1904 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 47 



many others who caught over sixty in one day. About 50 per cent, of the entire catch 

 is shipped to the United States market, the remainder being used for home consumption. 



There were quite a number of tourists who spent the summer or a portion of it 

 at King's Park and Leith, and he is pleased to say the number is increasing from 

 year to year. 



Overseer Wensley, Wensley P.O., Addington, reports that the catch of fish in his 

 ilivison was about the same as last year, and that all were used for home consumption. He 

 would recommend that licenses for domestic purposes be granted in all the lakes in his 

 division, and that the fee be raised from $1 to $2. He also recommends that the close 

 searor. for Salmon Trout be changed to commence on the 15th of October and close 

 on the 15th of November. The several close seasons were well observed. Only one 

 case ol illegal fishing came to his nouce, for which the offender was fined $5 and costs. 

 There are no fishways in his division. 



Overseer Willis, Port Whitby, reports that the season was scarcely as good as 

 'ast year, owing chiefly to the high winds and rough weather that prevailed early in 

 the fall, very little fishing being done after September the first. The size of the fish 

 tak-n was better than last year, especially Herring and what are called Cross Whitefish. 



There were no violations of the laws, and the close seasons were well observed. 

 The angling in Whitby and Pickering harbors was never better, both Pike and Perch 

 b ing caught in large numbers. The fish were all sold locally or shipped to Toronto. 



He strongly recommends that the present custom of giving any license holder the 

 txc'usive right to fish on any particular ground be discontinued, and that all licenses 

 should be issued to fish in the front of the township in which they are held, as all the > 

 f"sh?rmen use one of the harbors, viz., Pickering, Whitby or Oshawa. 



Overseer Wilimott, Beaumaris, reports that during the past season angling has 

 proved about equal to that of previous seasons. He has noticed that in many in- 

 stances the run of Bass taken in the Muskoka waters has been longer than for many 

 years past. 



The past season was again a most successful one in the planting of adult Bass, 

 which were brought from Lake Erie, a very small loss having been sustained whilst 

 the fish were in transit. 



He is of the opinion that many fish planted! in the waters in the vicinity of Hunts- 

 ille have fr und their way down stream, as Bass have been caught in places along the 

 river (North Branch) where they were never previously known to exist. This also 

 r.pplies to the Madawaska River, where Bass have been caught, and which no doubt 

 have found their way from lakes in the Algonquin Park, in which Bass have been 

 plrnted. The Muskoka lakes are teeming with small Bass, which, had they an oppor- 

 tunity of growing after reaching the lawful limit, would in a few years give as 

 good angling results as those of many years ago. 



Sutlers claim that tihey should have the privilege of netting Herring in the month 

 of November. He sees no objection to this, a^ these fish would then be in such por- 

 tions of the lake as to preclude the probability of catching other classes of fish. 



Many hotel proprietors have written him requesting him to 'forward them, ab- 

 stracts from the Fisheries Act. He would respectfully suggest the advisability of hav- 

 'ng curtailed extracts of the most important sections printed on good, strong cardboard, 

 and ropi^s sent to each postoffice and railway station. It is only right to keep the 

 public informed of the Act as it now is. and also of any changes which may be made. 



Overseer Wood, Toronto, reports that there is not much change from the situation 

 last year. In all probability the catch would have been much larger had not adverse 

 ^vinds and stormy weather prevailed during a good part of the season. He is pleased 

 to be able to report the appearance again of the Ciscoe Herring, and some of the best 

 info-med of the fishermen are of the opinion that this valuable fish will soon be taken 

 in large numbers in the water?. 



