1905 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 35 



offence and also one boat. Three consignments of fish that had been illeg- 

 ally caught were confiscated. 



BAY OF QUINTE. 



Overseer Murdoch, Bath, reports that the catch for 1905, as far 

 as he can make out from last year's report, is over 30 per cent larger, 

 showing that the fish are still plentiful in Lake Ontario. Some ten 

 or twelve years ago they seem to have left these waters, but they are coming 

 back. The fish this year were somewhat later coming in from the lake than 

 they were last year, but came in larger numbers. All kinds of fish are 

 plentiful. The anglers were well satisfied with the fishing this year, and 

 are also delighted with the bay and its surroundings. They say that the 

 bass are as plentiful here now as they were twenty years ago. They enjoy 

 the limpid water of Lake Ontario as it passes clear and pure around Amherst 

 Island. 



As far as he knows the law has been well observed. 



There is no strife here between the gill net men and the anglers, all 

 fishing harmoniously together. 



Some fine specimens of black bass were taken from these waters this 

 year, also some fine pike (or, as the American calls them, pickerel) were 

 taken by the anglers, some of them weighing as high as 15 lbs. The fisher- 

 men are delighted over the return of the fish. 



About 90 per cent, of the fish were exported, and the remainder used for 

 home consumption. 



There have been no abuses of the law, and the fishermen have well 

 observed the close seasons. 



There are no mills in his district, and no fishways. 



INLAND COUNTIES. 



Overseer Covell, Lombardy, County Leeds, reports that the fishery laws 

 were very well observed. No instances of illegal fishing having come to his 

 notice. The season's catch of fish is satisfactory, but there are many com- 

 plaints of the increase of ling, which is- very destructive to both Bass and 

 Otter Lakes, and he says that unless some steps are taken to rid the waters 

 of those pests, they will soon destroy all game fish, as the ling are increasing 

 and devouring them very fast. 



He thinks if there could be hoop nets granted for the waters where those 

 fish are predominating over the game fish fry and eggs of same, it would 

 increase the game fish more than all the illegal fishing that would take 

 place. There is one saw mill in his division. The dust is not allowed to 

 enter the stream but it is consumed as fuel. 



Overseer Donaldson, Donaldson's Mills, County Addington, reports 

 that the fishery laws were fairly well observed throughout his district. 

 There have been no fishing licenses granted except for domestic use. 



As there were no complaints he did not deem it necessary to visit any of 

 the waters in his district during the year. 



Overseer Hull, of Newboro', Eideau waters, Leeds County, reports that 

 the coarse fish are decreasing on account of so many pike being caught by 

 residents and sold. There has been a good season for salmon and bass, and 

 the laws have been well observed. He believes the permits have been the 

 means of preventing so many being taken out of the Province by the Amer- 

 icans. 



