1912 AND FISHEKIES COMMISSION. 101 



which formerly might have aspired to be styled rivers have fallen to the 

 level of brooks, swept by freshets in the spring and with but a trickle of 

 water in the summer months where formerly there was an abundant and 

 steady flow. It is to be noted also that the temperature of the rivers and 

 streams is raised by the removal of the forest, and especially so in such 

 cases where no shade trees are left to line the banks. The brook trout 

 will not thrive in warm waters, nor in waters absolutely destitute of 

 shade, and consequently has disappeared from many waters w^hich it 

 formerly inhabited. Naturally enough this hais occurred most notice- 

 ably in the more settled portions of the Province, for it is these which 

 have been the most thoroughly shorn of their timber. Pollution of the 

 waters, through the dumping of poisonous or deleterious matter therein 

 by towns and factories, has also in certain localities played no incon- 

 siderable part in the extinction of the fish, and a like charge, it is to be 

 feared, must be levelled against the ruthless overfishing, both angling and 

 netting, which has but all too frequently taken place and which, although 

 due in part, no doubt, to the excellence of the sport afforded by the fish, 

 cannot but chiefly be attributed to the high estimation in which it is 

 held for table purposes and the consequent good price that can be ob- 

 tained for it. The sale of the fish is prohibited by law, but unfortunately 

 this has as j-et far from checked illegal trafficing in it. In many of the 

 Provincial cities and towns, including even Toronto, it continues to be 

 peddled, and some even of the regular fish dealers are not entirely inno- 

 cent on the score of handling it surreptitiously. 



AYhile, then, the natural range of the brook trout may be considered 

 as including much of the eastern and southern portions of the Pix)vince, 

 it is unfortunately the case that it has largely disappeared from this area 

 through the causes above enumerated, although in a few of the Avilder 

 regions, where timber is still standing and civilization, generally speak- 

 ing, has not as yet intruded to any great extent, it may still be found in 

 comparative abundance. In the Algonquin National Park, for instance, 

 many of the little lakes and streams of that wild and beautiful district 

 are well stocked Avitli the fish, and the same may be said of other portions 

 of the Ottawa River basin and of jnore or less isolated localities to be 

 found in Haliburton, Hastings and other counties. Those waters, also, 

 Avhich drain into Lake Huron and Georgian Bay may, for practical pur- 

 poses, be sai<l not to be brook trout grounds at tlie present time, although 

 in the Parry Sound district and other localities there are places where 

 good fishing is still to be secured, for it is not until the streams of the 

 Algoma District are reached, which flow into the North Channel, that 

 the fisih commences to appear in appreciable quantities. Thence, how- 

 ever, westward it is to be found in most of the rivers and lakes floAving 

 into Lake Superior, reaching its zenith of abundance and size in the 

 Thunder Bay District. In this region are situated the Nipigon Biver, 

 already world-famous for its magnificent trout fishing, and many other 

 fine streams, such as the Steel, aud it is to be noted also that the fish 



