1904 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 37 



With the many pretty lakes they have in that district being stocked with such 

 game fish as Trout and Bass, it is fast becoming a most attractive spot for the tourist. 



Then, perhaps, should be noted the extreme likelihood of the Grand Trunk Pacific 

 opening up the large territory north of Rat Portage, which contains many lakes and rivers 

 which, according to the explorers' accounts, are simply teeming with fish, while the forests 

 abound with such game as Moose. Caribou, Deer and Bear, the latter being particularly 

 numerous. It is evident that this district is a most enticing one for the tourist. 



He concludes by saying "that the industry is looked upon here as being quite a sub- 

 stantial one. and a large factor in the commercial life of the district." 



• Cherseer Nichols, Hall's Bridge, reports that the quantity of Bass and Maskinonge 

 C&ttgnt during the season was about the same as last year, but, as the number of tour- 

 ists was about dou'ble, the individual catch, especially of Bass, was correspondingly 

 smaller. Although the fishermen are becoming more expert and have better tackle, 

 and the guides are better acquainted with the fishing grounds, the catches were, as a 

 rule, smaller in number than last year. 



This decrease may be accounted for by the rapid lowering of the water levels 

 at the various dams after the spring freshets. In this way millions of Bass and 'Longe 

 spawn are left to die on the shores and in the drowned lands every spring. The spawn 

 is destroyed also by Catfish, Eeels, Suckers and other coarse fish. But the greatest 

 cause of decrease is the ever-increasing number of American tourists who come to 

 this locality year after year. Their number has doubled during the last three years, and 

 a* n*w railroad and steamboat lines are being added every year, it is reasonable to 

 evpect that the Kawartha Lakes will become more popular, and the number of fisher- 

 men will rapidly increase. Thus it is only a matter of a few years when the Black 

 Bass in these waters will be exterminated, and the large revenue derived from the 

 tourist traffic will be lost to the district, unless the waters are re-stocked with Bass. 



The close seasons were very well observed, very little illegal fishing being attempted. 

 Several spears and trawling lines were taken, and the offenders dealt with, as mentioned 

 in his monthly reports. The extension of the time prohibiting the sale and barter of 

 Bpss and 'Longe has done much to suppress illegal fishing. 



The mill owners have taken every precaution to prevent the pollution of the waters 

 by mill refuse. 



There are no fish ways in his division. 



He submits the following recommendations, which he believes would greatly benefit 

 the division under his charge : 



The waters should be re-stocked with Black Bass. 



The chief lakes of his division are Pigeon, Chemong, Buclchorn, Deer, and Lovesick 

 Lakes, which form a connected chain from Bobycageon to Burleigh Falls, being in part 

 a part of the Trent Valley waterway. On these lakes are situated) four large summer 

 resorts, at Bobcaygeon, Chemong, Buckhorn, and Burleigh Falls, which cater to the 

 tourist trade. The hotel registers show a daily average of from fifty to eighty guests 

 at each resort during the summer months. Several steamers are engaged in carrying 

 these, people from point to point, and each resort gives employment to from twenty to 

 thirty guides during the season, and altogether these summer visitors leave a great deal of 

 money in this locality. Their number, too, is steadily increasing, having doubled 

 during the last three years. So many fishermen are a heavy drain on the waters, and 

 the Black Bass, which are the chief attraction to the angler, are becoming scarcer year 

 by year. Unless some means are taken to re-stock the waters, this district will soon 

 lose a la*-ge and profitable summer trade. These waters, and especially Deer Lake 

 and Deer Bay are admirably adaoted for breeding grounds. 



The daily maximum catch of Bass should be reduced to eight. This is as many as 

 can be used, and if more are caught they are allowed to spoil in the ice houses and 

 have to he thrown away, or it is a temptation to the guides to sell them. 



