16 THE REPORT OF THE No. 31 



The Mnnitou Company has also erected, and has ready for occupation, a 

 hatch ry capable of hatching 50,000,000 eggs. 



Close Seasoni for Frogs. 



The Department is urged to establish a close season for frogs, concurrent with 

 the close season for bass and maskinonge, not only as a means for the better pro- 

 tection of the former "and to prevent their extermination, which is said to be fast 

 approaching, but for the reason also that under the pretence of spearing frogs many 

 bass and maskinonge are taken when on the spawning beds — a fact difficult to estab- 

 lish where the fish are not actually found in possession. As what is suggested would 

 impose no apparent hardship upon anyone, and as many fish would no doubt be saved, 

 the establishment of a season covering the period from 1st April to 1st July is re- 

 commended. 



Great Lake Fisheries. 



The maintenance and preservation of our Great Lake or commercial fisheries 

 are perhaps of primary importance to that of conserving those commonly known as 

 the inland or sentimental fisheries. This must be done, mainly, by propagation and, 

 protection ; propagation by preventing the taking of immature fish, that the greatest 

 possible opportunity may be afforded for natural reproduction, and by largely increas- 

 ing the output of our hatcheries ; and protection, by exercising a vigorous policy of 

 supervision, the requirement of a strict compliance with the laws and regulations, and 

 the prompt prosecution and punishment of persons for violating the same. This burden 

 cannot be assumed exclusively by the Department, for though the lakes and rivers, and 

 the fish therein, have been declared by our Court of Final Resort to be the property 

 of the Province, the same Court has, strange as it may appear, delegated to the Fed- 

 eral Government jurisdiction in many important respects over Provincial property. This 

 jurisdiction may or may not be exercised in what the Province may consider its best 

 interests ; but, be that as it may, that is the situation as defined by the Judicial Com- 

 mitter of the Privy Council. While there may be every desire on the part of the sep- 

 arate jurisdictions to work in harmony and for the common end, the one is at any 

 time subject to what may be termed the arbitrary view which the other may entertain, 

 or authority which it may exercise. The Dominion has the power to enact fishery regu- 

 Saticns and restriction's, to prescribe the times of year during which fishing may be 

 allowed, and to stipulate the implements which may be employed for the purpose. 

 The Province may, among other things, issue or withhold licenses ; it may authorize 

 O r refuse the use of certain implements of capture which may appear to it undesirable, 

 though such implements have not already been prohibited by Federal action ; it may 

 grant a license for one month or longer, as it may consider proper, subject, of course, 

 to the season of prohibition established by the Federal Government ; it may cancel 

 a li ense before the period for which it has been issued has expired ; it may refuse a 

 lice se for any locality, or for any authorized impelment of capture, should it consider 

 that fishing under such license would be a detriment to the fisheries, or to the industry 

 as engaged in by another class of fishermen with other implements of capture ; it may 

 insert in its license a condition that fish under a certain size shall be returned to the 

 water ; and it may prohibit the sale of fish for a longer or shorter period. It will, 

 therefore, be perceived that the powers conferred on the Province by the Judgment 

 are even greater than those upon the Dominion ; and it may be said that the Pro- 

 vnce, fully recognizing that fact, and conscious of the great responsibility imposed 

 upon it, has firmly grasped the situation, and in dealing with these various matters Ins 

 discharged the duty imposed upon it fearlessly and faithfully. It has early recognized 

 that the fishermen are each year going behind, that the yield of our Great Lakes' 

 fisheries is annually becoming less, that we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that this 

 i? the consequent result of the excessive fishing which has been carried on for the last 



