40 THE REPORT OF THE No. 31 



mean?, the wholesale slaughter of the spawning fish, especially the Trout. This would 

 apply to the vicinity of Horse Island and South Bay as well as the west end of Geor- 

 gian Bay. At the Duck Islands in the west end of his division the Trout spawn much 

 earlier, the season being pretty well over by the 5th of November. At- Cockburn 

 Island and Meldrum Bay the conditions are about the same. Along the north shore 

 of the north channel the conditions are different, as the catch in that locality consists 

 principally of rough fish, that is to say, Pickerel and other coarse fish, his objection 

 would not hold good then. He reports the Herring fishing at Bad River and Beaver- 

 stone in the Georgian Bay and Cutler in the North Channel to have been very good. 



The catch in the North Channel in the vicinity of Gore Bay was lighter than 

 usual. The pound net men at Cockburn Island had a good average catch, and at the 

 Duck Islands the catch was fully up to that of last year. In the North Channel in 

 \ the vicinity of Blind River the catch was less than usual ; in the vicinity of Cutler it 

 was about the same as last year, being a fair average catch. The season generally speak- 

 ing lias been a prosperous one for the fishermen, though owing to the very rough 

 weather that prevailed during the month of November a good number of nets were 

 destroyed at the Duck Islands and South Bay, and a few at Killarney and the Bustard 

 Islands. 



In referring to the decrease in the catch, he says that in tne vicinity of Squaw 

 Islands, Killarney and Bustard Islands, the decrease is owing in his opinion to the 

 waters in that locality being over-fished in past years, and at the present time he 

 believes there are too many nets used there. About 90 per cent, of the catch is exported 

 to the United States, the average price received by the fishermen being about five 

 cents per pound. Ine remaining 10 per cent, is sold in the local market and shipped 

 to different parts of Canada. 



The Bass fishing has been good; in the North Channel he thinks it is the best to be 

 found in Ontario. There is good Maskinonge fishing, and Pickerel are also reported 

 to be plentiful. There are a few Brook Trout streams which have 'furnished some 

 excellent sport for the anglers. 



The North Channel from McGregor Bay to Algoma (Mills is 'becoming a great 

 resort for tourists. There are a large number of both small and large, sailing and 

 stream yachts being used for fishing and pleasure during the Trout season. This valu- 

 able trade is increasing every year. 



Overseer Paul, Loring, reports that the angling for Bass. Pickerel and Maskinonge 

 in his division has been first-class, but says the 'Maskinonge are not so plentiful as 

 they were some years ago, owing, he thinks, to so many dams being placed on the 

 rivers by the lumbermen in order to remove their sawlogs. He thinks something 

 should be done to remove these dams, as they were built years ago and have served their 

 purpose, and their usefulness is gone. 



The laws and regulations of the Department have been well observed. He would 

 recommend that a free license be granted for domestic purposes, as there are plenty of 

 Wihitefish and Herring in the waters and they cannot be taken any other way. 



Overseer Rennie, Napanee. reports that the catch for the season was somewhat 

 better than that of last year. All the. fish caught were exported to the United States. 

 The close season and other regulations of the Department were well observed ; not one 

 case of riegal fishing having come under his notice. A great many tourists visited Hay 

 Bay d'n-'ng the season, lured there by the reports of the magnificent Maskinonge fish- 

 ing, which, he says, was the best in his memory. 



Overseer Robertson, of Hillsburg reports that the laws and regulations in the 

 waters under his supervision were well observed. No fines or arrests were made 

 during the year. 



Overseer Rmblin, Adolphustown, reports a small increase in the catch over the 

 y«ar 1002. About 00 per cent, of the catch is exported, the remaining 10 per cent, being 



