44 REPOET OF ONTAEIO GAME No. 52 



Maritime Provinces. The Canadian Fisheries of the great lalves, how- 

 ever, are conterminous witii the southern boundaries of Ontario, and as 

 these fisheries developed in value, and more citizens of the Province 

 became engaged in their exploitation, it followed that Ontario's interest 

 in these fisheries considerably augmented. Lying exclusively on the 

 borders of her territory, it seemed to her government that Ontario Avas 

 entitled to considerable voice in the administration of these fisheries. 

 As time Avent on various matters of dispute in regard to them arose 

 between the Government of Ontario and the Dominion Government, 

 such an impasse being finally reached that the whole question was re- 

 ferred to the Privy Council for decision. On the basis of that decision 

 was enacted the present system of what may be termed dual control. 



Under this system the Dominion Government may, generally speak- 

 ing, be said to regulate the conditions under which the fisheries are con- 

 ducted, while the proprietory rights in relation to the fishes are vested 

 in the Provincial Government, which issues licenses to those desirous 

 of engaging in fishing operations. 



It is not within the scope of this report to discuss the merits of this 

 system, or to attempt to interpret in detail those points which, through 

 decision of the Privy Council, still remain open to doubt and contention, 

 but in view of the fact that glaring evils do exist in connection with the 

 fisheries, which only very drastic measures can adequately remedy, it 

 is necessary in this report to investigate carefully the extent to which 

 Provincial legislation could alone institute such measures, without 

 encroaching on the prerogative of the Dominion Government, and to 

 what extent it would be necessary to invoke the aid of the Dominion 

 Government in order to carry them into effect. 



AN EFFICIENT PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT FOR A FISH- 

 ERIES PROTECTIVE SERVICE. 



In the Interim Report of this Commission attention was strongly 

 called to the fact that both the personnel and equipment of the existing 

 Provincial Fisheries Protective Service were in a lamentable state of 

 inefiiciency, and certain general recommendations were made on these 

 heads with a view to remedying this state of affairs. 



It is plain that in so far as the oflftcials are concerned there can be 

 no question either as to the right of the Provincial Government 

 to appoint to these positions whomsoever it may select, nor as to 

 the advisability of selecting for these posts only such men as are physi- 

 cally and morally suitable for them; but in regard to the equipment, 

 the division of control of the fisheries somewhat complicates the question 

 and appears to render a further examination into it necessary. 



At the present time the Dominion Government maintains one large 

 cruiser and employs a limited number of fishery inspectors to see that 



