275 



The greatest evil that exists to-day in the matter of replenishing the waters of 

 the various lakes with whitefish is the pound nets-, for the simple reason that they 

 catch both large and small. As long as the pound nets are allowed to remain in 

 the waters in their present form, there is no use in attempting to replenish the 

 waters with whitetish. 



I have been in a trap-net boat when 2,500 Ib. of small whitefish were taken 

 out of one net ; and of the 2,500 Ib. there were not 50 Ib. of No. 1 whitefish, 

 and a No. 1 whitefish is a fish that will weigh one and one-half pounds. 



You can regulate the matter by having a four and one-half inch rnesh, so 

 that all the small whitefish will pass through. If the fishermen had to depend 

 for their living upon what whitefish they catch they would starve. 



There are other fish that the fishermen are fishing for as well as whitefish, 

 i.e. HERRING, and commercially speaking, they amount to as much as the white- 

 fish for lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario. Therefore a general law, 

 calling for a four and one-half inch mesh, will not answer. 



My opinion is that we want efficient wardens appointed by the Commission- 

 ers of the several States, not politicians, but men who know a whitejish from a 

 herring, and a lawyer from a sturgeon, men who are thoroughly posted as to the 

 class of fish that are caught in their respective jurisdictions. 



I might ha^e a fishing ground where I do not catch any fish but herring and 

 rough fish. Tom Brown four miles distant might have some pound nets; nets 

 that would catch a thousand tons of small whitefish during the months of May, 

 June and up to the middle of July, when the small whitefish come up near the 

 .shore to feed. After that time he would catch herring, large whitefish, and such 

 other fish as would come to his net but no small whitefish. 



In my opinion Tom Brown should not be allowed to place his nets in the 

 water until after the first of August, unless he fished with a four and one-half 

 inch mesh during the months of May, June and July. 



I recognize the fact that a law of this kind could be enforced in Canada ; but 

 not in this country where every fisherman is a politician. 



If my views are carried out it would require great vigilance on the part of 

 the wardens to see that the laws were thoroughly enforced and no partiality 

 shown. 



I also think we ought to have a closed season for all our commercial food 

 fishes and it should extend long enough to cover the whole spawning season. 



I know personally that F. W. Wicher (who was Commissioner of fisheries in 

 his time) would never have allowed pound nets to be set in the waters of Canada 

 if he could have had his way. 



I am very sorry that none of our Board can attend this meeting. 



If you think my views on this subject worth anything, you may present 

 them to the meeting. 



Nothing would give me more pleasure than to attend this meeting, as it 

 would seem like being back home again. 



With best wishes for a well attended and productive meeting, 



Very respectfully yours, 



JAS NEVJN, 

 Superintendent of Fisheries for State of Wisconsin. 



