1904 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 13 



support of which is absolutely essential to a proper enforcement and obser- 

 vance of the law. 



Shipping and Angling Permits. 



The regulation requiring that foreigners desirous of taking home a 

 sample of their eatch should first obtain a shipping permit (the fee for 

 which is $1.00), with coupon to be attached to the box or package containing 

 the fish has, it is believed, demonstrated that it was a step in the right dir- 

 ection. Only the legal catch of two days' angling can now be taken away, 

 and when accompanied by the person to whom the fish belongs. It was be- 

 lieved that the effect of this regulation, if generally enforced, would soon 

 be manifested by better fishing. Before the enactment of the law, tons of. 

 bass and other game fish were taken or sent out of the Province, and sold, 

 a handsome return being realized therefor. Indeed, not a few visitors 

 boasted that the expense of their outing was fully made up in this way. 

 There does not, however, seem to have been a very general desire to comply 

 with the regulation, as the fees from such permits only amounted to $158, 

 and, indeed, one or two deliberate attempts were made to evade the obli- 

 gation. It is, therefore, a matter of consideration whether, in view of these 

 facts, and of the large amounts which the Province is annually expending 

 for the protection of its angling waters, and in the work of restocking, per- 

 mits to angle should not be required from all foreigners on entering the 

 Province irrespective of the fact that they employ Canadian guides or stop 

 at Canadian hotels, which has relieved them from this obligation hitherto. 



Sale of Game Fish. 



The law prohibiting the sale of speckled trout, bass and maskinonge 

 has been made to apply to these fish wheresoever caught, and it is now illegal 

 to sell or have them in possession for sale at any time. It was believed 

 that the old proviso, that they could be sold so long as evidence was pro- 

 duced that they had been obtained outside of the Province, was frequently 

 violated, and that trout and bass alleged to have been caught in other Pro- 

 vinces, and even in the States, but really caught in this Province, sent to 

 Buffalo or some other place and returned here, were from time to time ex- 

 posed for sale; and, therefore, the prohibition was made absolute. The 

 penalty for a violation of the law is so severe that the risk of apprehension 

 is too great to be hazarded, and no violations have, therefore, been brought 

 to the attention of the Department this year. 



Exportation of Fish. 



Owing to the frequent complaints of the scarcity of fish in the local mar- 

 ket a circular letter was sent to every fisherman engaged in commercial 

 fishing instructing him that he must make arrangements for supplying 

 local needs and at the market price at the point of shipment, and that if 

 such provision was not immediately made the Department would be com- 

 pelled to insert in his license a condition that such provision must be made, 

 and that the license would be subject to cancellation where the obligation 

 was not fulfilled. The hope was expressed that this would not be necessary, 

 and that no further cause would be given for the complaint that the people 

 of our own province were not able to procure fish when ready and willing 

 to pay the market price therefor; and the fishermen were enjoined to en- 



