462 
FISHERY LEGISLATION. 
The following are the chief provisions of the Dominion Fishery Laws which 
affect this Province : 4 
CLOSE SEASONS. 
Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) Sept. 15 to May 1, inclusive. 
Bicker) edctsn Gata oat © Mel ae eens April 15 to May 15, 7 % 
Bass and Maskinongé............ April 15 to June L5, Y 
NY SPAT SD “ini s tee suet gine a ey ae Nov. 1 to Nov. 30, 5 
Bake Trout) 5 cat h5 5 Shoe hak Oct. 15 to Nov. 30,“ 
There is no close season foi Sturgeon or for Lake Hastie 
/ : 
Net fishing is prohibited in public waters, except to holders of a purchasaill 
license. The size of the nets is submissible to regulation, and the nets must not. 
be set nor seines used so as to intercept channels or bays. 
Explosives and poisons for killing fish are illegal, mill-dams must have 
passes, and mill-refuse must be destroyed. 
It is desirable that enquiry should be made as to the adequacy of the pro- 
tection afforded by the close seasons at present prescribed. It is pcssible that in 
certain waters an extension is required. In Lake Megantic, ¢.g., it is reported 
that the Lake Trout have finished spawning by the 1st of October, while Mr. 
John H, Willmott, of Beaumaris, Ontario, Fishery Overseer for the Muskoka 
District, reports in 1890 their spawning season as from October 8th to 20th for 
this region. Again in the North-west it is reported that the Whitefish spawn 
earlier than is the case in the Georgian Bay, so that if the close seas»n were 
assimilated to that of Lake Trout, the change would have more to recommend 
it than the mere simplification of the law and its efficient carrying-out. It is 
even reported that the run of Whitefish may occur within our waters after the 
30th of November, so that an extension in the other direction might also be 
considered.* Such differences indicate that further information is required as to 
the spawning habits of our food-fish from all parts of the Province, so that 
future legislation may provide for the protection of waters lying at a distance 
from the : present commercial centres. 
Although the absence of a close season for Lake Herring does not appear to 
have so far affected the results of the Fisheries in Lake Ontario, complaints are 
being made that the Lake is being depleted of the more valued Cisco (p. 447), and i 
that “consequently some measure should be taken to protect this variety. A close 
season during July and August has been suggested. 
* Brook Trout have been observed to spawn in Central Ontario three weeks earlier than the beginning 
of the close season. 
