1915 GAME AND FISHERIES. 



tioii; but, aside from the heavy fishing carried on south of the International 

 Boundary, the abolition of the close season by the Dominion authorities demands 

 that scientific means be adopted on a commensurate scale to replace the laborious, 

 wasteful, and altogether inadequate processes of unassisted nature, and a hatchery 

 in the eastern bight and one in the vicinity of Port Stanley are urgently needed. 



Nothing affords a better illustration of the value of artificial propagation than 

 the work carried on at the Provincial Hatchery at Mount Pleasant near Brantford. 

 Results of past work are visible in various parts of the Province. Last year the 

 Superintendent was rewarded for his devotedness to his work and had the satis- 

 faction of turning out about half a million bass fry and fingerlings, which were 

 planted in various waters in the Province. To this work was assigned Mr. Henry 

 Watson, as special officer in charge of distribution, who accompanied Mr. J. T. 

 Edwards, Superintendent of the hatchery, on every planting trip made by the 

 Government fish car. Mr. Watson is well known as a keen and experienced angler 

 and thoroughly familiar with most of the waters of the Province, 'SO that followers 

 of the gentle art may confidently look forward to an improvement in many of the 

 waters about which complaints have been often heard of late years. 



During the year, the scope of the hatchery has been increased by the erection 

 of a trout hatchery and ponds, under' the supervision of Mr. A. J. Halford, Chief 

 Provincial Engineer. When the addition is completed, it is expected that about 

 three million trout and one million bass fry will be turned out every year from 

 Mount Pleasant. As a start with brook trout, a number of eyed eggs have been 

 ordered for the coming season, and these, with the brown trout fry to be raised 

 from the eyed eggs so very generously promised to the Department by the Hon-' 

 ourable N. R. Buller, 'Commissioner of Fisheries for the State of Pennsylvania, 

 will give approximately one million fry for distribution in the spring of 1915. ' 



In view, however, of the suitability of the waters of this Province for fish life, 

 and the increasing popularity of our lake and riverside resorts, it is only too 

 evident that further provision will have to be made at an early date for a game 

 fish hatchery on an adequate scale at some suitable point on the Trent Vallety 

 waters. Such a hatchery should turn out sufficient maskinonge, trout and bass to 

 re-stock the waters of Old Ontario that have been overfished, besides supplying 

 fry for stocking suitable waters in the newer parts of the Province. 



The unsatisfactory nature of the regulations governing the Lake Erie fisheries 

 has again been proved. Numerous complaints have been made during the year 

 that several of the gill net fishermen paid no regard whatever to the conditions of 

 their licenses defining the territory in which they were allowed to operate. Upon 

 a careful review of the situation, I feel obliged to urge strongly that the recom- 

 mendation made by Inspector Holden some years ago in favour of the opening of 

 the lake beyond a certain distance from the shore to all licensed tugs irrespective 

 of home port be reconsidered. There is a large body of water lying between the 

 Port Stanley meridian and Pelee Island, within which only six 'Canadian tugs are 

 allowed to operate, and from this area large quantities of fish are taken by United 

 States vessels. It does not appear reasonable that our own boats should be 

 debarred from operating in these waters and be tied down to fish only opposite 

 certain townships or certain ridings. ^ 



Game. 



While the protective measures enacted have resulted in the preservation of 

 our big game and a marked increase in certain localities, there are certain sections 

 of the Province, notably in the districts of Kenora, Rainy River, Fort WilliaA' 



