30 



Walhalla dam in 

 upper waters. 



migrated up and down the Red river. It is claimed that few or 

 no fish can now be secured by the local people in the river above the 

 locks. A similar complaint has been made respecting an obstruct- 

 ing dam on the upper waters of the Red river, or, rather, 011 the 

 Pembina river, at a point about 140 miles above Selkirk. This dam, 

 at Walhalla, in the state of North Dakota, was visited by a sub- 

 committee of the commission, who interviewed Mr. J. F. Major, the 

 builder of the dam and who was formerly the owner of it, but sold 

 it to the Walhalla Milling Company, of which Mr. F. G. Steams is 

 m ana g'cr. Mr. Stearns, when the complaint was brought before him, 

 replied that his company were not prepared to do anything so long 

 as the obstruction built by the Dominion government lower down 

 at St, Andrews rapids, prevented the ascent of fish. He claimed 

 that it was useless putting in a fishway up above if the fish were 

 totally stopped 100 miles below. He stated, however, that the com- 

 pany would be prepared to put in a fishway at the Walhalla dam, 

 which is about 4 feet high (though it can be raised to a height of 7 

 feet when required), if the Dominion government put in a fishway, 

 or provided some passage for fish, at the obstructing St. Andrews 

 rapids locks below. The Walhalla clam is 100 feet long, though the 

 r.verage width of the Pembina river is not more than about 30 feet. It 

 i? a very small, sluggish stream, and appears to be frequented mainly 

 by pickerel, jackfish and suckers, which formerly abounded in great 

 numbers. The United States Consul General, Mr. Jones, Winnipeg, 

 had some correspondence on the matter of these obstructions, and 

 he pointed out that, ' as the Red river is an international stream, 

 its source being within the state of Minnesota, draining a large por- 

 tion of that state as well as North Dakota, and flowing for three- 

 quarters of its length through the territory of the United States, 

 he would be interested to have an expression of opinion as to the 

 effect of the St. Andrews locks upon the supply of fish in the upper 

 stretches of the river. And it may be added that the feeling along 

 necessary, the banks of the river is that the locks have proved most detrimental, 

 and that, if any improvement is to be effected a fish pass will be 

 required at the government locks, and then a fishway can be pro- 

 vided at the Walhalla dam on the Pembina river above. 



Fish firms do not 

 contribute adequate 

 revenue. 



Fishermen cannot 

 bear heavy fees. 



Fish firms should 

 pay royalty on fish 

 they handle (c. 

 per pound). 



KOYALTY ON FISH. 



There is a widespread feeling in Manitoba, a feeling which we 

 strongly share, that, considering the immense value of the annual 

 catches of fish made in Lake Winnipeg and the other lakes of Mani- 

 toba, the firms who handle the fish, and derive substantial profit, 

 have not contributed in any proper proportion to the revenue of the 

 Dominion. The license fees charged have been ridiculously small, and 

 the commission found that the fish firms were not all unwilling to 

 contribute a larger amount to the revenue in whatever way it might 

 be thought desirable. An increased license fee would practically 

 amount to a heavier payment by the actual fishermen, and it appears 

 unfair to impose a heavier tax on them; hence the most feasible 

 method appears to be the collection of a royalty on the total amount 

 of fish handled; by the respective firms. We are of opinion that at 

 the close of the summer fishing and at the close of the fall and win- 

 ter fishing, each fish firm should be required by law to make a return 

 of the amount of fish which is in their possession or which has passed 

 through their hands. This return it would be easy to compile from 



