12 THE REPORT OF THE No. 31 



fishing brings to the locality, are beginning to be appreciated. Of course, 

 to do their work successfully, overseers should be on the alert at all times, 

 not necessarily in patrolling their divisions, but by keeping their ears and 

 eyes open for information. 



On the Georgian Bay the "Gilphie" has kept up a constant and well 

 directed patrol, and the sailing crafts have also done good work. The 

 "Eva Bell" on the Rideau chain of lakes has commanded respect for the 

 law in that part of the Province; and on the St. Lawrence, between Pres- 

 cott and Amherst Island, where, two launches were employed during the 

 summer months, the benefits were demonstrated by a better observance of 

 the law, and by an increased revenue from American rod fishermen. 



The Department has co-operated with the Minnesota authorities in the 

 protection of the sturgeon fisheries upon the Rainy River with good results. 

 A number of nets and lines were lifted, and a large quantity of caviare con- 

 fiscated in American territory. A camp which was carrying on operations 

 with the Indians was broken up. The patrol covered about eighty miles 

 of territory. The overseer was provided with a steam launch. 



Fishermen, it is feared, are inclined to disregard the provisions of their 

 licenses that no seines shall be operated or pound nets set within 500 yards 

 of the mouth of a river or stream, which provision was, of course, inserted 

 that the fish might have free access to these tributaries at all times, but 

 more particularly during the spawning period. It is also important that 

 residents along the course of the streams and rivers should not be deprived 

 of the opportunity of getting fish which they would be if the mouth of the 

 stream were obstructed. Overseers iu sending in applications are expected 

 to see that this provision of the license is kept in mind and, subsequently, 

 is strictly observed. 



The Departmental instructions have been that the laws are made for 

 all classes alike, and that where these are violated offenders must pay the 

 penalty; and while it is not the desire of the Department to impose harsh 

 or unnecessary restrictions upon fishermen, yet such protective regulations 

 and restraints must be insisted upon as are requisite to prevent the serious 

 impairment of so important an industry as is the fishing industry, and the 

 fishermen themselves, who have so much at stake, and the security of whose 

 investments depends so vitally upon the insistence of such protective regu- 

 lations and restraints as above indicated, should for their own protection, 

 if for no other reason, be the very first to propose and vigilantly to enforce 

 whatever is necessary to that end. 



Prosecutions and Convictions. 



The number of prosecutions have been somewhat fewer than during 

 last year, there having been but 48 as compared with 105 in 1903, the prin- 

 cipal offences being for illegal fishing, and the fines imposed amounting to 

 only |518 as compared with |813 in 1903. Eighty-six trap nets, 115 gill 

 nets, 10 jacklights, 5 dip nets, 29 night lines, about 10,000 hooks, 23 spears, 

 10 hoop nets, 4 boats, 7 seines, illegally used, and several hundred pounds 

 of fish, were confiscated. 



Protective Associations. 



The organization of Anglers' Associations has been encouraged. These 

 Associations are capable of rendering invaluable aid to the Department, 

 and every town and village in a county at least in which there is rod fish- 

 ing should have a live association to aid in moulding public sentiment, the 



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