1902 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 53 



prices are higher. The licensed fishermen are veil satisfied with their catch. 

 Although more licenses were granted for herring fishing than in former years, 

 all the fishermen caught sufficient for their domestic use, and report that the fish 

 were plentiful and of good s'ze. Tourists are increasing each year. Several 

 very fine cottages and boat houses were built last summer, which help to beautify 

 the lake. The bass fishing was good up to the last of September. He would 

 recommend that the number of bass to be lawfully taken by tourists be reduced 

 to eight in one day, and the length extended to eleven or twelve inches. Ling 

 are very numerous. He reports being present at Bob's Lake, when eighty-five 

 ling were taken out of one hoop net, some weighing 12 lbs. Every means should 

 be taken to destroy this fish, as it is most destructive to the better class of fish, 

 and is useless either as a food or game fish. He again calls attention to the 

 protection of salmon trout in winter, as a greater number of smaller fish are 

 taken at that time than at any other time of the year. Several people in his 

 district make a living by fishing through the ice, and think a fee of so much 

 per line should be charged. The law has been fairly well observed. He 

 thinks the public willing to give more assistance to the overseer on discharging 

 his duties than formerly. He seized three gill nets and a number of night lines 

 during the year. 



Overseer Crotty, Kent, reports no violations of the law, therefore no convic- 

 tions or fines. There are no dams or fish ways in his division. He would sug- 

 gest an early issuance of licenses, and an extension of his territory to the town 

 line of Middlesex and Kent. 



Overseer Donaldson, Frontenac, reports that the fishery laws were fairly 

 well observed throughout his district. There were no fishing licenses granted 

 excepting for domestic purposes. He regrets to say, it is very diflficn.lt to get 

 fishermen to send in their returns at the end of the fishing season. He also 

 finds that in several cases, applications have been made for licenses, and after 

 they were issued the applicants failed to pay the fee. He would respectfully 

 recommend that all applicants for license be required to deposit the fees, or a 

 portion of the fee, before the license be issued. By their depositing a certain 

 sum as a guarantee of good faith, it would save considerable trouble and 

 expense. On April 22nd, 1902, he inspected Antoine Lake, Township Palmers- 

 ton, and seized one gill net 150 ft. long, 5 ft. deep, and 2-inch mesh ; also one 

 boat valued at about one dollar. He would recommend that spearing pike be 

 not allowed at any time of the year in his district, as it is the means of great 

 slaughter of those fish during the month of April. There are many streams in 

 that locality in which no other fish of value exist, and the pike is looked upon 

 as one of their best fish. He regrets to say that some of the small lakes and 

 streams have been almost stripped of this valuable fish, owing to the practice of 

 spearing. 



Overseer Driscoll, Howe Island, reports that the angling in his division has 

 been fully up to former years, and the fish of a fine quality, and plentiful. The 

 fishery laws were well observed. No instances of illegal fishing came to his 

 notice. 



Overseer Flynn, Addington, reports an increase in the catch in his district, 

 and that" the prices secured were about the same as in 1901„ About forty per 

 cent, of the fish caught were exported to the United States, and the remainder 

 were used for home consumption. Considerable money was expended by 

 tourists during the months of July, August and part of September. They 

 express their approval of the present fishery regulations, and the policy of the 

 Department in issuing hoop net licenses for lakes frequented by ling. Five 

 cases of illegal fishing were reported in his division ; a conviction was secured 



