1904 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 37 



numbers. ' He made application, and got Big Silver Lake stocked with 

 pickerel this season, which pleased the people living round the lake. 



Overseer O'Connor, Long Point, Lynd hurst Waters, reports that during 

 ihe last season he noticed a marked increase in the quantity of game fish 

 taken from the waters under his supervision. The tourist fishermen report 

 that they have no difficulty in securing the limited number of bass, and 

 that they are uniform in size. They report the pike of these waters to be 

 a very game fish. Some anglers from Buffalo and Fort Erie told him they 

 found so much sport in fishing the pike that they gave up bass fishing en- 

 tirely and devoted all their time to the pike. The number of tourists who 

 ■\ isit those waters are increasing from year to year, and those in the northern 

 waters fished fairly in keeping with the law. Those in the southern limits 

 were reported to have abused their privileges. The difficulty can only be 

 overcome, he thinks, by the people of the localities assisting the overseers 

 by reporting immediately any transgression. 



He would recommend relative to the whitefish that some -nrovision be 

 made in the regulations for catching them for local use. These fish are 

 very plentiful in the rapids in the fall, but can only be caught by nets or 

 spears, and even then it is difficult to secure many. At no other season can 

 they be caught at all as they go to the deep waters. Hence he thinks the 

 people in fhat neighborhood should be allowed some chance of taking them 

 in the fall. Certain parties have made repeated and determined attempts 

 at illegal fishing for salmon on the lied Horse waters, but he has put forth 

 strenuous efforfs to keep this down, and succeeded in taking a number of gill 

 nets fhat had been set in that locality. It is on this stretch of water that 

 the best fish are caught, and salmon weighing 20 lbs. and 25 lbs. are fre- 

 quently taken. Fishermen report a great catch of large fish last season. 

 It is certainly to be regretted that some so-called sports should endeavor 

 to spoil ihe fishing at that place by illegal fishing. Since last year's report 

 he has taken nine gill nets that had been set mostly for salmon, but some 

 were set for pike and bass. These nets would average about five rods each. 



In regard to granting licenses for hoop net fishinc he thought it not 

 the proper thing, as he feared too many game fish would be taken. But he 

 believes now, after seeing those nets taken up on different occasions, that 

 it is a benefit in some places, especially where there are marshes and drowned 

 lands. 



There is one thing he has noticed, that the increase of tourists to those 

 lakes has been very large, and if it continues there is great danger of their 

 clearing our lakes of game fish in a few years. 



Overseer Ogg, Hamilton, Lake Ontario, reports that he did not find any 

 of the fishermen in his district violating the law as regards Lake Ontario. 

 He had, however, to bring two young men up for setting gill nets in Big 

 Creek, and he also confiscated two small drag nets from some parties who 

 were dragging the creeks for suckers. The first two appeared before him 

 and promised not to repeat the offence. They were fishing for suckers, 

 and he did not impose a fine. 



With regard to the extension of the close season for whitefish and trout, 

 a few only of the fishermen in his district fish for them, and those that do 

 had their nets hung up before the first of November, and did not take ad- 

 vantage of the extension granted. 



The catch of whitefish for the year was 20,560 lbs., an increase over 

 last year of 6,032 lbs. They were of a fair size, weighing from three to 

 five pounds. Trout show an increase over last year's catch of 4,600 lbs. 

 The catch of herring exceeds that of last year by 65,186 lbs. ' During 



