60 REPOET OF ONTARIO GAME No. 52 



disclosed would raise a new difficulty should the tender be, as recom- 

 mended in regard to the great lakes, for a term of years. Under reason- 

 able fishing and good supervision this, however, should not frequently 

 occur, and in the event of it doing so there would be no difficulty in 

 arranging a proportionate rebate to the licensee, or even, perhaps, of 

 changing the location of his license to suitable adjacent w^aters for the 

 balance of the term. Moreover, where a licensee in restricted waters had 

 conducted his business on lines best calculated to ensure a continued 

 product from the waters and had, in all probability, some considerable 

 capital, in proportion at least to his means, invested in nets, boats, store- 

 house and other equipment, not only would a distinct hardship occur 

 should he fail to secure a renewal of his license at the expiration of its 

 term, but it is doubtful whether it would be to the advantage of the Pro- 

 vince to risk obtaining a less satisfactory licensee for the sake of a few 

 dollars. This, however, might be adjusted by providing that Avhere a 

 licensee conscientiously fulfilled all the requirements of the law through- 

 out the term of his license, he should be entitled to a renewal of it on 

 the same terms on which he originally acquired it, or on payment of such 

 additional fee as might be deemed just by the Government. 



Your Commissioner would, therefore, most strongly recommend: 



(1) That no licenses be issued for commercial fishing in inland 

 lakes which have not a clear water area of at least ten miles square. 



(2) That no licenses whatsoever be issued for commercial fishing 

 in inland lakes over which rigid inspection cannot be provided. 



(3) That no licenses be issued for commercial fishing in inland 

 lakes other than the very large ones, which are the habitat of the black 

 bass, speckled trout or maskinonge, except where a local market needs 

 to be supplied, and then only and exclusively for the requirements of 

 that market. 



(4) That the value of a license be determined in the same way as 

 recommended for the licenses of the great lake fisheries. 



(5) That subsequent to the establishment of Provincial fish agencies 

 and the introduction of a more effective system of administration of the 

 fisheries, the experiment be made of placing the license issued for cer- 

 tain inland waters of the Province up to public tender, care, however^ 

 being taken to prevent the licenses from falling into the hands of specu- 

 lators and to place them as far as possible with local residents or set- 

 tlers. 



(6) That all licensees be required to render monthly sworn returns 

 of their catch on forms provided them for the purpose, and that such 

 returns must be countersigned on oath by the responsible fishery over- 

 seer. 



(7) That careful stud^^ be made of each lake in which commercial 

 fishing Is to be allowed in order to determine the extent or amount of 

 nets which it is expedient to allow to be operated, and the periods and 

 localities in Avhich spawning of the commercial fishes takes place in 

 order that these may be rigidly protected. 



