1912 xVND FISHEKIES COMMISSION. 85 



quite freely. An old Geriiian, who lives here, goes daily to the rivers 

 with a regular fly-casting pole and reel to fish for carp. Of course he 

 exclianges the fly for the regulation book, but he uses his reel in landing 

 the carp and says that there is no finer sport than fishing for carp. As 

 for the sport of catching carp with book and line I consider it equal to 

 anything in the way of pleasure fishing, as the fish is gamej' and will 

 fight as hard against being landed as bass or other game fish, and is to 

 be handled with precaution on account of the tender gills, which will 

 often tear when hooked by an inexperienced angler. In the past two 

 years carp have become popular where they were unpopular, because of 

 the wearing away of the prejudice that they were of no benefit to the 

 angler on account of the belief that they would not take the hook. Now 

 it is different, as the very ones who were so loud in their protest against 

 the carp have found great sport in taking them with the hook and line, 

 and it is wonderful to hear the change of sentiment as to the carp for 

 food purposes. They are a good fish now and fit for a king in comparison 

 to what was said of them while the prejudice still existed. To m^- mind 

 the carp is a good fish for food purposes and is fast finding favour in 

 the West in every way, now that the angler has foimd that it is the 

 coming fish for sport.'' 



Thus it will be seen that even on this continent the carp has its 

 champions as a sporting fish, and that already many are profiting 

 through the pleasure of its pursuit. It must also be remembered that the 

 class of angling Avhich alone will satisfy the fastidious and expert angler 

 is not demanded in general by the masses, who as a rule are entirely 

 content so be their efforts are rewai-ded by a little sport and the capture 

 of some edible fish. 



In conclusion, then, it would seem that where the carp is found 

 to l)e working damage, st-eps could advantageously be taken to reduce its 

 numbers to a minimum, althougfh in allowing seining for this fish the 

 greatest possible precautions should be taken to prevent the destruction 

 of other, and esijecially the sporting, varieties of fish, but that, in view 

 of the fact that it is impossible now to exclude the fish from much of the 

 Provincial waters, it would be the part of wisdom to educate the people 

 in some measure to its edible, sporting and otlier qualities. Your Com- 

 missioner would, therefore, recommend: — 



(1) That the present policy of issuing seining licenses for the cap- 

 ture of carp only, in districts where this fish is found to be abundant 

 and working harm, be •continued provided that proper government super- 

 vision can be and is ari-anged for, but that if possible this work be under- 

 taken in inland waters by officers of the government. 



(2) That a pamphlet be drawn up for circulation among the citi- 

 zens of the Province with a vicAV to educating them to such advantages 

 as are ]>oss('ss(h1 by tlie car]), es^i>ecially as a food and sporting fish. 



