1912 AND FISHERIES COMMISSION. 263 



as well a« the A'i«»-i[aiit on Lake Erie. Tins tacitly seems to be the 

 admitted duty of the Dominion Government, and should cause no dif- 

 ficulty if operated in conjunction with the new naval policy as a train- 

 ing school for seamen, but, as this Class A type of boat would seem to 

 be outside the scope of the provincial equipment, your Commissioner 

 will not further refer to it. 



As regards the classes of boats to meet the conditions of B and C, 

 it is plain that the type of boat that could live, if caught out in the 

 storms of Lake Superior or the Georgian Bay, would not be the most 

 suitable craft for the intricate chiannels of the Rideau Lake system, 

 wihile the boat that could fearlessly navigate these same channels would 

 be unable to face the rough seas of the Great Lakes. To be efficient, 

 the Government officers must be aible to be out in all weathers Avheu 

 other craft are on the waters, and likewise able to penetrate the shal- 

 lowest bays and channels where illegal operations can be carried on. 

 Hence the main factor for the boats of Class B is seaworthiness (with 

 as light draught as consistent therewith), for those of Class C, draught. 



The next main consideration in the selection of a suitable equip- 

 ment is the nature of the duties to be performed by the officers. To 

 one may be assigned as his principal duty the supervision of the licenses, 

 nets and operations of commercial fishermen scattered over a great 

 extent of sparsely settled territory, and involving, more or less fre- 

 quently, the passage of rough or dangerous waters; to the next maj- fall 

 the task of collecting the license fee from foreign angler-tourists 

 throughout a popular lake and river district, supervising the anglers' 

 catch of fish, while keeping an eye on the narrow channels and creeks 

 of his territory to see that no illegal netting is carried on therein. In 

 cases such as the first, owing to the size of the craft necessary to carry 

 on the work, to secure his safety in storms and rough weather, and to 

 more efficiently discharge his duties, the officer will have to be given assis- 

 tance. In cases such as the second the officer can, as a general rule, 

 handle the work alone. Hence it Avill be seen that the boats of Class B 

 would be required to carry a regular crew of two or more, aiud those of 

 Class C only one. 



The third main consideration is speed. The officers should be able 

 not only to move freely about in the district, but also to cover a con- 

 siderable extent of territory daily. Where the appearance of an officer 

 in any x)articular locality occurs at regular and well-known inter- 

 vals, or where, on his appearance, those engaged in illegal operations 

 can upsail and make good their escape without trouble, the usefulness 

 of the officer cannot but be grievously impaired. At the same time it 

 Avould be impossible for tlie Government to provide boats for its general 

 service from which the speed freaks of an occasional illegally engaged 

 tourist-angler could not escape if so desired. It would appear, therefore, 

 that the speed should be so adjusted as to enable the officers to cover 

 their territory with reasonable frequency, to give them sufficient free- 



