36 THE REPORT OF THE No. 31 



Many of the leading sportsmen who visit the Nepigon annually are very desirous 

 of preserving this stream for fly fishing only, claiming that the various artificial baits 

 are barbarous, and not fit to use for taking the lordly Trout. On the other hand, the 

 bait-fishermen claim that the larger fish do not rise to the fly, in fact if they had to 

 depend on what they caught with the fly, their supply of fish would be extremely small. 

 It is his belief that an expert fly-fisherman can catch more fish than the bait fisherman, 

 and certainly the fly-fisherman has the acme of pleasure. 



In proof of the fallacy of the bait-fisherman's contention, he quotes from his record 

 book Mr. Henry Bristol's (New York) record this season : 



Pounds. Pounds. 



i trout 6 i trout SJ4 



» trout 7^4 i trout 5 l A 



i trout 6' i trout 7 



i trout SJ/i i trout 6% 



I trout 6 — ■ 



I trout s l A io trout 6o 



All taken with the fly. 



He thinks fishing like this should satisfy any one. 



It would add materially to the comfort of the river if the portages were improved 

 by removing the boulders from the paths, making permanent canoe landings, with 

 a pert ion of them at the ends of the portages. 



The Canada Fish Co. have not found winter fishing a success, their catch 

 being a very light one. Summer fishing is the only proper method, and until such time 

 as proper facilities for handling the fish from Lake Nepigon to the station here is 

 s y cured, nothing of any moment can be done. 



The handling of some 200 Trout varying in size from 1 lb. to 6 lb., and transport- 

 ing the same in the C. P. R. fish car (specially constructed), was a complete success, 

 every fish reaching Rat Portage safely. He thinks the subject of restocking the de- 

 pleted streams with Brook Trout like those from the Nepigon, cannot be too highly 

 commended, but suggests that by use of a fish hatchery, and keeping the fry until 

 they are a year old, when they will be able to take care of themselves, it could be carried 

 on more cheaply; and with the unlimited supply of spawn that could be procured 1 , every 

 Iako and stream in the country could be stocked. 



Overseer McRitchie, Bothwell, reports that the catch was an average one. There 

 is a slight increase in the value of the gear used The close seasons and other regula- 

 t : ons of the Department were well observed, no cases of illegal fishing having come 

 to hi; know'edge. 



Overseer Nash, Rat Portage, Lake-of-the-Woods, reports that in comparing the 

 catch of 1003 with that of 1002, a small decrease will be found in 1003, which can be 

 largely pccounted for as follows : 



Twelve pound nets were fished in 1003, where twenty were fished in 1902. Last 

 summer during what is considered usually to be the very best season for fishing in 

 his district, a severe storm, accompanied with high gales, completely destroyed the pound 

 nets and many of the gill nets, and before new nets could be procured and set the 

 season was practically over. Some licenses were not used at all, while some others were 

 used but IHle, as the returns will show. Notwithstanding: all this, there is seemingly 

 g' neral satisfaction among the fishermen with the catch during the year. 



Thr-re has been but one important infringement of the law come under his notice, 

 that brine the illegal catching of Sturgeon in Rainy River, which same he reported to the 

 T~>epnrtment fully in May last. Seven boxes of Sturgeon were seized, which, on in- 

 struction from th<> Department, were sold' to the hiehest bidder. 



His district has been most fortunate in having the inland lakes stocked with two 

 cars of fish : one car of Bass in Long Lake and one of Trout in Berry Lake. The 

 ■Pas-; placed in Brooks. Otter and other lakes a few years ago are now in a splendid 

 thrivinz co^ition. and many sportsmen the past summer enjoyed an outing there. 



