206 American Fisheries Society. 



If we concede that in general these coarse fish or non 

 game fish should be removed from waters inhabited by bass 

 the question immediately arises as to the best time and most 

 eifective method and appliance to be used in removing them. 

 Spearing is not effective in taking all kinds of coarse fish. 

 Gill nets are not recommended because bass entering them 

 are almost certain to be seriously injured. Poundnets are 

 outlawed in Lake Ontario. Fykenets are used in Canadian 

 waters near Cape Vincent. The New York Conservation 

 Commission favors the use of trapnets or so called sunken 

 poundnets and in this the writer concurs. These nets are 

 effect! ve in taking all kinds of fish and they seem to be less 

 injurious to bass that enter them than any other type of net 

 except poundnets and seines. 



We have in the vicinity of Cape Vincent certain bays in 

 which no netting of any kind has been permitted for years. 

 In other local bays the use of trapnets in taking coarse fish 

 during the early spring and late fall has been permitted 

 for years until the present year. Across the boundary line 

 of the St. Lawrence River and of Lake Ontario fykenets have 

 long been used in taking coarse fish during the spring and 

 fall and it is worthy of note that it is generally conceded 

 even by those opposed to any netting of any kind that bass 

 fishing has for years been better in those areas where netting 

 has been permitted than elsewhere. For instance more 

 bass were taken by hook and line — the only way they can 

 lawfully be taken — along the north shore of the St. Law- 

 rence River than along the south shore. More bass are 

 taken in Chaumont Bay and around the islands of Grenadier 

 and Fox where netting has long been permitted than are 

 taken in Henderson Bay and Harbor where no netting has 

 been permitted for years. The question naturally arises to 

 what extent, if any, is this condition due to spring netting of 

 coarse fish? The writer does not attempt to answer any of 

 these questions but seeking information brings them to the 

 attention of this society. 



