1912 AND FISHERIES COMMISSION. 63 



In dealing with the question of the prohibition of export of white- 

 fish and lake trout, the matter was discussed from its purely interna- 

 tional aspect, and it is evident that if such prohibition were effected by 

 Dominion regulation and made applicable to all Canadian waters in 

 which whitefish at least are found, there would be no need for any 

 special precautions in regard to the whitefish of Lake of the Woods, for 

 it would be only to the advantage of Ontario to have a market for its 

 superfluous fish in the Provinces bounding it on either side. If, on the 

 contrary, the measure had to be effected by the Province through the 

 endorsation of licenses and other means already indicated, it is plain 

 that an avenue would still be open to the foreign monopolies at the East- 

 ern and Western extremities of the Province, for obtaining the bulk of 

 the Ontario fish whose international export the Province Avas attempt- 

 ing to prohibit, by causing the fish to be shipped to the nearest suitable 

 points in Canada outside the Provincial boundaries and thence trans- 

 shipping them across the border, thus defeating the objects of the Pro- 

 vincial measure, for no Provincial legislation could be framed to em- 

 brace the destination of the fish after it had legitimately left the Pro- 

 vincial boundaries. It w^ould seem, therefore, that under these circum- 

 stances special steps would have to be taken to guard against this 

 eventualit}^ The establishment of Provincial fish agencies would, in all 

 probability, tend to achieve this object satisfactorily, but as far as Lake 

 of the Woods is concerned, the fisheries of which are so distant from the 

 more densely populated areas of the Province and where there is only 

 one company in operation and that a Canadian company, chiefly owned 

 by Winnipeg interests, it would at first sight appear that the establish- 

 ment of a branch agency might entail a hardship on a legitimate Cana- 

 dian enterprise, for, although one of the chief purchasers of the Arm- 

 strong Trading Company is, in all probability, the American fish trust, 

 it would seem that the concern itself is operated on Canadian capital by 

 Canadians. Undoubtedly the surrounding territory will eventually 

 maintain a very much greater population than at present, for both the 

 agricultural and mineral possibilities appear to be considerable, and it 

 is, in consequence, essential to conserve these valuable fisheries. It is 

 also beyond dispute that the possible fish markets along both the Cana- 

 dian Pacific and Canadian Northern Railways are at present entirely 

 unexploited, so that there is a considerable field for commercial enter- 

 prise in this direction. Possibly some arrangement might be entered 

 into with the Company in regard to the disposal of its fish with a view to 

 securing its co-operation in fostering the market in Kenora and in the 

 lesser towns on both railways, and also in regard to the non-export of 

 the fish from Winnipeg. The existence of a Provincial fish agency might, 

 indeed, render this all the easier to bring about, for the company would 

 be able to ship to the agency, for ultimate disposal in the Province, all 

 fish in excess of the requirements of its own markets and be assured of 

 obtaining a fair average return. In the event, however, of the company 



