19*4 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 33 



is abundance of fish in the lake to last for years to come. A few cases of illegal 

 filling came to his notice ; the parties in each case were fined. The fishermen were 

 well pleased with the season's catch. The laws and regulations of the Department 

 were fairly well observed. 



Overseer Loveday reports no prosecutions during the year. The public seem to 

 be falling in more and more with the necessity of observing the fishery laws, and co- 

 oler: ting with and assisting the overseer in the enforcement of the laws. 



Fishing has been very good on the upper Ottawa., and some very fine fish have 

 been taken on the Rideau River as well, but the lower Ottawa seems to be getting 

 wors o every year. There are no Bass of any account, and Pickerel are decreasing. He 

 does not believe it will ever be any better, as there are no spawning beds but what are 

 covered with sawdust. 



Ovrseer Menzies, Burk's Falls, reports that he has visited during the year a 

 great nr.mber of the lakes and streams in his district, and found that the laws and 

 regulations were observed. The tourists who visited the division found the Bass and 

 Pickerel fishing all that could be desired. There are two lakes between Burk's Falls 

 and Algonquin Park that contain Bass and Pickerel. The remainder are inhabited by 

 Trout, Whitefish, Herring and Suckers. 



The millowners all observe the law regarding the dumping of sawdust in the streams. 

 There are no licenses isssued in his division. 



Overseer Miller, Wiarton, reports that he visited all the inland lakes and streams 

 in his division, also the bays on Lake Huron. The Bass fishing on the Lake Huron 

 shore and around the islands was not as good as usual. In discussing the matter with 

 fishermen ;md settlers, a great many reasons for the shortage were advanced. In his 

 opinion the most likely reason is the great abundance of Carp, which in the spring 

 of the year frequent the waters in thousands, just at the time when Bass are on the 

 spawning beds, and devour the spawn. They are very large, and come into the bays 

 in such numbers that they crowd each other out of the water. They are so numerous 

 and large that there is no chance for a smaller fish to exist. He is afraid that they 

 will exterminate all other fish unless some plan is devised for destroying them. In 

 the inland lakes Bass have been plentiful and the angling good. Pike were very 

 numerous. Quite a number of Bass were taken that bore every evidence of having 

 been bitten by Pike ; in some cases pieces were bitten clear out. He says all the 

 is'ands along the shores of Lake Huron have been sold, and the parties purchasing 

 have in many cases built beautiful summer cottages, and if the game fish could be 

 pieserved, Wiarton would have one of the finest summer resorts in Ontario. The 

 scenery is unsurpassed, and the place is easy of access, being only a couple of hours' run 

 by boat from Southampton, and eight to twelve miles by land from Wiarton. He finds 

 that the public are very anxious to assist him in enforcing the laws and regulations 

 of the Department. Two cases of illegal fishing came to his notice, and on the whole 

 the diiterent close seasons and other regulations have been well observed. 



Overseer M6ore, Huntsville, reports that the Black Bass in the lakes there are 

 d ing remarkably well. During the past season large numbers were caught by tourists 

 and others, although as a rule those caught were not large in size. 



He thinks it would be advisable to have cautionary notices of a permanent' nature 

 pi; ced in conspicuous places informing the public as to the season and limits in regard 

 ti> Bass fishing, as he has found that any violation' of the law has been due entirely to 

 igrorance on these points, Bass fishing being an entirely new thing in that neighbor- 

 hood. Such rot'ees would be required for Vernon, Fairy, Mary and Peninsular Lakes. 



Some reports of violations of the fishing laws have come before him, but upon 

 investigation there was no evidence to warrant prosecutions. 



There hns been no trouble from the owners of sawmills depositing sawdust in the 

 water. 



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