1912 AND FISHERIES COMMISSION. 45 



the Dominion rulings in regard to the fisheries are observed, but the 

 actual enforcement of the laws rests chiefly with the Provincial Gov- 

 ernment, which maintains a large staff of wardens, fishery overseers and 

 inspectors, and incurs considerable expenditure in regard to the equip- 

 ment for these officials, for this purpose. The large cruiser of the 

 Dominion Government is eminently suitable for patrol work on the higk 

 seas of the great lakes, and for the supervision of the fish tugs engaged 

 in operations over deep waters. With the exception of the " Edna 

 Ivan,'" an ancient fish tug with indifferent cabin accommodation built 

 upon it, which the Provincial Government again leased this year, the 

 Province is possessed of no equipment in the very least degree suitable 

 for this class of work, and, indeed, it would seem that such work, which 

 is practically a policing of the fisheries against international fishing 

 piracy, is distinctly the province of the Dominion Government. But in 

 regard to all the vast extent of less exposed waters in which fishing 

 operations are conducted, the Provincial Government, as has been 

 pointed out, has assumed the burden of enforcing the general Dominion 

 regulations in addition to those governing its own domestic arrange- 

 ments, and by doing so has furnished conclusive proof not only of the 

 very great importance it attaches to the protection of the fisheries, but 

 also of a strong desire to retain as much control as possible over an 

 interest which can affect to such a great degree the welfare of its 

 citizens. 



As previously recorded in this report, however, there has recently 

 been drawn up a series of international regulations between Great 

 Britain and the United States in regard to the fisheries of the great 

 lakes, which, when promulgated, are to apply equally on both sides of 

 the boundary, and there seems to be little doubt but that promulgation 

 of these regulations will not long be delayed. The Commissioner w^ho 

 represented the United States in these negotiations has recommended 

 to the I'nited States Government that a suitable staff and equipment 

 be provided and maintained by the Federal Government to enforce these 

 regulations in so far as the American waters are concerned, and it would 

 seem, therefore, reasonable to suppose that the Dominion Government 

 should contemplate some such step also, unless very well assured that 

 the Government of Ontario is prepared and willing adequately to under- 

 take this work. 



That the present equipment at the disposal of the Provincial Gov- 

 ernment is almost entirely unsuitable to the purposes on which it is- 

 employe<l has been set forth in no uncertain terms in the Interim RepK)rt 

 of this Commission. In the face of a modern and efficient equipment, 

 such as recommended to the Federal Government of the United States, 

 it is evident that its lamentable deficiencies would become only the more 

 apparent. 



The whole question then would seem to resolve itself into a matter 

 of policy on the part of the Provincial Government, to decide in fact 



