288 



of the Canadian Fish Commissioners a prohibitory law that will prohibit the use 

 of all kinds of nets in the Canadian waters of the St. Lawrence river the same 

 as the New York State Confiscation Bill now recommends ; we also ask of them 

 to include the same time for their close season on the St. Lawrence river for all 

 kinds of game fish that the above named codification bill recommends." 



The adoption of the resolution was moved by Mr. Amsden, seconded by Mr. 

 Skinner. 



Secretary STEWART : We have at present little control over our waters, 

 consequently all we can do is to send the recommendation to the Dominion 

 government. 



Mr. AMSDEN : Later on when you do get the power you can act on it. 



The resolution was adopted. 



Mr. SKINNER : I would like to read you a few statistics in reference to tha 

 association of which I am a member. It was organized in 1883 : 



THE MATERIAL BENEFITS OF FISH PROTECTION. 



The sole aim of the organizers of the Anglers' Association of the St. Lawrence 

 river in 1883 was the preservation, protection and perpetuation of game fish 

 in the St. Lawrence River. Probably no one of the persons active in the organi- 

 zation had p^ny other idea in view ; but they builded better than they knew. 



At the same time, matters on the St. Lawrence River were at a stand-still ; 

 there were very few persons going there for the sake of the fishing, for the simple 

 reason that, owing to the activity of the netters, it had been almost destroyed. 

 But a small number of the islands had cottages built upon them. There were a 

 few people who passed down the river on tourists' tickets from Niagara Falls to 

 Montreal, but there were no inducements for them to stop over on the way. 

 Some of the anglers who had resorted to the river for many years for fishing, still 

 continued their yearly visits. The organization of the Anglers' Association created 

 a sort of excitement in reference to the possibilities to be accomplished by it, 

 so that its members lived for two or three years upon faith, believing that the 

 efforts of the association in ridding the river of netters would very soon have its 

 effect in much better fishing. Its members continued to visit the river year after 

 year and to induce their friends to do the same. The results of the exertions of 

 the Anglers' Association are now known to every one who is interested, and its 

 efforts in ridding the river of fish netters have been attended with so great success 

 that it is now possible, and has been for the last three years, for any angler to 

 obtain all the game fish he desires. The object of the organization of the asso- 

 ciation has thus been effected, in part by increasing the supply of game fish in 

 the river, and in part by ridding the river of the fish pirates. Its efforts in pre- 

 venting net fishing will not be at all slackened, but will, on the contrary, be in- 

 creased. 



The material benefits which have come from the efforts of the Anglers' As- 

 sociation of the St. Lawrence River have been entirely unexpected, but they are, 

 however, no less welcome. As an object lesson which should be carefully read,, 

 marked, and inwardly digested, the following facts are given, showing the 

 material benefits which have come to Jefferson county from the organization of 

 the Anglers' Association of the St. Lawrence river : 



Jefferson county, lying along the St. Lawrence river from Cape Vincent 

 to a point fifteen miles below Alexandria Bay, covering a distance of over 



