22 THE REPORT OF THE No. 31 



The water in Scugog Lake was unusually low during the winter, and no 

 means of supplying either fresh water or air, and an enormous number of dead 

 fish was the result. The shore of the lake and the banks of Scugog River 

 were lined with dead fish in the spring, and coupled with this there was a big 

 catch of bass through the ice during the months of January and February. 

 He would strongly urge that this should be stopped, and the dose season made 

 to include the whole winter. It is exceedingly difficult to watch men on the 

 ice, and the means they adopt to catch fish are more frequently unlawful than 

 otherwise. The laws and regulations were fairly well observed. 



Overseer Clark, Picton, Lake Ontario, reports that the catch of fish 

 during the season has decreased considerably, noticeably herring, pike, 

 perch, catfish, mixed and coarse fish. He attributes this to several causes, 

 viz., (1) High winds prevailed to a great degree, renderng it difficult to 

 reach the fish ; (2) the laws were closely observed after several seizures 

 early in the season, and a close watch where there was likely to be any ille- 

 gal fishing; and (3) a more nearly correct statement of catch, and perhaps 

 a scarcity by being driven away by high winds. There was an increase 

 in the catch of whitefish, which appear to be more numerous than in many 

 years past. 



Fully 80 per cent, of the catch, he says, is exported to the United States, 

 the balance being used for home consumption. 



His warning to the fishermen to keep the close season and other regula- 

 tions was not in vain, as all the regulations were well observed,. 



Several cases of illegal fishing, of nets being illegally set were discov- 

 ered. ' He seized in April 6 gill nets, in August 2, and in September 2, mak- 

 ing in all 10 nets seized. 



There is no mill refuse to do injury dumped in the water. 



There are no fishways in his district. 



He is pleased to report that the replenishing of the several waters in hi* 

 district by the depositing of salmon and whitefish fry is very highly appre- 

 ciated by fishermen and all lovers of the finny tribe, and the concensus of 

 opinion is that the waters will be greatly repleted thereby. 



Overseer Couper, Dunnville, Lake Erie, reports that the fishermen in 

 his division had a good season's catch, and the prices obtained were high. 

 The laws and regulations of the Department were well observed, no case* 

 of illegal fishing having come to Ms notice. 



Overseer Cousineau, Windsor, Detroit River and Lake St. Clair, 

 reports that the catch of fish for the past season has Been 

 fairly remunerative. There have been but three complaints of 



infringement of the fishery laws — all three for illegal fishing, and in each 

 case a conviction was obtained and the parties fined. The catch of German 

 carp was not as large as that for the previous season ; that fish apparently fre- 

 quented United States waters in much larger numbers, as the catch erf carp 

 across the border was very large. 



The abolition of the close season for whitefish in these waters materially 

 benefited our fishermen. Whitefish did not reach the waters of the Detroit 

 River and Lake St. Clair until the middle of November. 



He is at times annoyed by foreign poachers, but it is almost impossible 

 to reach them with a row boat. He thinks there should be at that point a 

 power boat of some kind at the disposal of the officer, to be used in patrolling 

 the waters of his district. 



Overseer Craig, Glenburnie, Rideau River, reports that the catch of 

 fish in his division on the Rideau Canal for the year 1904 was fully up to 

 the average. Prices were good, and the fishermen were well satisfied 

 witn their catch. Exports are much larger than formerly, and the quan- 



