1904 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 21 



so low that the nets were partly out of the water. This, however, applied more to 

 Consecon Lake and the Trent River. The angling was not so good in any of the waters 

 mentioned above, on account of the high water and the high winds, and he thinks the 

 abundance of young shad in the Bay of Quinte had a lot ' to do with the 

 bad angling. They had plenty of bass, but they would not take the bait, there 

 bein,,- a glut of natural food. He thinks the Ontario Government should extend the 

 work of stocking lakes where there are no fish; and re-stocking some that have been 

 fished out, and that the small inland lakes should not be overlooked. A number of 

 natural hatcheries could be started along the Bay of Quinte at a very small expense. 

 There are a few coves where they could be built cheap. The water would be the same 

 as the bay water. The parent bass could be put in the enclosure in the spring, but 

 removed after spawning. The fry could be left until from three to five months old, 

 and then let loose. They would then be able to look out for themselves. The fisher- 

 men, he says, along the Bay of Quinte observed the law fairly well. He seized a few 

 g'll nets in the bay, below Deseronto, and destroyed them. A quantity of bass about 

 five months old were put in the Bay from the bass ponds this fall. A hatch- 

 ery should also be started on the Trent River above Healy's Falls. There could be 

 one built at a small cost on Mr. R. Keller's place. The parent bass could be easily 

 secured, and the C. P. R. and: G. T. R. stations being only about six miles away, they 

 could be conveniently shipped. He thinks spring fishing should not be allowed in the 

 Trent River or between Peterboro and the St. Lawrence River. The spring is the 

 time when most of the fish in these waters spawn; and they should not be disturbed. 

 Fishing with hoop nets, in the fall of the year, will help the game fishing rather than hurt 

 it. The black bass are a very hard fish to catch in a hoop net. They will not lead 

 except in the spring, near spawning time. By stopping spring "fishing, it would protect 

 not only the game fish, but pickerel, which is a fine food fish. 



The fishermen observed the law only fairly well. He had to fine two men in Prince 

 Edward County, one for shipping black bass, and the other for refusing to show from 

 whom he bought fish. In each case a fine of $10 was imposed. He seized three gillViets 

 below Deseronto, and burnt them up. He also seized a quantity of hoop nets at the west 

 end o r WeUer's Bay, and has them yet for sale. He also seized a night line in the Trent 

 River, and one in Hogg Lake. 



District Overseer Pratt, Penetang, reports that fish of all kinds, except Pickerel, are 

 very much on the increase. Game fish, he is fully convinced, have not been so plentiful 

 :or years, Whitefish about normal, Trout in greatly increased numbers, with a more 

 than corresponding increase in size. Pickerel much less than average, and for the first 

 time he reports German Carp as taking a distinct place in the fish of the Georgian Bay. 

 As yet they are p-adical'y limited to shallow water from Waubaushene to McRae's Bay, 

 and ?s considerable apprehension exists as to the ultimate results of the influx of this 

 fish, he hrs given the subject some study, with the result that so far there does not 

 aprear any good reason for believing that they will prove destructive to any but a low 

 grade of fish, or. in other words, fish that frequent the same kind of water, viz., shallow, 

 reedy hays, such as pike, suckers, green bass, etc. They will, however, multiply very 

 fast, and may eventually destroy feeding grounds of better fish. 



Tourists, notwithstanding the unfavorable weather, were in much larger numbers, 

 and it is a certairty that each recurring season will see them in continually increas- 

 ing numbers. Much, more pretentious houses, both hotel, club and private houses, 

 are being built, and catering to the tourist fraternity, especially in providing good fish- 

 ing for them, is. he believes, the largest factor to be taken into consideration in making 

 and carrying out fishing regulations. Of course he does not wish to be understood 

 as referring to anywhere but his own district. 



Tourists are observing fishery regultions much better than formerly, although the 

 fishing hog is still with us. and he must, at the risk of being considered importunate, 

 reiterate his recommendation of last year that a synopsis of the law be placarded freely. 



