REPORT 



OF THE 



DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES 



FOR THE YEAR 

 1904 



To the Honourable 



The Commissioner of Fisheries for Ontario: 



The undersigned has the honor to submit herewith the Annual Report 

 of the Department of Fisheries for the year ending 31st December, 1904. 



Notwithstanding that the fiishing season was late in opening, being 

 from two weeks to one month later than usual, owing to the long and ex- 

 tremely severe winter of 1903-4, it is gratifying to be able to report that the 

 fishermen have had a very prosperous year, judging from the returns, which 

 show that the catch was 2,815,765 pounds greater than in 1903, and from 

 the prices paid, which for all kinds of fish have ruled high during the whole 

 season. 



The total quantity of fish taken was 24,009,970 pounds, the estimated 

 value of which was $1, 793, 229. The amounts of the different kinds taken 

 were Lake Trout, 6,275,430; Whitefish, 3,474,300; Herring, 4,252,580; 

 Pickerel (Dore), 2,632,540; Pike (including Blue Pickerel), 1,775,700; 

 ooarse Fish, 2,087,900; Perch, 922,600; Eels, 45,500; Tullibee, 5,800; Cat- 

 fish, 520,150; Sturgeon, 485,200 pounds; and of caviare, 29,170. 



Licenses to fish with 3,4^0,036 yards of gill net, 514 pound nets, 473 

 hoop or fyke nets, 120 seines, 75 dip nets, and three machines, besides 

 several thousand hooks, have been issued. 



The occupation has given employment to 3,125 men; and 128 tugs and 

 1,477 other boats have been in use. 



An estimated capital of f 931, 097 is invested in the industry. 



A list of the Overseers with the territory under the jurisdiction of each 

 will be found at p. 50. 



Statements have been prepared showing : 



1. The revenue derived from each division (p. 58); 



2. The number in detail of fishermen, tonnage and value of tugs, ves- 

 sels and -oats, quantity and value of fishir" material, and the kinds and 

 quantity of fish caught (pp. 60-75); 



3. The gross yield of the different kinds of fish in each division in 1903 

 .and 1904, and the increase or decrease (pp. 78-9); 



4. The total quantity of each kind of fish taken, as compared with the 

 quantity taken in 1903, and the increase or decrease (p. 80); 



5. The value of the different kinds of fish taken (p. 80); 



6. The number of tugs, men, boats, etc., engaged in the industry, the 

 quantity of nets licensed, and the value thereof (p. 80); 



7. The value of the Ontario Fisheries from 1870 to 1904, inclusive, 

 (p. 81) ; and 



8. The quantity of fry distributed by the Federal Government in the 

 Province since Confederation (p. 81); 



[5] , 



