194 
FISH. 
Your Commissioners have to report that the subject of the protection and 
preservation of fish, has been the most difficult presented to them for con- 
sideration. 
Owing to the fact that the Province has not at present the right to control 
all its waters, and as the Dominion and Provincial laws vary considerably, much 
confusion is found to exist. | | 
The laws are not venerally enforced, and although it appears that a few of 
the Fishery Inspectors, endeavour to discharge their duties faith{ully, it is equally 
apparent that the majority of them, take little, if any pains to prohibit illegal 
fishing and to protect the valuable stock entrusted to their care. 
The extent to which fishing is carried on in the close seasons is alarming, 
and the exposure of fish in the markets of the larger towns and cities of the Pro- 
vince during the close seasons is open and defiant. 
The extent to which netting is carried on is also inconceivable and the 
spawning grounds are stripped year after year, until in many places where fish 
abounded formerly in large numbers, there is no yield now at all. If. a force of 
Game Wardens was appointed, this matter could be vigorously looked into, and 
the slaughter and destruction could be very considerably lessened. 
The value of the fish yield is enormous, and too much pains cannot be taken 
to preserve what should always be a cheap food supply for the masses. 
Your Commissioners are of opinion that a Whitefish Hatchery, as well as 
a Trout Hatchery should be established in the Province by the Outario Govern- 
ment. This would be both useful and popular, and would pay for itself over and 
over again. | | 
The visit of your Commissioners to the trout hatchery of the State of Michi- 
gan abundantly satisfied them as to this. 
A few years ago the streams of that State were depleted, and not a trout 
could be found therein ; the same waters are now teeming with fixh. The farm- 
ers and dwellers along the banks, readily assist in preserving them, and the 
Railway Companies furnish free transport for the Commissioner's car when fry is _ 
being sent from point to point. No pains are spared to restock the streams, and 
increase the supply of tish, and the State is now reaping the benefit of the wise 
outlay made in the first instauce. . 
Your Commissioners found much to admire in the systematic course pursued 
by the Fish Commission in the State of Michigwn, in regard to its work. Every 
lake and body of water in the State is regularly inspected at stated periods, the 
condition of the weather and water at the time of inspection are contained in the 
Inspectors’ report; the depth of the water, its temperature, the condition of the 
bottom, the number and kind of fish taken, are all carefully noted, and the result 
is that when the waters come to be re-stovked, only such tish are put in as are 
supposed to be able to thrive there. The consequence beins, that waste an | Joss 
is minimized, and much good accrues from the thorough and systematic labour. 
Your Commissioners regret that they cmnot make any special reeommenda- 
tions as to the close season for the various fish founl in the Province. The evi- 
dene taken, points to the fact that nvarly all the waters in the Province are 
more or less depleted. 
Saw-dust, dynamite, improper fish-slides, indiscriminate netting, and the 
