1902 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 69 



inate this destructive fish. The hoop net set in the Otter Creek at Port Bur- 

 well did not have the desired effect, owing probaMy, in part, to the net not 

 being properly set, and partly by the net being interfered with by parties living 

 up the stream. There are no fishways in his division, although at one time, 

 before the dam was rebuilt at Vienna, he thinks one was in existence there. 

 About the only fish that would make use of it probably were mullet and suckers. 

 •On the whole the clo^e seasons were well observed. Of blue pickerel, while 

 some very fair catches were made by one or two men, he thinks, on the whole, 

 it is a mistake to protect this fish, for they certainty destroy a great quantity 

 of the more valuable fish, and the market for this fish is not what it used to be ; 

 in fact they are nearly valueless from a commercial standpoint. 



Overseer Wood, Toronto, reports that there has been a large falling off in 

 the catch of herring during the year 1902. This may be accounted for by the 

 adverse winds and currents which prevailed during a greater part of the season. 

 The fishermen report that in the early part of the season, while the weather 

 was favorable, the catch was somewhat larger than last season. There was also 

 a depreciation in the quantity of whitefish taken. In regard to this it is claimed 

 by the fishermen that the refuse from the city is deposited on the fe°ding beds, 

 thereby destroying the food supply and driving the fish to other waters. He 

 has seen nets tilled with what was no doubt tilth from the city. There was a 

 satisfactory increase in the trout catch during the season. The law was well 

 observed on the whole. In two cases fines were imposed on parties for setting 

 nets in prohibited waters, and a quantity of maskinonge was confiscated. The 

 transportation companies and police officials have shown a disposition to help 

 keep the laws and regulations of the Department. 



Overseer Yates, Huron, reports that the season has been a poor one, the 

 first part being very stormy, which interfered very much with fishermen. The 

 pound net men particularly suffered on this account. The fish caught were of a 

 larger size, and the quality good. There were not as many licenses issued in 

 this division this year as in former years. He is pleased to report that the close 

 season has been well observed for the past two years ; this, he thinks, accounts 

 for the excellent bass fishing in his district during the year. The catch was 

 p;ood and of excellent quality. The catch of herring and perch with hook and 

 line was very large at Goderich, Port Albert and Bayfield. The mill owners 

 have observed the laws regarding the pollution of streams with sawdust. On 

 the whole, he says, the laws have been fairly well observed. About thirty -five 

 per cent, of the catch is sold in the local market. 



REPORT OF THE CAPTAIN OF THE CRUISER GILPHIE. 



Southampton, Dec. 31st, 1902 



Sir, — I beg to submit my fourth annual report of the work done by the 

 Fisheries Cruiser " Gilphie.'' 



I proceeded, along with the engineer, to fit out the vessel on the 24th 

 March, and she was ready for work on the 9th April. Owing to stormy 

 w r eather, however, we were not able to leave port until the 10th, when we sailed 

 down the south shore as far as Collingwood, where we remained all the follow- 

 ing day interviewing the overseer and fishermen. On Thursday, the 11th, we 

 left for Penetang, calling at Christian Islands, Cedar Point and Thunder Bay. 

 On Monday morning we left Penetang, remaining over night at Muskoka Mills, 

 and on the following day we succeeded in capturing 9 trap nets in the vicinity 



