26 THE REPORT OF THE No. 31 



themselves as satisfied with the fishery regulations and the general enforcement of 

 the laws. He is of the opin on that those who come from year to year spending their 

 fraca'tion should be dealt with most ienientiy. In consequence of the late opening in 

 the spring, the catch of the licensed fishermen was not as large as in former seasons, 

 the spring .fishing being fully two weeks shorter. The fall fishing for Bullheads, how- 

 ever, has been prosperous, which makes the average catch for the season a fair one. 

 He had but very little trouble with the tourists, there being a general disposition on 

 their part to respect the laws, when made fully known to them. 



Overseer Clyde, Cataraqui, reports that there has been a decrease in the catch 

 of Pike, but an increase in the catch of Perch and Catfish. In the Rideau Canal there 

 is an abundance of Dogfish, which are very destructive to the spawn of game fish. He 

 has instructed the fishermen to destroy all Ling they find in their nets. The close 

 suasrns have been fairly well observed. A few cases of illegal fishing came to his 

 notice, in each case 'the parties being fined according to law. He confiscated no fishing 

 gear of any kind. He is of opinion that no Bass measuring less than 12 inches 

 should be taken, and also that resident settlers who fish for domestic purposes should 

 have 100 yards of nets, and be charged a fee of $2 each. 



There are no Speckled Trout in his division, but Bass and Maskinonge fishing 

 cannot be excelled. The district under his supervision has become popular as a resort 

 for tourists, especially Loughborough, Dog, and Cranberry Lakes. 



Overseer Clunis, Claude P.O., reports that the Trout fishing in his division was 

 not quite up to the catch of last year. So many of the tributaries of the Credit River 

 are being leased by private parties that the waters open for angling to the public are 

 very limited. This, he thinks, fully accounts for the shortage in the catch. 



No cases of illegal fishing came to his notice. The close season he reports as 

 being well observed, llhere was no mill refuse allowed to pass into the stream in 

 his division. All other regulations were well observed. 



Hs reports a large number of tourists at the Caledon Club during the year. 



Overseer Couseneau, Windsor, reports that the fishing operations this year in the 

 waters under his supervision were not so good, from the standpoint of quantity of fish 

 taken, as in the season of 1902, but from a financial standpoint if was a more successful 

 season, ftwing to the increased price received for German Carp and other coarse fish. 

 The catch of Whitefish for some unaccountable reason was a complete failure, the fish 

 apparently not leaving the lake for the river during the fine weather in the fall 

 season. The fishermen did not derive any material benefit from the abolition of the 

 Whitefish close season, owing to the winter setting in so early in November. 



Overseer Craig, Glenburnie, reports that the catch of fishs for 1903 was not so 

 good as in 1902, Catfish being much ibelow the average, while Pike and Coarse fish 

 were about the same as in the past. Prices were good, which helped the fishermen very 

 much. The catch of Herring was up to the average. They are still very numer- 

 ous, and average much larger than formerly. All the Herring licensees were well 

 satisfied with their catch. 



Tourists are still increasing, coming and going during all of the angling season ; 

 many of them camped on Bob's Lake and Green Bay. Bass fishing was better than 

 for many years. The lakes are becoming cleared of Ling by hoopnets ; tons of them 

 were taken and destroyed during the year. In 14 Island Lake, where hoopnet fishing 

 was prohibited, the Ling are increasing very fast, and Bass fishing has not been so 

 good as in former years. There is still a good demand for fish from the United States. 

 The home demand is increasing yearly. 



The number of Bass tourists should t>e allowed to kill in one day should be re- 

 duced to eight, and the lengths increased to eleven or twelve inches. 



Several fine cottages were built on some of the lakes last summer, which added 

 much to their beauty. 



