ISM) I DEPARTMENT OE FISHERIES. 13 



trades would be paralyzed by his disappearance from* his accustomed haunts ; . . . . 

 many a town would lose its principal sources of support, railroad schedules would be 

 revolutionized, and steamboat sailings sadly deranged. . . . He has become an in- 

 tegral and vital part uf our social and commercial organization." To what extent the 

 Ontario Government, in restoring the fishing in our inland lakes, has contributed to 

 the prosperity of the people of the Province, it is, and will be, impossible to estimate ; 

 but some of the fruits are that hundreds of persons are annually induced to visit us 

 who would not otherwise come, and thousands of dollars are finding their way into 

 the pockets of our people which would be spent elsewhere. 



Gasoline Boats. 



Gasoline engines as an auxiliary power are being used by a number of our 

 fishermen, the licenses issued for boats so equipped being 24, as against 14 in 1902. It is 

 conceded that they are a great saving of time and money ; but the advantages of such 

 power are only appreciated by those who have been fortunate in installing a reliable 

 engine. This is not the only requisite, however, for not the least essential attribute to 

 the successful working of an engine is the use of gasoline of a specific gravity not below 

 ;6 degrees ; and though the quality may be perfectly satisfactory when the barrel is 

 first tapped, it will deteriorate with time, and the engine is sometimes blamed when the 

 fault is properly in the gasoline. It frequently happens, also, that too little or too much 

 gasoline or air is used, when the mixture does not vaporize properly, and trouble is 

 sure to arise ; but when these difficulties are overcome, and experience in operation is 

 gained, the convenience and advantages of gasoh'ne power, either alone or as an aux- 

 iliary to sails, are many. Engines, powerful and good running, are now made in Can- 

 ada, and it is no longer necessary to go to the other side for at least as reliable an 

 engine as can be obtained there ; and the price is lower, for the duty is saved'. 



North American Fish and Game Protective Association. 



As was anticipated in our last report, the meeting of the Association, which was 

 held this year at Ottawa on the 21st and 22nd of January, was perhaps the most suc-~ 

 cessful of any in its history, as to numbers in attendance, papers presented, discus- 

 sions engaged in, and results accomplished ; and we do not fail to remember that 

 not the least enjoyable part of the programme provided for the entertainment of the 

 delegates was the magnificent banquet tendered by the sportsmen of the Ottawa Valley. 

 The banqueting hall was artistically decorated with magnificent and rare trophies of the 

 rod and gun. The Hon. Mr. Latchford, President of the Association, presided at the 

 banquet, and the guest of honor was His Excellency the Governor General of Canada. 



Land-Locked Salmon. 



The Department has not yet abandoned hope of obtaining a supply of chis bighly- 

 ptized and popular fish for introduction into some of our inland Jakes; and having 

 failed to procure any from our sister Province, Quebec, application has been made to 

 one of the border States, where they are successfully propagated, an exchange being 

 proposed for ova from our famous Nepigon trout. It would be an important and 

 welcome addition to our game fishes, and we are convinced that the experiment would 

 be entirely successful. A lake with a gravelly outlet and inlet should be selected, as 

 the land-locked salmon both descends and ascends these during the spawning period. 



Carp. 



Owing to the fact that carp increases rapidly, and, it is believed, at the expense 

 of other and better classes of fish, there has been much prejudice against it ; but carp 

 fishing has, nevertheless, become quite an industry during the last year or two, and 

 may yet be one of the most profitable. Large quantities have been sold at six cents 



