DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES,

175
nd no violations were reported. The total value of the fisheries for this division is
set down at $28,380; an increase of about $4,000.
TEL1BONNE DIVISION.
Overseer Jos. Lauzon, who has charge of Ri vers .Tésus and Des PraIries, states
that the catch of soft fish exceeds that of the previous year. Pickerel were plentiful
but of smaller SiZO. The catch in this division is used for local consumption. No
violations of the Jaw are reported.
Overseers Cloutier and .Ftliatrault, who have charge of the inland waters of the
County of Terrebonne, estimate the catch of trout at i8,000 lbs. The total value of
the fisheries of this division is set down at $6,767.
LAKE OP TUS TWO MOUNTAINS AND ISLE PERROT DIVISION.
Overseer Théophi(e Sabourin's division comprises the south shore of the River
Ottawa from Oka to Carillon. He reports a muoh smaller number of fishermen,
owing to the enforcement of the license system. Fishermen at first were rather
reluctant to comply with the regulations, but ultimately did so. Stureon is the
staple fish of this division, 15,000 lbs. being caught last year. The returns also
show a catch of 10,000 of coarse fish. The total value of the fisheries for this
division is given at $3,505, including those around Isle Perrot.
LOWER OTTAWA DIVISION.
Overseer B. W. Jones who has charge of the north shore of the Ottawa River, from
Oka to Carillon, reports an average yield. The catch of coarse fish exceeds that of
1887. Mr. Jones reports that fishermen camp around, moving from place to place,
whore they think fishing better. On this account they need constant watching, as
they would as soon fish during close season or on Sunday as at any other time. The
total value of the fisheries of this divison is reckoned at $6,610, including the trout
caught in the inland waters of Argenteuil.
UPPER OTTAWA AND GATINEAU DIViSIONS.
Overseer Joseph Marion, who has cbarge of the waters of the County of Ottawa,
reports as follows :—
"Fishing on the Ottawa was just as good, and I may say, better than in
previous years. There was a larger quantity of mixed fish such as suckers carp,
perch, catfish, &c., caught than before; but fishermen complain very much of the
Government dam at Carillon which bars the river and prevents the better class of fish
such as maskinongé, doré, bass, sturgeon, from ascending. I seized thirteen nets,
found set in the Ottawa River on Sunday, contrary to the Fisheries Act. One of the
offenders pleaded sickness, and his nets were returned to him with a warning that
any further vtolation would imply afine as well as confiscation. The other owners are
unknown aid never claimed the nets. During the month of September I visited the
lower part of my division, irom Ottawa to Montebello, and the upper part thereof from
Huh to Onslow, for the purpose of distributing notices of the tall and winter close
seasons. in November 1 again visited the principal fishing localities, for the purpose
of collecting statistics of the fisheries in my division. Every Thursday and Friday
• during the close season, I visited the Ottawa and Hull markets, as well as the local
dealers, but only on one occasion did I find prohibited fish exposed for sale, and thia
I ascertained had been frozen before the close season began. The law relative to the
protection of speckled.trout is getting better known and very few violations occur.
Netting, seining or spearing is no longer practised, and no fishing is attempted from.
1st October to 1st January. For this reason, I have been able to dispense with the
services of guardians at Blue Sea, and Thirty-One Mile Ltke; the latter of which, I
understand, is now let by the Quebec Government to the settlers, retaining only
guardians in Masham, Denholm, Wakefield and Derry, who for a small stipend of
125 or $30 a year render effective services in protecting fish in their neighbourhood.'
The total value of the fisheries of this division is given at $23,517.