G2 , THE REPORT OF THE No. 31 



NEP1GON TROUT. 



* 



A paper by Mr. William McKirdy, Ontario Government Fishery Overseer at Xep- 

 igon, read at tine annual meeting <A the North American Fish and Game Protective 

 Association, held at Ottawa on the 21st and 1 22nd January, 1903 : 



So much has been written about the Nepigon and its Trout by much abler writers 

 than I, that I feel some diffidence in preparing this paper, but I have the consolation 

 oi knowing that each one handles the subject as it appears to him, and 1 trust that 

 my paper may present some new colorings and facts that have not appeared to others. 



ilie average size of Nepigon Trout has been for many years two and a half pounds 

 (2J/,), the largest accredited fish caught on the river, eight and a quarter pounds (8J4), 

 although some larger have been reported. To the angler used to fishing other streams, 

 these are extraordinary fish. In fact, many visiting the stream for the first time have 

 said it was a salmon proposition in the matter of the size of the fish, and the tackle 

 'necessary to hold them, which is really the case. Nor is it to be wondlered at, that 

 the Nepigon is the home of these beauties. As the conditions are unique — no more 

 favorable ones could be found in the world — the Brook Trout, in sympathy with thess 

 surroundings, have excelled their kind- 



Nepigon Lake, the head waters of the St. Lawrence, is some eighty miles long 

 by fifty wide, with a coast line equal to that of Lake Ontario ; the water is of the 

 clearest and purest, and studded with bold, rocky island's, capped with the stately spruce 

 and graceful birch. Here the finny tribe thrive, as the lake is filled to overflowing 

 with Whitefish, Lake Trout (some of the latter have been caught weighing forty 

 pounds), and last, but not least in importance, the Brook Trout (Salvalinus fontinalis), 

 varying with their surroundings in size and beauty. It is stated by old residents on 

 the lake that Brook Trout weighing from ten to twelve pounds have been caught 

 on the spawning beds, and to give an idea of the quantity of these fish, I have map- 

 ped oat some twenty miles of spawning beds, and in doing so, have onJy shown a 

 portion of them. A gentleman traversing the lake during September told me he 

 passed through an extraordinary large school of Brook Trout ; this was before the 

 spawning season, Which commences on the lake about the 15th of October. Most of 

 the streams emptying into the lake have no trout in them, except in the higher 

 reache; ; there is one exception, however, viz., Sand River, a wide, rapid stream on 

 the northwest corner. Here, I understand, the stream is full of these Trout, equal in 

 si:<e and beauty to those of the Nepigon River. Lake Nepigon will, no doubt, be- 

 come a great tourist resort. Its ideal camping places on the numerous islands and 

 beautiful bays, together with the delightful cool nights in the hottest parts of the 

 season (one can always enjoy a good supply of warm blankets), possessing the charms 

 of nature untrammelled by civilization, yet within easy reach otf modern travel. 



The Nepigon River is simply an outlet to the lake, three to four hundred feet 

 wide, torced in a great measure through rocky formations, preserving its clearness 

 while leaping over foaming falls, dancing over surging rapids, losing itself in placid 

 lake expansions, repeating itself thus as it dashes through towering precipitous rocks, 

 where its deep green water lends a charm that is not easMy forgotten in its forty 

 miles' course to Lake Superior, dropping 315 feet in that distance. 



The Government has preserved the stream in its natural beauty, only the neces- 

 sary camping grounds being cleared for that purpose. An overseer is constantly 

 patrolling the river, whose duties are to see that there is no abuse of the fishing 

 privileges, that all camps are kept clean, and all refuse burned, so that when a camp 

 is left by one party, it is in readiness for the next. His duty is also to facilitate m 

 any way possible, by information and courtesy, the pleasure of the anglers. For 

 some years back it has been found that Pike were on the increase, and threatened 

 to do serious damage to the trout. Last year a raid was made on them in their 

 haunts by netting these places. Thousands of these Pike were caught, of weights 



