36 KEPORT OF ONTARIO GAME No. 52 



United States; 95 per cent., in fact, would in all probability prove to 

 be a, fairly accurate estimate. It is evident, therefore, that in such a 

 measure as the prohibition of export there must, under existing condi- 

 tions, lie great capabilities of very materially reducing the annual fish 

 crop for a period of years, more especially in view of the fact already 

 brought to notice that, although the potentialities of a great fish market 

 in Ontario are apparent, actually the existing fish market is still in the 

 most elementary stage of development. 



It must also be equally clear that the indirect effect of such a 

 measure could not but be the evolution of a far greater demand for fish 

 throughout the Province, for prices would inevitably fall during the 

 first periods of its enforcement, owing to the fact that many more men 

 are engaged in the fishing business at present, and would probably be 

 ^wishful of continuing it, than the demand under such conditions would 

 ^"arrant for at least several years to come, and consequently the surplus 

 of supply over demand would bring about the usual result, a considerable 

 reduction in values. 



That the general public would only too joyfully take advantage of 

 «uch a situation, is perfectly certain, and it is equally sure that the edu- 

 cation of the general public to the value of fish food, or, in other words, 

 the creation of a greater demand and thereby the upbuilding of a great 

 Provincial fish market, is economically sound from the point of view of 

 both business and health. 



The introduction of such a measure, applicable to all classes of fish, 

 would obviously disorganize the existing arrangements of the fish trust, 

 and it would be compelled to seek other channels of supply, if the 

 demands of its present markets were to continue to be filled. But with 

 the troubles of this corporation the Province has no concern. It is true 

 that the trust might commence to interest itself in the exploitation of 

 the Ontario market, and thus continue to maintain its grip on the product 

 of the fisheries to a limited extent, but even so, at least the citizens of 

 the Province w^ould profit by their fish to the extent of consuming them, 

 a privilege which, broadly speaking, they are denied to-day. 



There is no doubt but that the enactment of such a measure would 

 meet with a storm of protest from the interests concerned, and from the 

 tools employed by them in the prosecution of their business, the commer- 

 cial net fishermen, for it is certain that the former would not relinquish 

 one of its main sources of supply without making a great effort to retain 

 it, and that it w^ould be made to appear to the latter that their vocation 

 and means of livelihood were being wantonly attacked. That for a time 

 at least many of the net fishermen would have to seek other occupations 

 cannot be denied, and it would be necessary to give ample notice of such 

 a measure so as to enable the men to make suitable arrangements, or 

 possibly even to purchase from them at an equitable valuation their 

 boats, gear and other equipment, where such were beyond doubt the 

 actual property of tlie men, but it must be remembered that the average 



