THE REPORT OF THE No. HI 



The Commercial Fisheries. 



The appeals of the fishermen for an extension of the fall fishing season 

 urged upon the Federal authorities, who have exclusive jurisdiction in the 

 matter, were again successful. No doubt their efforts in this direction, as 

 in former years, have in some localities been justified by the inapplica- 

 bility of the close season to the respective localities, and so long as this 

 discrepancy exists a renewal of these applications may be expected from 

 year to year. But the improvident habit of taking fish from the spawn- 

 ing beds when congregating for the purpose of performing their natural 

 functions has been too long practised in the waters of our Great Lakes, both 

 in Canada and the United States and a remedy must soon be 

 found. It is about as shortsighted a means of gain as was 



the killing of the goose that laid the golden egg. The appoint- 

 ment of a commission by the Federal authorities, who, as it has been said, 

 are charged with fixing the close seasons, was early in the year an- 

 nounced, and one of its objects was to take evidence upon the subject, but 

 the naming of dates for the holding of the sessions to suit the convenience 

 of all the commissioners appeared to be a matter of some little difficulty, 

 and the Commission did not meet. The necessity for decisive action 

 has become 'none the less apparent with delay, and the work of the 

 Commission will probably be undertaken during 1905. Its scope should 

 not," however, be confined to settling the question of close seasons; 

 and it is doubtful whether it can be of any general utility even in this re- 

 spect unless its personnel should comprise representatives from the neigh- 

 boring jurisdictions, and conclusions applicable to International waters 

 be arrived at and subsequently adopted, for the old and embarrasing cry that 

 Canadians are being denied privileges which Americans are enjoying would 

 be again raised- But, so far, it does not appear that any steps by the Do- 

 minion in the direction of an International Conference have been recently 

 taken, or are contemplated. 



The Conference arranged by this Province, and held in Detroit in March 

 last, at which were present representatives of the United States Commis- 

 sion at Washington, and from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Ontario, 

 marked an important era in the movement to establish uniform laws and 

 legulations governing the great international waters, and the work so well 

 inaugurated should not be allowed to lapse. Various resolutions were 

 concurred in, all being contingent upon the whole being approved by the 

 several jurisdictions interested, and all the delegates believed that the 

 approval of their respective Legislatures in the resolutions passed could and 

 would be obtained. It was unanimously agreed that with respect to the 

 great lakes the only mutually satisfactory arrangement could be the adop- 

 tion of identical laws and a uniform policy as to implements of capture to 

 be authorized, and all felt sure that with the adoption of such laws and 

 policy the benefits would soon be perceived. It was, however, conceded 

 that aay scheme of restoration must involve an increase in the artificial 

 supply, and greater protection for natural production by limiting the period 

 during which fishing may be carried on, and by the establishment of ap- 

 propriate close seasons. 



(With regard to black bass and maskinonge, a close season from 1st 

 January to 15th June was considered absolutely necessary, if the destruc- 

 tion of these fish while in a gravid condition is to be prevented.) 



If a sufficient number of fry are not annually planted, and a sufficient 

 number of fish are not allowed to reach the spawning age, it will be im- 



