1U04 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 31 



Overseer Johnson, Harwood, reports that the quantity of Black Bass caught dur- 

 ing ihe season was in excess of the preceding year, but the Maskinonge fishing was 

 not (_,uite so good as in former years, owing to the very rough weather that prevailed 

 during the season, which roiled the water to such an extent that the conditions for 

 Maskinonge fishing were not favorable. Still, he reports a fairly good catch. 



The tourists are increasing ever}- year. They were more numerous than in any 

 previous year, and the indications are that the coming seasons will see a great number 

 visit the locality. 



He secured five convictions during the year. The close seasons were fairly well 

 observed. 



Overseer Labatte, Victoria Harbor, reports that there was a decrease in the catch of 

 the different kinds of fish for the market as compared with that of previous years, the 

 Herring fi-h ng especially being very poor, owing to the rough weather and winter 

 setting in so early. On the other hand, game fishing increased, angling and trolling 

 being very good during the past season, and as a result this district is becoming very 

 popular as a resort for tourists. 



Maskinonge are increasing rapidly ; a considerable number of good catches of large 

 ones were ma le during the fall months. There was also a considerable quantity of Bass 

 taken. 



As far as could be ascertained, the close seasons were well observed, as no illegal 

 fishing came to his knowledge. 



Overseer Lamarsh, Wheatley, reports that there has been a general decrease in 

 all kinds of fish caught except Pike, or Blues, the catch of this variety being practi- 

 cally the same as last year. 



The extraordinary early winter, which started about the middle of November, has 

 not been equalled here for twenty odd years, and has been the cause of a great loss 

 and hardship to many of the fishermen, while the decrease in many respects can be 

 attributed partly to the unfavorable season, which was similar to 1902. The fishermen 

 are Incoming uneasy at the continual falling off in the catch of Herring, the decrease 

 this year being 90,900 pounds, or actually about one-half the total catch in 1902. 

 Whitefish decreased from 95,429 to 41,698 pounds, Sturgeon from 19,064 to 13.597 pounds. 

 Pickerel from 174.823 to 96,531 pounds. Perch fell from 131,086 to 87,115 pounds, and 

 Catfish decreased 3450 pounds ; mixed and coarse fish show a decrease of 19,207 pounds. 



The steady decline in the catch of Herring from a total of 788,616 pounds in 1899. 

 to C3-394 in 1503 should be a cause for reflection on the part of all connected with the 

 fishing interest in any capacity whatever. The general feeling is that unless more 

 stringent measures are taken in the early spring and late in the fall to prevent Am- 

 erican poachers trespassing on our shores, which they do sometimes six weeks and 

 two months before the Petrel gets into commission in the spring and after she is laid 

 up in the fall, and unless our Department refuses tug gill net licenses in western Lake 

 Erie, the Herring fishery industry of Lake Erie will be a thing of the past. 



A great deal of feeling was aroused among the pound net fishermen on the main 

 shore of Essex and Kent Counties by the action of the gill net tugs from Pelee Island. 

 Some four tugs could be seen at once fishing in the passage between Point Pelee 

 and Pelee Island, and all along the main shore within two and three miles of it. He. 

 managed to seize twenty-six nets off Point Pelee about two miles out, and confis- 

 cated them. His experience in lifting the confiscated gill net firmly convinces him 

 that it is a most destructive mode of fishing. The most of the fish found in the net 

 were spawn Herring. Fully one-fourth of those caught dropped out before he got 

 t 1 em in the boat. He is of the opinion that the interests of the fishing industry 

 would be best secured by prohibiting all fishing from the 20th November till April 

 tsf. Spawning Herring, as well as Whitefish, would be protected, and the fishermen 



