1905 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. 37 



seized and confiscated twenty-five gill nets, which, he destroyed, during the 

 past season. There were also eight convictions. Tourists say "the salmon 

 are not biting to-day," but they are not there to bite. The poaching can be 

 easily stopped in a short time, but he would strongly recommend that Rideau 

 Lake receive a fresh supply of salmon fry,, also of bass, for although bass 

 fishing was reported good, he does not see how the rakes can hold out, with 

 the immense quantities of bass that are taken out each season. 



He finds that the lake is swarming with whitefish, and thinks a revenue 

 might be raised from licenses to catch such while they are running, if the 

 close season for salmon were a month earlier. The salmon run this season 

 was from October 17 to November 1st. The people would consider it a 

 great boon to be allowed to get even enough whitefish for their own use for 

 winter. The bullhead catch, he says, has greatly diminished in the Rideau, 

 the lake being fished out, but ling is steadily, increasing, and something 

 should be done quickly to rid the waters of this destructive fish. 



The several close seasons have been well observed everywhere, except in 

 the big Rideau, where we had to stay to enforce them. Those holding licenses 

 have strictly complied with the fishery laws; no other abuses have come to 

 his knowledge. 



Overseer Taylor, Westmeath, Ottawa River, reports that the past season 

 has been a very successful one. All those who enjoy angling and have visited 

 this part of the Ottawa (known as Allumette Lake, or Petoba, and Pacquet's 

 Rapids) were well repaid for their enjoyable time. The catch of pike and 

 bass especially has been good, and he has never seen so many fine pike taken. 

 There are large lakes lying north of these on Black River and Dunoine teem- 

 ing with those fish, and his opinion is that the Ottawa is fed from these large 

 lakes. On these tributaries of the Ottawa there is probably no finer climate 

 and scenery in all Canada. The famous Laurentian Mountains, beautiful 

 islands, natural woods or forests, and splendid water all go to make this spot 

 an ideal one for fishermen. The catch was probably a little greater than last 

 season, being over 30,000 pounds (purely for home consumption) of all kinds. 



There has been nothing done as yet re fishways in his territory on Indian 

 River, Black River or other streams running to the Ottawa. 



Overseer Bradshaw, Lindsay, Scugog Lage and River, Victoria County, 

 reports that during the season of 1905 the fishery laws and regulations have 

 been well kept in that section, no breaches of the law having come to his 

 notice. 



The changes in the length of maskinonge from 30 to 24 inches gives great 

 satisfaction to fishermen and others. The stopping of all fishing in Scugog 

 and the re-stocking of the waters were much needed and seem to fully satisfy 

 the public. Mill overseers and others have lived up to the fishery regulations 

 and have not given cause for complaint. 



There is only one fish way in this division. The one in the dam at Lind- 

 say, and it seems to work all right" when the water is high in spring, as this 

 is the time when the fish are running. The fishway answers a good purpose; 

 it allows them to ascend to the spawning grounds above the dam. 



Overseer Brown, Rockdale, County of Peterborough, repprts that the catch 

 of fish has not been so large in number this year as last, but in some lakes and 

 rivers the game fish have been larger in sibe. 500,000 pickerel fry put in 

 Round Lake, 1904. 900,000 pickerel fry put in Round Lake, 1905. 900,000 

 Pickerel fry put in Belmont Lake, 1905. 1904 pickerel fry from 8 to 9 inches 

 long were caught in Round Lake waters in November last, and in Belmont 

 Lake pickerel fry were caught from 5 to 7 inches long in the same month. 

 The fishing laws were fairly well observed, no cases of illegal fishing having 

 been brought to his notice this year. 



