52 THE REPORT OF THE No. 31 



with the determination of returning another year. He is pleased to report that 

 the number of tourists is increasing every year. The local fishermen had a 

 very successful season ; the quantity and quality of fish caught were much 

 superior to former years. While the principal market was St. Vincent, N.Y„ 

 many of the fishermen shipped direct to New York City. 



Overseer Clark, Prince Edward, reports that the catch of fish is a little in 

 excess of 1901, and the prices obtained are a little in advance. The greater 

 number of licenses issued accounts for the increase. About 85 per cent, are ex- 

 ported, and 15 per cent, are consumed at home. The shad caught are manufac- 

 tured into oil and fertilizer at Consecon. The product is valuable. The close 

 season has been very well observed. Very little, if any, illegal fishing has come 

 under his notice. During the early part of the season he seized three hoop nets 

 and four gill nets. There were no complaints of mill refuse being allowed to 

 run into the water. There are no fishways in his division. 



Overseer Clyde, Frontenac, reports that the catch of every kind of fish, 

 with the exception of perch, which about holds its own, has considerably 

 increased over the year of 1901, and with the increase in the quantity of the 

 catch, there is shown a corresponding increase in the value of the fish sold. 

 This increase as shown by the report of 1902, as compared with that of lv-01, 

 may in part be explained by an increase in the number of licenses issued for 

 1902, and also, he believes, by a more accurate count by the fishermen of their 

 catch. He has endeavored to obtain as accurate a statement as possible from 

 each, and with the exception of one or two cases, perhaps, feels that the figures 

 returned represent the catch in his district fairly accurately. He had but two 

 cases of illegal fishing for the year, as compared with twenty-seven for 1901 ; he 

 takes pleasure in referring to this as indicating a growing regard for the law. 

 He is still convinced of the soundness of his recommendation of last year with 

 regard, first, to the statutory length of bass, and secondly, to increasing the 

 length of gill nets, in the case of domestic licenses, from 30 to 100 yards, and 

 advancing the license fee from Si. 00 to $2.00. 



Overseer Couper, Monck. reports that the catch of fish in his division was a 

 good one, with the exception of white6sh. The tug fishermen of Port Maitland 

 had a splendid catch of herring, blue pickerel, pike and perch in the months of 

 November and December. The laws were well observed. He had no trouble 

 with fishermen in his division. 



Overseer Cousineau, Essex, reports that although the catch of fish for the 

 past season was not so large as that of 1901, nevertheless the result of the 

 fishing operations was quite satisfactory. There was a notable decrease in the 

 catch of fish taken by set lines, owing no doubt to the neglect in looking after 

 the line, as most of the licensees who operate night lines follow other occupations 

 as well as fishing. There was a fair increase in the catch of pike and cattish, 

 and a large increase in the catch of German carp. When the fishermen are 

 better prepared to keep the carp until cold weather, the catch will increase more 

 than 100 per cent , as this kind of fish is increasing in numbers at a fast rate. 

 Owing to the shifting of the ice fields in that portion of Lake St Clair which 

 forms part of his district, the fishermen are unable to take full advantage of the 

 already short season for hoop net fishing. Fully ninety per cent, of the catch of 

 fish is exported to the United States. The pric* s for the different kinds of fish 

 were higher owing to the keen competition of the different buyers. The whitefish 

 and herring taken were on an average much larger than for many past seasons. 



Overseer Craig, Frontenac, reports that the catch for 1902 is equal to, and 

 in some waters much larger than 1901. Bull heads and other coarse fish are 

 plentiful, the demand from the United States larger than formerly, and the 



