantities of fish 

 thus caught. So far as he has been able to find out, the close season has been 

 fairly well observed. Two cases of illegal fishing he had come under his notice 

 during the year, and convictions secured in both. There is only one saw 

 mill in the district, and the proprietor had attended to instructions re sawdust. 

 There are no fishways in the district. 



Overseer Blondin, Cornwall, reports that the fishing in his division was as 

 good as in former years. Anglers in the vicinity of Cornwall caught some 80 

 or 90 maskinonge during the season. They also report an increase in the catch 

 of pickerel. The catch of pike and perch has also been satisfactory. There were 

 fewer licenced fishermen in this district this year than in the past year. All 

 the fish caught except sturgeon are for home consumption ; the sturgeon are 

 shipped to Montreal. The close seasons are well observed, No violations of 

 the law or illegal fishing came to his notice. There are no fishways in his 

 division. 



