i»04 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 17 



half century, and which if continued must result in their complete annihilation, and that 

 the time has come when the question cannot longer be flirted with. It has resolved 

 itself into this : There must be immediate intervention on the part of the two great 

 countries which these waters unite, whose sacred duty it is to devise means, and to 

 take steps which will prevent such a calamity — steps which will ensure to our children's 

 children their rightful heritage ; steps which, while having these objects mainly in view, 

 must not stirle. but encourage and develop an industry by which is supplied one of our 

 most wholesome and nutritious of foods. Speaking for this Province, we believe that 

 it would be possible, by the union of forces, to yet establish the fisheries of these 

 Great L- kes on a basis of permanency and increased productiveness, one not, ; only 

 in perfect harmony with the public interests, but with the interests of those engaged in 

 the industry. As was announced in the last report, the attcnton of the border States 

 has already been invited to the matter. Interviews between the Commissioners of the 

 State of Michigan and Ohio and the Deputy Commissioner took place in Detroit in 

 the month of October, and arrangements were completed for a general conference of 

 representatives from all the States. A date in December was subsequently fixed! for 

 this meeting, but it was ultimately ascertained that a full attendance could not be 

 obtained at the time named, in consequence of some of the Commissioners having 

 peremptory engagements elsewhere. A postponement until a date in March was there- 

 fore decided upon. It is gratifying to be able to announce that all of the States, without 

 a single exception, have indicated an intense interest in the subject, and a full re- 

 presentation is expected. The adequate machinery can only be secured by 

 the co-operation of (he jurisdictions interested. Many discouragements will 

 no doubt be* met with before what is aimed at will be accomplished. But 

 if proceeded with energetically and judiciously, success will ultimately reward our 

 efforts. It will certainly not be the fault of those immmediately having to do with 

 the administration if failure results. The first sod has been turned, so to speak. 



The Biological Station in the Georgian Bay. 



Dr. B. A. Bensley of Toronto University reports as follows : 



Our first efforts last season were directed towards the observation of the spawning 

 habits of the small and 'large mouthed bass. The season was well advanced at the 

 time of the first observations (May 25th), but the shores of the shallow swamps and 

 inlets were lined with the characteristic excavations or nests occurring in from one to 

 three or four feet of water. A large number of the nests belonged to the Rock Bass 

 (Anibloplytes), and some to Sunfish. 



We attempted to hatch and rear samples of the eggs, but the experiment was un- 

 successful, apparently because we had not available a sufficient supply of running 

 water. Later in the season an efficient aquarium table and a pumping engine were 

 installed, so that this difficulty will not recur. 



During the remainder of the season we collected the young of the game and other 

 fishes for the purpose of discovering the kind of food taken by them at different stages 

 of growth. In connection with this we made a very extensive collection of the micro- 

 sccpic germs of the water, which constitute the first food of the young fish. These 

 collections were made by means of silk nets, towed periodically on the surface and deep 

 at eight stations passing from the open water of Georgian Bay to the first falls on the 

 Go-Home River. 



The collection for purposes of classification of the fishes in general, begun last year, 

 was practically completed. Our best thanks are due your Department for the pri- 

 vilege of operating certain nets for this purpose. 



With reference to the preservation of the game fishes of Georgian Bay, I woujd 

 like to point out the probability that the close season is not sufficiently inclusive. 

 Small-mouthed Bass were observed on the spawning beds towards the end of June, and 

 our caretaker, an experienced fisherman, states that this is not exceptional 

 2— F 



