16 THE REPORT OF THE No. 31 



baps, a few whitefish, or possibly an odd salmon trout. A few herring 

 would be a boon to the settler if put by for winter use. 



The laws have been well observed. He had some little trouble with mill 

 men allowing rubbish to escape into some waters, also one or two netting 

 eases, but beyond these there have not been any infractions brought under 

 his notice. 



Overseer C. W. Wo?inacott, Copenhagen, Lake Erie, reports that the 

 catch for 1904 was much larger than the previous year, owing, no doubt, 

 to the increased gill net licenses issued, as both sail boat and tugs fishing 

 gill nets had an exceptionally good catch, and some very large herring were 

 taken. He would recommend that licenses for gill nets with less than a 

 four inch mesh be not granted, for he finds that the larger mesh nets bring 

 the fishermen a great amount of revenue, owing to the superior quality of 

 fish taken, and allow the smaller fish to escape, thereby keeping up the supply 

 for a greater length of time. He fears that with the greater number of 

 licenses granted, the most valuable asset the fishermen of his district have 

 will be depleted unless something is done to perpetuate the fish. The pound 

 net fishermen in East Elgin did not have very good success the past year, 

 owing, no doubt, to the fact of their having gill net licenses, which they 

 paid more attention to in the fall, as it was an exceptionally nice fall for 

 gill net fishing, and he is pleased to report very much smaller losses to the 

 fishermen on account of storms than heretofore. 



There has been very little violation of the fishery laws the past year, 

 and a remonstrance from him generally prevented a repetition of any viola- 

 tion. He has caused the linen notices to be posted up conspicuously at 

 each port, and he thinks it has had the effect of educating the otherwise 

 ignorant people of the great benefits of the fishery laws. 



Overseer Wood, Toronto, reports that during the year 1904 there has 

 been a considerable falling off in the catch of the different kinds of fish taken 

 m his district for commerical purposes. This may, in a measure, be ac- 

 counted for by the fact that wages were good, and all kinds of employment 

 easily obtained, so that when the season opened poor the fishermen resorted 

 to other occupations. Strong easterly currents setting over the old feeding 

 beds have done much damage to gill nets, and are causing the fishermen* to 

 look for other places to set them. The fishermen also complain that the 

 refuse from the city is injuring the fishing beds. The size of the herring 

 caught was much larger than usual, and on account of the large local de- 

 mand good prices were obtained. 



The angling remains about the same, with some improvement as regards 

 black bass. 



The close season was well observed, and no dealers were found having 

 trout, bass or maskinonge in their possession. Four nets were seized which 

 had been placed in prohibited waters, and in two cases fines were imposed 

 for wrongfully setting nets. 



Leaving for the fishing grounds. 



