1«)<>4 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 68 



REPORT OF THE CAPTAIN OF THE CRUISER " GILPHIE." 

 S. T. Bastedo, Esq., Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries : 



Sir.— 1 have the honor to submit my annual report of the work performed 

 by the Fisheries Protection Steamer " Gilphie " for the season 1903. 



\\ c commenced humg up the boat on Che 23rd March, and were all ready for work 

 on the 1st April, but the weather was so bad that we were unable to put to sea before 

 Monday, the 6th. We managed to reach Cape Rich, but had to return as far as Wiarton, 

 when we remained tor the night. On the following day we went to Collingwooa, calling 

 at Mcaford, where we found three tugs waiting ifor the abatement of the stormy weather 

 before leaving lor Point au Bard ,and the Bustards. We left Collingwood the follow- 

 ing morning, and visited Cedar Point and Thunder Bay, where we found a few fisher- 

 men preparing for work, and arrived at Penetang at 5 p.m. We learned that the ioe had 

 not left the inside channel between Minnecognashene and Moon Island, so we remained 

 at Penetang until Monday, t'he 13th. when we proceeded to Midland, calling at Present 

 and Beausoliel islands. On Tuesday we went to Miners' Lake, calling at Minnecog- 

 nashene and Maxwell Islands, without discovering any illegal fishing; but the follow- 

 ing day we succeeded in finding three trap nets at Waubuno Island, which we burned. 

 Again, on each of the following days we captured some nets, one very large trap 

 near the Iron City Club House, and three more near Copper Head. On Monday, the 

 20th, we left Parry Sound for Point au Baril, where we arrived at 7 p.m., after mak- 

 ing a careful search lor nets in Shawanga Bay, but did not find any, although 

 there was every evidence of fishing having been recently carried on. We returned 

 ag;-in on the following morning, and saw several men running into the bush. We 

 also found fish and the lines off seines, as well as boats; but the weather was very 

 unfavorable, and we were therefore unable to locate the seines, which were no doubt 

 sunk in the water. The following morning we left Shebeshekong, and visited Camp- 

 bell's Rock and Sandy islands, but the wind was too strong to admit of using our 

 boats. We then proceeded to Sans Souci, where we placed some channel buoys. On 

 the following day we placed more buoys at Jubilee and Alexander Islands, also at 

 Superior Shoal and Miner Rocks, arriving at Muskoka (Mills at 6 p.m. On the follow- 

 ing days we made a search of North and South Honey Harbor, and found several 

 pik" gill nets. We also saw where several trap nets hadi been recently removed. We 

 left Penetang on Monday morning, the 27th, for Midland, where we took on coal, re- 

 turning to Penetang the same evening. On the following day we visited Moon River, 

 and found one trap net near Wlhistler's Bay while en route. We leift again the follow- 

 ing morning, calling at Waubuno Island, Copper Head, and Sans Souci, arriving at 

 Depot Harbor at p.m. The next day we left for Point au Baril, after making j 

 thorough search of Sbawanaga Bay. 



Friday, the is* May, was too rough for us to leave Point au Baril, but the follow- 

 ing day we patrolled as far as Byng Inlet, and on Sunday went to the Bustard Islands. 

 On Monday, thi 4th May, one of the boats went over to Bad River, while the other 

 was engaged in searching among the islands, and between them they succeeded in 

 finding 26 trap nets. Ti esday was too rough to do any further work, and on Wed- 

 nesday we proceeded to Killarney by way of Beaverstone, where we made a diligent' 

 se;rch for nets, hut without success. On Tuesday, while in McGregor's Bay, we 

 caught several of the Wekwimikong Indians, who had been seining, but as they wero 

 unable to pay a fine, and their seines were thrown overboard, we let them go. On 

 Friday and Saturday we had the two boats searching for nets in McGregor's Bay and 

 Whitefish River, and reached Little Current at 7 p.m., where we remained over Sun- 

 day. Overseer Oliver and his assistant were helping us. • , 



The following week was spent in patrolling the Badgley Channel, Shawanaga Bay, 

 Shebeshekong, around Campbell Rock, San Souci, Jubilee Islands, Gohome River, and 

 Minnecognashene, arriving at Midland at noon on Saturday, where we took on ooal 





