1904 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 03 



varying from four to twenty-five pounds. I have measured them from four to five 

 feet long. 



\ our society aims at preserving the game and fish of America ; I think there is 

 a gieat work tor you. 1 can look back to the time when I was a boy, and remember 

 the splendid fishing in streams about home ; and those days have gone, and so has 

 tlie fishing, and the work you have undertaken is to produce these conditions as far 

 as possible, ami preserve those that are as nature left them. It seems Jo me that 

 if there could be left a small wooded belt along our streams, even a very narrow 

 one, this would not interfere with the general utility of the land, in fact, would im- 

 prove it, and would be the means of preserving our streams to a very great extent. 



I have noticed that in every lake and every principal stream (and smaller ones 

 emptying into it) where Trout are found that each one has Trout peculiar to itself. 

 Great care is taken by breeders of cattle and other domestic animals to raise only 

 the best; why not so the Trout? And if the Nepigon Trout is the finest and gamest fish 

 in the world, why not stock our 'depleted lakes and streams with it ? 



There are no such possibilities for securing spawn known as in Lake Nepigon, 

 with its miles of spawning grounds. Nets could be thrown around them, and spawn 

 could be secured in quantities to stock America, if possible. The Nepigon River is 

 itself one vast spawning bed on all its rapid portions. I passed over half a mile of 

 water at the toot of fine Portage where the fish fairfy covered the whole stream, 

 shining out with their gorgeous fall colorings, a sight long to be remembered. 



