10 
After an investigation spread over two years, the Commis- 
sioners, in presenting their report, remarked upon the magnitude 
and exceptional complexity of the task assigned them. “The 
questions submitted,” says the report, “concern not only the 
prosperity of vast commercial enterprises, and the conservation of 
almost unparalleled natural resources in marine and fresh-water 
areas, but they trench upon matters intimately associated with the 
intricate connections of capital and labour, and the momentous 
interests bound up with international relations and rights.” 
Some of the principal subjects dealt with were :— 
United States’ drain on the Fraser River salmon supply; 
dependence of Washington State salmon industry on Fraser River; 
difficulties confronting British Columbia salmon industry; growth 
of British Columbia fisheries ; opening of foreign and other markets; 
Hecate Straits question; fishery police patrol service; Government 
brands for salmon and herring; fishery leases; fishing and canning 
licences; salmon trap-fishing; oyster and clam leases and licences; 
steam trawling; general review of fish and fisheries of British 
Columbia; Indian claims; fish hatcheries, etc. 
SALMON INDUSTRY THREATENED. 
The Commission paid special attention to the salmon fisheries, 
as there was found to be so serious a falling-off in the yearly 
catch as to threaten the depletion of the Fraser River. It was 
accepted without question that all the salmon caught in the waters 
of Puget Sound (United States territory), as well as those caught 
on the Canadian side, are spawned in the inland reaches of the 
Fraser River and its tributaries. All the evidence obtained went to 
prove that the run of a given year depends upon the quantity of 
spawn deposited in the Fraser River watershed in the fourth year 
previous, and that if the fish are prevented from reaching the 
spawning grounds in any given year, the fourth year following will 
be a “lean year.” In illustration of this fact, the catch of 1903 
was 62 per cent, less than in 1899; the catch of 1904 was 66 per 
cent. less than in 1900; the catch of 1905 was 22 per cent. less than 
1901 (a big year); the catch of 1906 was 26 per cent. less than 
1902, and the catch of 1907 was 38 per cent. less than that of 1903. 
Considering that the methods employed to catch the salmon have 
been improved in recent years, that the traps and nets are more 
numerous, the area fished more extensive, that there is a greater 
demand and higher prices for the fish, the only possible reason that 
can be assigned for the catches not increasing is a decrease in the 
supply. 
