22 THE REPORT OF THE No. 31 



Illegal fishing by fishermen, is not abating, in fact it would be on the increase if it 

 were not for the fact that fewer are engaged in it, due to high wages for unskilled labor 

 in other occupations 



The reason for the increased tendency to fish illegally, especially trap netting, is 

 bettor facilities, such as gasoline^ power, etc., while at the same time provisions for 

 coping with it have^iot kept pace, in fact they are wholly inadequate for the purpose. 



Regarding his own operations, practically nothing was done untl June ist, when he 

 received a telegram to proceed with his man to LittleCurrent to take over the sailing 

 cruisei " Maud," at that time in charge of Overseer Oliver. He did so, and continued 

 to use her in his district until the close of navigation. He found the "Maud" to be 

 i a strunch and seaworthy craft, but unhandy for cruising purposes. He would recom- 

 mend tint she be dismasted and furnished with gasoline power. 



As gasoline is now in general use for power, he can see no reason why fishermen 

 in the Ge3rgian Bay should be placed under an embargo by being prohibited from using 

 it under license; they will use it in any event, and an increased revenue may as well 

 be derived from it. 



District Overseer Thwaite, Oshawa, reports that the local Overseers have performed 

 their duti s faith'ully, considering the amount of remuneration they receive. He thinks 

 if the Department would impose a license fee of $5 per rod for 'the season for all non- 

 residents of the Province, the extra revenue derived therefrom would enable the Depart- 

 ment to be more liberal with th local overseers, thereby securing more efficient service. 

 The fishing season on Lakes Simcoe &nd Gouchiching has been 'a most successful one. 

 The en Tiers aM report satisfactory catches. The work of restocking the lakes with the 

 gamey Black Bass is a very popular work, and the people are looking forward to good 

 r2sults. Stony Lake still continues to attract large numbers of tourists from the Ameri- 

 can side, who fish incessantly from early morn till late at night. He 'thinks a license 

 fee of ?5.oo for the season should be charged these parties, and does not believe it 

 would deter one in a hundred from visiting the lake. Stony Lake is a favorite resort 

 for tourists from all over the Dominion, as well as the United States. There are some 

 two hundred cottages erected on the various islands in the' lake, some on a most elabor- 

 ate scale. The fishing has been all that could be desired. He again 'urges the desirability 

 of p'aci-'g fishways in the dams on the Indian River. 



The catch of Maskinonge and Bass in Rice Lake has been very good during the past 

 ser.son. The Tcensed fishermen on the lake are also well pleased with their catch of 

 Mudcat and other coarse fish. Lake Scugog as noted for good Bass and Maskinonge fish- 

 ing, several Maskinonge were caught weighing over 20 lbs. each. He is glad to say 

 that the catch this season has been satisfactory to the numerous tourists who visit 

 its shores. 



Ihe Dominion Government contemplate building a concrete dam on Scugog River 

 at Lindsay, and he recommends that a modern fishway be placed in it. 



He a'so recommends that the close season should be from 'ist December till 

 the ist of July, and that some protection 4>e given frogs, or they 'will soon be a thing 

 of the past. He is of the opinion that the number of Bass and Maskinonge to be caught 

 in one day should not exceed 2 Maskinonge and 8 Bass, and that no Bass measuring 

 less than 12 in. long should be kept out of the water. He would yrge that the use of 

 sp'-ars be absolutely prohibited, for they are 'the principal cause 'of the destruction of 

 Lunge durinsr the spawning season. The dumping of saw mill refuse in the rivers and 

 lakes has entirely ceased. K 



Overseer Allan, Wallaceburg, reports that the angling in his division has been ?.ll 

 that could he desired. The anglers who visited this locality are loud in the praise of the 

 ■port that this locality affords. One in particular told him that he had angled in all 

 parts of Georgian Bay, and in a great many of the angling waters of the United States, 



