THE REPORT OF THE No. 31 



lest this year by fishermen from one port alone. The number of fish caught by these 

 derelict nets, not to speak of the effect of the decomposed fish upon the fisheries, must 

 be considerable. 



Ihe improvident custom of setting gill nets late in the fall and during the win- 

 ter months is believed to have a disastrous effect upon the fisheries, as well as 

 to result in great pecuniary loss to the fishermen from the sweeping away of their 

 •nets during that usually stormy period. 



In Lake Ontario it is reported that the species of fish known as Ciscoe, which was 

 caught years ago in such large numbers, "is coming back again," and that out of 6,000 

 fish taken in two or three lifts by Bronte fishermen, 90 per cent, were ciscoes. This 

 gladdened the hearts of the old fishermen, who prophesy that they will be as numerous 

 as in former years. It is hoped their expectations may be realized. There is no finer 

 flavored fish in the market than the ciscoe. 



Angling is reported to have been good everywhere, and particularly so in the Nepigon. 

 A large number of tourists visited the river, and some fine trout were hooked. More 

 Canadians wet their lines than usual. It has been recommended that fly fishing only 

 should hereafter be permitted in the Nepigon, and that live bait, artificial minnows, and 

 mechanical contrivances of all kinds should be tabooed Certainly the former is more 

 sportsmanlike, and is sufficiently deadly in skilful hands to insure a full creel. This 

 is evidenced by the fact that one visitor during a short stay killed twelve trout (salvelinus 

 fortunalis) weighing from five to seven pounds each, and of an aggregate weight of 60 

 pounds. Sand River, which empties into Lake Nepigon at its north west corner, is said 

 to be fairly alive with brook trout up to six pounds in weight, and no doubt will, as 

 soon as it can be conveniently reached, become second only to the Nepigon in popularity. 

 Several sea salmon are reported to have been taken in the St. Lawrence. Some 

 doubt, however, has been expressed as to whether these fish were of the species known 

 as salmo salar ; but, from the descriptions given, there is every reason to believe that 

 they were. If any one capturing a fish, which he thinks is a true salmon, would care- 

 fully pack it and forward it to the Department, the Department would feel under an 

 obligation to him, and would gladly pay the express charges thereon. On page <j7 

 will be found a plate which will enable the species to be identified. 



Reports have from time to time reached the Department that a fish said to be 

 the Grayling is to be found in Northern Ontario; but these reports have never been 

 verified. Richardson, in "Fauna Boreali-Americana," states that it abounds in the 

 rocky streams that flow through the primitive country lying north of the 62nd parallel 

 of latitude, but he does not record that he found it further south. It is said to still 

 inhabit the waters of both the southern and northern peninsulas of Michigan, and thaf 

 it was 'ormerly very abundant in the Au Sable and Jordan Rivers of Northern Michi- 

 gan, though now practically exterminated by the lumbering operations carried on in 

 that region. It would certainly be a delightful bit of information to find that this 

 fish really was to be found in Ontario waters ; and with a view to assisting in determin- 

 ing: the fact, a cut of the Grayling has been. inserted at p. 98. in order that compari- 

 son may be made. Its dorsal fin is so unlike that of any other fish thaf anyone will 

 be able to decide the matter without difficulty, as soon as he sees the plate. Its coloring 

 is described by Jordan and Evermann to be as follows : "His pectorals are olive-brown, 

 with a bluish tint at the end; the ventrals are striped with alternate streaks of brown 

 a^.i pink: the anal is plain brown; the caudal is very forked and plain; while the crown- 

 ing glory is the immense dorsal, which is dotted with large, brilliant-red or bluish- 

 purple spots, surrounded with a splendid emerald green, which fades after death — the 

 chargeable shade of green seen in the peacock's tail." There is said to be no species 

 nought for by anglers which surpasses the Grayling in beautv or gameness. 



A Speckled Trout weighing three pounds was taken in a net in Lake Erie opposite 

 the County of Kent. The fisherman was thoughtful enough to present it to the Depart- 

 ment, and it has been mounted for preservation as a rara avis in those water?. 



