264 REPORT OF ONTARIO GAME No. 52 



dom of movememt to prevent their comings and goings being anticipated 

 and discounted by malefactors, and to ena;ble them to manceuvre, on at 

 least an equality of speed, with the average craft with which they have 

 to deal, while at the same time reducing the fuel consumption to an 

 economic minimum. 



Great strides have been made of recent years in the construction 

 of all manner of craft, but in no type has the advance been more marked 

 than in that suitable for the waters of this Province. The introduction 

 of gasoline has revolutionized the relation of size to speed, wliile 

 decreasing the cost both of construction and maintenance. Some 

 prejudice exists in certain quarters against the use of gasoline as a 

 motive power for boats, but this prejudice is not well founded on fact. 

 There are now in existence thousands of gasoline boats of all classes amd 

 descriptions, from the sea-going cruisers, which have voyaged to Ber- 

 muda and back, to the commerciail fisherman's (smack with its auxiliary 

 gasoline engine. On the waters of the south, about Florida, there are a 

 multitude of houseboat cruisers and yachts driven by gasoline on the 

 inland waters of this continent, and in fact on inland waters through- 

 out the civilized world their name is legion, so that, in spite of a few 

 serious accidents, it is correct and safe to declare that the ratio of 

 accidents occurring with gasoline engines to-day is no higher than with 

 steam engines. Where the engines are handled by competent men 

 investigation proves them to be efficient, serviceable and economical, and 

 the prejudice against them, as likewise the troubles experienced by some 

 persons witli them, are directly attributable to men without sufficient 

 training being placed in charge of the engine. To confide amy engine 

 to an inexperienced man is to invite trouble, if not actual disaister, and 

 this is equally true of those whose motive power is steam or gasoline, 

 though not so often attempted with the former as with the latter. In 

 regard to cleanliness and comfort there can be no comparision between 

 the steam and gasoline engine for use on comparatively small boats, as 

 with the latter not only are coal dust and ashes avoided, but, properly 

 handled, there is little or no smell attached to them, while in the matter 

 of available space, the saving secured by the installation of the small 

 gasoline engine instead of the more cumbersome steam engine must be 

 obvious to the veriest tyro. 



After mature consideration of the whole situation, your Commis- 

 sioner has come to the conclusion that, in the interests of both ulti- 

 mate economy and present and permanent efficiency, the time has come 

 to discard the present haphazard and unsatisfactory system of charter- 

 ing or acquiring boats for the Fishery Protective Service, possessed of 

 only a few of the essential requirements, and for the establishment by 

 the Province of a fleet of boats designed especially for the work they are 

 required to perform. With this in view, and taking advantage of the 

 experience and knowledge of some of the officers of the outside service 

 of the Department, he has drawn up a schedule of requirements for the 



