1904 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 25 



pickerel. One man, whose business is to guide tourists, reports 1,250 lbs. caught. 

 Another man who follows a similar occupation reports a catch of over 700 lbs. of 

 pickerel and other fish, such as pike and perch. There has been an increase in the catch 

 of Mrskinonge. An Indian reports a catch of 27, and in all a catch of about 70 Maski- 

 nonge has come to his notice, having been caught by different men. All the fish 

 caiglr are for home consumption. 



There has been a great number of tourists, and the district seems to be becoming 

 more popular every year as a summer resort. 



No i 1 1 gal fishing came to his notice, the close seasons have been well observed- 

 There are no fishways in his division. 



Overseer Bowerman, Port Perry, reports that the fishing has not been as good as 

 the pre\ious year, owing to the very low water ; this is a very serious drawback to the 

 ai gling. on account of the great quantities of weeds exposed. 



He suggests that winter fishing through the ice be prohibited, and that the close 

 sfoson should be from 1st December to 1st of June. 



The laws and regulations of the Department were well observed. 



Ov<rseer Brady, Lindsay, reports that maskinonge and bass were not as plentiful 

 as in former years, although much larger in size. Two-thirds of the fish taken are used 

 for home consumption and one-third is taken by the tourists to points in Ontario and 

 United States. A very large number of tourists from the United States visited that 

 locality this year. 



With the exception of a few old offenders who were fined for fishing during the 

 close reason, the law was well observed. During the year he confiscated four snares, 

 five spears, one jack-light, and one canoe, all of which he destroyed. There is only 

 sne fishway in his division, and it is in good repair. He would recommend a close 

 reason for frogs, from the 1st of November to the 15th of July, as in the fall and spring 

 of the year the frog lamp is used by poacherss instead of a jacklight to spear fish, 

 and no doubt a great many Maskinonge are killed. Besides this, ducks will not re- 

 main to hatch where they are continually disturbed at night by the frog lamp. He 

 also recommends a close season for Maskinonge and Bass from the 1st of December 

 to the 1st of June, or as long as Bass are allowed to be taken through the ice with 

 bait it will be impossible to protect the Maskinonge from being snared. 



Overseer Brown, Baysville, reports that the Speckled Trout fishing in the river 

 has been excellent, and that in the Lake of Bays the angling for Lalce Trout has been 

 all that could be desired. The Black Bass that were planted in the lake by the De- 

 partment, he says, are doing well. Several parties have reported having seen large 

 quantities of the young fry in different parts of the lake. The settlers are fully alive 

 to the importance of protecting this fish, as they realize that it is the ideal fish from 

 a tourist's point of view, as it can be aken a any tune of the year, and are as gamey 

 as any fish that swims. The close season and other regulations were well observed ; no 

 cas-3 of illegal fishing came to his notice. 



Overseer Brown, Rockdale, reports the catch of this season to be lighter than that 

 Of former years. Maskinonge and Bass are on the increase in the lakes, and Speckled 

 Trout in the creeks are reported as plentiful. 



A large number of tourists visited the district during the season, and were pleased 

 with their catch, and some are erecting cottages. 



The close seasons were well observed, and no cases of illegal fishing came under 

 his observation. 



Overseer Cattanach, Wolfe Island, reports that the Bass fishing during the re- 

 cent season was largely in excess of that of former years. The district is becoming 

 a very popular summer resort, and the class of people who visit the locality are such 

 as they are very sorry to part with and pleased to meet again. The anglers express 



