1904 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 21 



OVERSEERS' REPORTS. 



Overseer Allan, Wallaceburg, Lake St. Clair, reports that the catch 

 of all kinds of fish was about the same as in previous years- The whole 

 catch is exported to the United States markets. The close seasons and 

 other regulations of the Department were well observed. There are no 

 saw mills in his district. The law regarding the pollution of streams is 

 strictly observed. There are no fishways in his division. 



Overseer Barr, Douglas, Co. Renfrew, reports that there has been some- 

 what of a decrease in the quantity of fish caught as compared with last year, 

 not owing to the scarcity of fish, for they have greatly increased, but from a 

 less vigorous prosecution of the fishing caused by a scarcity of help on the 

 farm and the consequent want of time on the part of the farmer to go fishing. 



No fish are exported from his district. 



There has been no violation of the close season, to his knowledge. 



Several cases of illegal fishing came to his knowledge where the nets 

 were confiscated and destroyed, but the perpetrators were not caught. 



No notice of the law against sawdust being allowed to go into the river 

 is being taken by mill owners. 



There are no fishways in his district. 



Overseer Beecher, Brockville, the St. Lawrence, reports that the fish- 

 ing among the Thousand Islands this season has not been as good as usual, 

 the bass as a rule have been small, and the pike were very scarce, the ex- 

 ception being' the maskinonge of which a fair number were caught in Oc- 

 tober, trolling with copper wire, line and spoon from a gasoline launch. 

 He thinks if the Department could procure a quantity of maskinonge fry 

 in the srping, and have them placed in the river in this vicinity, it would 

 be well worth the trouble. As there has never been any fry of any kind 

 placed in the river here, he thinks it is deserving of some consideration. 



There have been very few complaints of illegal fishing this season, the 

 minnow seining almost entirely ceasing. 



Overseer Billon, Xewboro, Rideau Waters, reports that there was a de- 

 crease of about one-third of the herring catch from last year, owing to 

 fewer licenses being taken out, and also owing to the season for herring 

 being late and short. Also there was a slight decrease in the hoop-net 

 catch of catfish, owing to the waters being lowered on the Rideau Canal 

 by the Canal Department for the purpose of repairing locks, etc. 



There was an increase of summer tourists. They seem to increase each 

 year, and are chiefly Americans who find plenty of bass and salmon to give 

 them their day's catch; and as there is good hotel accommodation at Newboro, 

 Westport, Portland and Jones Falls, this, together with the good fishing and 

 fine scenery will in a short time become one of the best summer resorts in 

 the Province, provided the fish are properly looked after and the supply kept 

 up. 



The close seasons were well observed, in fact so well that he did not have 

 one case of violation of the fishery laws during the year. 



Ling are so numerous in Little Rideau and "Wolfe Lakes that he thinks 

 greater inducement should be offered for their extermination, even if the 

 license fees for hoop nets should be reduced. 



Overseer Brady, Lindsay, Scugog Lake and River, reports that there 

 were many complaints in the early part of the year about the absence 

 of fish; maskinonge and bass were said to be scarce, but later on he found 

 that there was no reason for any such complaints, there being not 

 only plenty of fish taken but there were larger maskinonge taken he had 

 seen for some years. The catch of bass was not so good. 



