1904 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 19 



OVERSEERS" REPORTS. 



J. C. judd, District Overseer, Morion, reports that the district under his super- 

 vision embiaccs over oco lakes, mtit such a variety 01 attractiveness and diversity of 

 iciurt.5 tiiai it is annosi inconceivable, tie says u is aouDttul in any territory in the 

 world naving liie same area can be round containing sublnner scenery, better fishing, 

 and within easier access, a territory " where civilization has made its way and yet not 

 marred the beauty ot nature,'' where possibility is beyond the dream ot the ambitious 

 ar.g.er. 



There has teen within the last few years a wonderful awakening of interest on 

 the pa.t of the people, and a large increase in the number of summer visitors. The 

 atten ijn which \our Department is giving to the matter of protection is much appre- 

 ciate 



During the past season special effort has been made .to interview boatmen and 

 tourists, and to impress them with the fact that the returning to the water every 

 black bass caught would, soon develop better fishing, and increase the small-moutn 

 bass which they desire, much more rapidly than the stocking by your officers, and it 

 is gcaii.ying to know that in many lakes on the Rideau this idea was carefully and 

 will.ngly observed. One hundred black bass are said to have been caught in one 

 dav by four tourists and not one bass killed. Further, it was suggested that if this 

 was b: ought to the attention of tourists as a special request by way of notices dis- 

 tributed at ihe hoteJs, it would do much good. There is a desire on the part oi boat- 

 men and anglers to iutther limit the number of catch and increase the regulation size 

 of ba.-s. Many catch and kill to the limit, and occasionally to excess, yet it is thought 

 th;a a lessening of limit will be adhered to quite as well, and that the interested feeling 

 of toi.r stis ;n re.aining good fishing is such that the great majority of them will 

 frown uj- on an excessive catch. Last season the tourists were in harmony with the 

 above, and were ready and willing to call the attention of the overseers to such, and 

 even to infractions. These are certainly encouraging features. • 



Licenses. As mentioned in a former report, the issuing of licenses ought to 

 depend upon the condition of lakes. Where it is known that the catch of bullheads 

 is very small, hoopnet licenses ought not to be granted. 



The " Eva Bell." The patrol boat " Eva Bell " in the spring ha>d a thorough 

 overhauling. The old boiler was replaced with a new one, and some of the timbers 

 and flanking were also renewed. She was carefully inspected by the Government in- 

 sp' ctors at Kingston, a certificate of which she carries on b oar d, and has given good 

 satisfaction curing the year. Perhaps the best evidence which can be given as to her 

 rtance on this chain of lakes is to state the fact that, after the close of the 

 sea on when she had to make for port in consequence of ice taking, there have been 

 som'-; twenty-five convictions for illegal net fishing, while during her patrol no such 

 infractions were heard of. Her former master during the summer resigned to accept 

 a more lucrative position, but his place was taken by Mr. John Roddick, who will make 

 a courteous, careful and vigilant officer, as evidenced by the fact that he seized a num- 

 ber of nets during the early part of the fall. He would recommend that a boathouse 

 bo bui't for the boat at Jones' Falls, midway in her patrol, and where coal may be safely 

 kept, and where she coild be hauled out for winter. 



Angiers' Associations : Your recognition of anglers' associations is another en- 

 couraging feature, and attention is again called to the importance of these associations. 

 Their formation will eventually be the soslution of the problem of protection. Every 

 year furnishes further evidence of this fact. 



These associations, like all others, can only be properly organized and kept active 

 under the srpervis'on of an officer, who is constantly in touch with them. 



