THE EEPORT UPOX Xo. 13 



as the wild pigeon. This is practically what the Department of Marine and 

 Fisheries have been doing with the fisheries of the Province. Whitefish do not 

 spawn in the foul and putrid waters of Lake Erie that extends for many miles from 

 the American shore, but congregate in countless numbers in 'Canadian waters for 

 that purpose. ']^o such an extent does this prevail that the authorities of several 

 States bordering on Lake Erie annually ask permission to procure spawn for their 

 hatcheries from our waters, not procurable in their own. It will be patent, even 

 to those who are not conversant with fishery matters, that, allowing the destruc- 

 tion year after year of the only reproductive source of supply available, will not 

 have the tendency to perpetuate the incalculable valuable heritage nature has so 

 generously endowed the Province with. We should not have an elevated opinion 

 of a farmer's sanity, who, after having at great expense prepared his land for the 

 seed, destroj^ed the seed instead of sowing it, and then expected crops. This is 

 precisely what divided jurisdiction and certain exigencies have entailed on tlie 

 fisheries of the Province. During extended open seasons, cars in which ship- 

 ments of whitefish have been made, have the floors covered inches deep with spawn 

 exuding from the boxes. It is generally understood that bona fide fishermen and 

 reputable dealers are, as a rule, adverse to any meddling interference with the 

 respective close seasons. Of course there are fishermen and fishermen. Those that 

 are not bona fide are capitalists of various degrees, who use all means known to 

 them to procure commercial licenses with the intention of making all the money 

 they possibly can in a few years, irrespective of seasons and without a thought or 

 care for the future of the fisheries. These are the men who are responsible in a 

 large measure for these periodical infractions of nature's laws. Shortly before the 

 close seasons, (the month of November for whitefish and salmon trout), the modus 

 operandi of these men has been for one or two of these self-constituted philan- 

 thropists to visit Ottawa, presumably with charitable purposes intent, and deliver 

 themselves of a hard-luck yarn, bewailing the fate of the poor fisherman, stating 

 that the fishing has not been remunerative, and asking that they be allowed to 

 improve it for other seasons by the somewhat questionable method of destroying 

 with impunity the sole and only source of supply. There are other causes having 

 most destructive effects on the fisheries, viz., the widespread system of pollution 

 of our lakes, rivers and streams. Nature never intended these one time beautiful 

 waters to be turned into death dealing pestilential swamps and pools. J regret 

 that many tug fishermen are alleged to make a practice of dumping the offal into 

 the waters. This we may cope with to some extent, but in matters of general pol- 

 lution we are comparatively helpless. There is no doubt that pollution of public 

 waters is increasing at an alarming rate in the lakes, bays and rivers in both coun- 

 tries. Netg set in Lake Ontario seven or eight miles from the outlet of the Niagara 

 Eiver, after a storm, are so saturated with sewage and tangled up with sewer rub- 

 bish as to make them worthless. I have dealt with these matters at some length — 

 matters that under some of the unfortunate conditions it is not in our power to 

 improve. The Department have numerous requests to re-stock waters with game 

 fish from various parts of the Province — as a rule for waters unfit to sustain fish 

 life. These applicants should remember that the Lord helps them that help themr 

 selves. Those who want re-stocking done in public waters, either to attract tour- 

 ists or for the pleasure and profit of the residents, must in future either prevent 

 the waters being contaminated with sewage or deleterious waste from factories, or 

 do without fish. For several years the Department have been doing all possible to 

 prevent the netting and spearing of game fish on their spawning grounds in the 

 spring and prevent the use of the illegal and destructive trap nets, and have met 



