1912 AND FISHERIES COMMISSION. 171 



to angle in this lake when excellent bass fishing can be secured over so 

 wide an area on this continent. The occurrence, moreover, of a bass 

 lake in the midst of this trout region undoubtedly enhances its value in 

 the variety of sport which it affords to the visiting anglers. On Lake 

 Nipigon there are a number of small settlements and undoubtedly the 

 number of persons living permanently in this vicinity will rapidly 

 increase when the Grand Trunk and Canadian Northern railways are 

 completed. At the present time unquestionably a considerable propor- 

 tion of the persons resident on the shores of the lake indulge in angling, 

 chiefly for lake trout and pickerel, without paying the license fee which 

 would appear to be called for under the law. It would be impossible 

 to begrudge persons living in so wild a region the privilege of taking a 

 few fish from the waters of so great a lake as Lake Nipigon without pay- 

 ing a license, and, indeed, the matter is only called to attention for the 

 reason that there are undoubtedly great numbers of magnificent speckled 

 trout in the lake, as well as of other sporting fishes such as the pickerel 

 and lake trout, and when the opening of the railways brings not only an 

 increased number of permanent residents to the neighborhood but some 

 visitors, at least, from outside, all anxious to fish these waters, it will 

 have to be decided in how far the special license is to be enforced on the 

 lake, for it would plainly be inexpedient to apply the license to some 

 and not to others. Probably when the fisheries of the lake become better 

 known, it will be possible to locate the areas inhabited chiefly by the 

 speckled trout, and it would seem that if all such areas, together with 

 all streams and rivers in the reserve, were declared subject to license, 

 both to residents and visitors, it would sufficiently w^ell meet the case, for 

 undoubtedly great stretches of water would remain available to those 

 who did not wish to angle for speckled trout in particular, but were con- 

 tent to confine their efforts to other varieties. 



The expense of fishing the Nipigon River is at present very consid- 

 erable to the average individual. The waters of the river are rapid 

 and dangerous in many places ; in others altogether unnavigable ; so that 

 the angler visitor is practically compelled to take with him one or more 

 guides. The exploitation of the tourist traffic has fallen into the hands 

 of three firms trading at Nipigon Village, each of whom undertakes the 

 complete outfitting of parties, including the furnishing of tents, canoes, 

 guides and provisions, and it is not overstating the case to say that both 

 arrangements and charges are in general excessive. This is naturally to 

 be deplored, for it must obviously tend to keep would-be visitors away, 

 but on the other hand there is no apparent remedy other than that the 

 authorities controlling the reserve should institute and operate a gov- 

 ernment outfitting agency, and thus reduce expenses to visitors to a 

 minimum. Such a step, however, will probably be adjudged impracticable, 

 although it would have one great advantage, in addition to saving the 

 visitor considerable sums, which is worthy of consideration, namely that 

 by employing only trustworthy guides, if necessary, indeed, importing 



