1902 DEPARTMENT OF FISBERIES. 57 



heavy thunder and rain storms of the past season by many of the fishermen, 

 while others think that the operations of American and Canadian gill net tugs 

 are responsible to a certain extent for the decrease in the pound net catch. 

 Fully 95 per cent, of the fish caught in this division were exported to the United 

 States, the balance being used for home consumption. No abuses exist in this 

 district, unless the complaint of some residents that they are unable to procure 

 fish for home use from some of the fishermen can be called an abuse. Many of 

 the fishermen contract their fish for the season to American buyers, and then 

 refuse to supply residents at the market price, thereby causing irritation. The 

 several close seasons were well observed. I made frequent examinations of 

 shipments at different points, but did not find anything wrong. I also visited 

 nets at different times, and found everything all right. Although numerous 

 complaints were made of violations of the close season on whitefish, I am of the 

 opinion that they were made by parties who did not know the difference between 

 large herring and whitefish The herring caught this fall were of unusual size 

 and quality. Three cases of illegal fishing came to my knowledge, one using 

 more nets than licensed. 1 confiscated several gill nets so used. Two cases of 

 fishing gill nets without licenses were brought to my notice. One was fined $15 

 and costs by the magistrate before whom I laid the complaint; the other case, 

 the individual acknowledged his guilt to me, and I fined him $35. Some com- 

 plaints of illegal gill netting were made against some other parties, but I failed 

 to catch them or to secure evidence sufficient to convict them. I shall keep 

 these parties in mind during the coming season. The issuing of gill net licenses 

 in the Pelee Island division gave these parties, they thought, an excuse for using 

 gill nets. The pound net fishermen in this division complained that the parties 

 holding gill net licenses on Pelee Island came over into this division and set 

 their nets close to the pound nets on this shore. If this statement is correct, it 

 certainly looks very unfair to the pound net fishermen here. There are no saw 

 mills in this district that are liable to do injury to the fisheries. There are no 

 fishways in Es^ex, as there is no necessity for them here. The majority of the 

 fishermen lost heavily this fall by the sudden set-in of winter. They kept their 

 nets in until into December, some of them hoping to get a few good catches to 

 help make up for the poor season. Though winter set in with heavy gales and 

 rough weather, they were unable to remove their nets and stakes. The result 

 is a loss of between $6,000 and $8,000 to the fishermen in this division. The 

 opinion of the majority of the fishermen now is, that if the Dominion Depart- 

 ment of Fisheries would permit the taking of whitefish up to the 15th or 20th 

 of November, and then prohibit all fishing after that date, a greater measure of 

 protection would be afforded to the whitefish than under the present regulation, 

 and would incidentally give protection to spawning herring, which spawn from 

 the 20th November till into December. I am strongly of the opinion that such 

 a change would be beneficial to all interests concerned. If fishermen were com- 

 pelled to remove their fishing gear by the 20th November, the losses which 

 occurred this fall would not be repeated. 



Overseer Legault, Sturgeon Falls, reports, that the quantity of sturgeon 

 caught during the season was not so great as in tHe previous year, but the fish 

 were of a much superior quality. The fishermen do not know what caused the 

 decrease in the catch. There have be *n no abuses. Several complaints were 

 made but when the charges were investigated, no proof could be given by com- 

 plainants, and he attributed the charges to jealousy among the licensees, some 

 of whom laid charges of trespass against their neighbors, but which were after- 

 wards amicably settled. The close seasons have been strictly observed. There 

 was no injury done in his division by dumping mill refuse in the waters by mill 

 owners. He would respectfully recommend and urge the department, for the 



