1912 AND FISHERIES COMMISSION. 277 



selves ; but, once the public became advised of the value of this attraction 

 in the development of the tourist business, such splendid protection 

 was furnished that to-day not only is twenty-five million dollars attracted 

 annually to the state, but the residents themselves obtain much better 

 fishing and shooting than ever existed in the state before. 



The returns of the Department of Game and Fisheries of the Pro- 

 vince of Ontario s;how that from the non-resident anglers' tax of |2.00 

 per head approximately $17,000 has been collected during the year. It 

 muKt be borne in mind, however, that this license fee has only been col- 

 lected for three years, and that the machinery for its collection is not 

 yet perfected ; and, indeed, at the present time it may fairly be assumed 

 that only about one-half of the possible amount is actually collected. 

 Then, also, it should be realized that this |17,000 direct revenue means 

 an indirect revenue to the Province of something approaching |850,- 

 000.00, taking the average used by the Maine officialK as a basis of calcu- 

 lation, namely, flOO.OO per capita. It must also be borne in mind that 

 for one person who pays this fee there are, on an average, one or two 

 members of the family who do not care to angle, and who, therefore do 

 not take out any license to do so, but who will none the less be spending 

 their pro rata amount in the Province. 



From information in the possession of your Commissioner, obtained 

 from railroad officials, hotel proprietors, etc., he estimates that quite 

 three million dollars comes into the Province annually, which would not 

 be brought in if there were no angling or shooting; and, further, your 

 Commissioner is of the opinion that were the fish and game of the 

 Province to be seriously considered from their economic aspect by your 

 Government, the public, and the great financial institutions, such an 

 improvement would take place in the sport, through the establishment 

 of hatcheries and adequate general protection that the sum referred to 

 would be immensely increased. The State of Maine is only about one- 

 eighth the size of the Province of Ontario, and there is no reason why 

 the immense sums derived from its tourist traffic and now enjoyed by 

 that state should not in the course of time, and by intelligent effort, be 

 equalled, or even surpassed, in the Province of Ontario, the free circula- 

 tion of which would mean the building of numerous hotels, improved 

 railway and steamboat transportation, increased value of real estate, 

 employment for thousands of registered guides, and the development 

 generally of the machinery to handle a quarter to half a million annual 

 summer visitors. 



The scarcity of ready money among the poorer settlers in the back 

 townships is admitted, and no manual labour is better paid that that of 

 guide or oarsman, employed by visiting sportsmen; and, were the 

 settlers more alive to the opportunities of obtaining considerable sums 

 of money by taking up this work, your Commissioner believes such set- 

 tlers would become interested in the protection of fish and game in their 

 neighbourhood, and realize that its greatest value to themselves is as 



