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q The greatest evil that exists to-day in the matter of replenishing the waters of 
the various lakes with whitefish is the pownd nets; for the simple reason that they 
— ¢atch both large and small. As long as the pownd wets are allowed to remain in 
_ the waters in their present form, there is no use in attempting to replenish the 
; waters with whitetish. 
\ Ihave been in a trap-net boat when 2,500 lb. of small whitefish were taken 
out of one net; and of the 2,500 lb. there were not 50 Ib. of No. 1 whitefish, 
and a No. 1 whitefish is a fish that will weiyh one and one-half pounds. 
You can regulate the matter by having a four and one-half inch mesh, 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 tishermen are fishing for as well as whitefish, 
2.€. 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 whitefish 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 have 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 atter 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 
. 5 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. 
o, as it 
Nothing would give me more pleasure than to attend this meeting, 
would seem like being back home again. 
With best wishes for a well attended and productive meeting, 
Very respectfully yours, 
Jas. NEVIN, 
Superintendent of Fisheries for State of Wisconsin. 
