88 REPORT OF ONTARIO GAME Xo. 52 



the carp, suckers, eels, bulllieaclis, is a most difficult matter to determiue, 

 for each undoubtedly has its function to perform in the general scheme 

 of nature. Occasionally a situation will arise, such as thoBe of the abun- 

 dance of carp in Lake Erie and of suckers in the Georgian Bay region, 

 where it would plainly be advisable to take measures to decrease the 

 quantities of these fish, and doubtless, also, where other more valuable 

 fishes are being removed from the waters, it is expedient also to remove 

 a proportionate amount of less valuable varieties. In all cases, 

 however, but especially in rivers, channels, bays and restricted 

 or shallow water areas generally, the granting of ordinary com- 

 mercial licenses for this purpose cannot but be accompanied by grave 

 danger to other classes of fish, and particularly so when very strict and 

 efficient supervision cannot be guaranteed. Indeed, it would appear to 

 be more than probable that the harm done by such means very frequently 

 would be immeasurably in excess of any benefits derived from the 

 removal of predaceous or coarse fishes. 



Thus, unless the strictest supervision could be ensured, it would 

 appear on the whole to be inexpedient to issue ordinary commercial 

 licenses for the taking of coarse fish only in rivers, channels, bays, 

 restricted and shallow waters generally, especially so in those known to 

 be the haunts of valuable sporting fishes, but rather, where the removal 

 of such fishes has become desirable, to undertake the work with Provin- 

 cial officials, as has already been done in regard to the ling and other 

 too abundant predaceous and coarse fishes in the waters of the Rideau 

 Lake system. 



Your Commissioner would, therefore, recommend: — 



(1) That steps be taken to ascertain, if possible, from the Dominion 

 Government the probable date of promulgation of the international 

 fishery regulations. 



(2) That in the event of the promulgation of these regulations 

 being indefinitely postponed, efforts be made to secure the introduction 

 of measures in regard to the construction and location of pound nets, 

 the mesh of nets, the amount of netting, the prohibition of netting in 

 certain localities, the closing of the sturgeon fisheries in the great lakes 

 and Lake of the Woods, and the prohibition in these waiters of netting 

 under the ice and the use of naked hooks, grappling hooks and spears, 

 torches, flambeaux or other artificial lights, on the lines indicated in the 

 proposed international fishery regulations. 



(3) That in the event of licenses being issued for the capture of 

 coarse fish only, the specific fish that may be caught be mentioned clearly 

 on the license. 



(4) That in rivers, bays, channels, shallow and restricted waters, 

 the general policy be adopted of undertaking the removal of undesirable 

 fish when necessary, as a Provincial enterprise, but where this is not 

 feasible, that licenses for this purpose be only issued where absolutely 

 strict supervision can be assured, and that in such cases any infringe- 



