1904 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 35 



cpe and Couchiching, and they are very destructive to the spawn of the 

 other fish. 



Overseer McRitchie, Bothw&ll, on the Thames, reports that the catch 

 of fish during 1904 was small, owing to the hard winter and the great 

 quantities of ice and snow; the water in the river rose to such a height that 

 fishing could not be carried on with any degree of success till late in the 

 season. The catch was not quite one-third of the catch of last year. Some 

 of the fishermen did not put their nets in the water. 



Overseer Miller, Wiarlon, Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, reports that 

 the fishing in his division was scarcely as good as last year. Some of the 

 fishermen said that if the open season had not been extended, they would 

 not have paid expenses. The fish appeared to have been later in coming 

 in. He also reports that two salmon were caught in Lake Huron near 

 Uliphant ; John Walsh caught them in his pound net. They were describ- 

 ed as a pair, male and female, about 20 or 22 inches long. The flesh was 

 not so red as the sea salmon, but they were fine and in good condition. These 

 are the only salmon he has known to be caught in these waters. 



,n< i r Moure, Ldkefield, Stony Lake, reports that the catch of bass 

 was about the same as last season; the catch of maskinonge was considerably 

 less, owing to the new regulation that none less than 30 inches could be 

 ( aught. A good number of tourists* visited the waters of his district, prin- 

 cipally Lakes Kachawanuck, Clear, Stoney and Lovesick, during the sum- 

 mer. The close season was well observed. He would respectfully suggest 

 and recommend that the regulation as to size of the smallest maskinonge 

 to be caught be changed from 30 to 24 inches, for the reason that a m^skin- 

 cnge 30 inches long in these waters is considered a good-sized fish; that the 

 number of bass that may be caught in a day by any one person be changed 

 to 6, and 2 maskinonge. And as in previous reports, he would again sug- 



that a foreign tourist should pay a small license fee ; most good anglers 

 would be willing and glad to contribute towards restocking and protecting 

 tUe fish. 



Overseer Moore, Huntsville, Fairy, Mary, Vernon, Peninsula Lakes, 

 reports that during the year 1904 no violations of the fishing laws have been 

 reported to him, nor has he made any seizure of nets or other illegal ap- 

 pliances, and, in consequence, he apprehends that the laws have been pretty 

 well observed. This is due to a great extent to the notices which were 

 supplied to him and which were carefully posted up at various points where, 

 in his judgment, they would prove most advantageous. He finds also that 

 people are beginning to realize more fully that it is to their own interest 

 not to take under-sized bass out of the water. The black bass planted in 

 the lakes continue to thrive well, as is evidenced by the larger fish which 

 are being caught and the abundance of small ones. On the other hand, 

 he does not think that salmon trout are caught as freely as in past years. 

 He finds that bass are getting quite common in the river below Port Sydney, 

 and he would recommend, if it is considered practicable, that a screen of 

 some kind be placed at the dam* at Port Sydney so as to save the fish from 

 leaving the waters where they have been planted. This is a matter worthy 

 of careful consideration. 



Except in one small isolated case, which was speedily remedied as soon 

 as the matter was brought to the notice of the owner, no sawdust has been 

 deposited in the waters by sawmill owners. The number of summer tour- 

 ists visiting this neighborhood continues to increase, and larger numbers 

 than ever are erecting permanent summer residences. 



Overseer Myers, Orchard, County of Grey, reports that the chief fish 

 in his division are speckled trout, and that the catches this year were about 



