DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES,

197
.Rattlesnake Harbor, but found it deserted.
At Club Island Station there were twenty-four boats and one tug fishing an
average of 12,000 yards of nets each. These nets were principally 4 to 4 inch mesh,
but fishermen promised not to use them again. The catch and prices were up to the
average. The nuisance of fish offals was avoided here by converting them into oil.
At Squaw Island Station I found over fifty boats and three tugs, the former
operating from 10,000 to 12,000 yards of net each and the latter over 20,000 yards
each. This fishing station is controlled by the Messrs. Noble of Killarny. Hero
also were the nets of small mesh. Fish offals were rendered into oil. Fishermen
reported catch and prices fair.
On arriving at French River, our feed pumps having broken down, I got a small
tug to run over us to the Bustard Islands, where I had been led to expect to find American
fishermen and every description of illegal fishing, instead of which I found the
reputed Americans to be Canadians, and the only men I had met with who fished in
accordance with the law. Their fish were purchased by Mr. Davis, of Detroit,
unculled at 8 cents a piece, and are carried by steamer to Alpena, Michigan. There
are three establishments here, owned by Porter & McLeod, of Wiarton, Lincoln of
Southampton, and McLean of Goderich, respectively, fishing about 8 boats each, the
catch of which was not quite up to the average, which they attribute rather to the
5 inch mesh than to a scarcity of fish.
I then visited Killarney, but as my presence was not needed there, I proceeded
to Mudge Bay, Manitoulin Islanas, the eastern limit of pound net fishing in the north
channel. Arriving at Mudge Bay, I learned Messrs. J. & C. Noble had been fishing
4 pound nets which were not up to the legal size. The catch, which was shipped to
Buffalo, was reported fair,
I ran into Gore Bay from stress of weather, but was unable to ascertain the
whereabouts of Overseer Brinkman, so I decided to call upon Captain Wilson, fishery
overseer at Sault Ste, farie. I saw quite a number of pound nets on my passage up,
but having no plan of licensed limits decided to wait for the overseer. As Captain
Wilson was unabie to accompany nie, I went down to see overseer John Marks, of
St. Joseph's Island, but found that he had gone to Sault Ste. Marie. The lightkeeper
at Sister Rocks, Mr. Weightman, however, being familiar with the fishing grounds, I
took him to examine Stephen Frechette's pound net at Portlock harbor. Frechetto
is a licensed fisherman, who reported a very poor catch, attributable rather to improper
fishing than scarcity of fish. His net was also undersized the heart having
3 inch meshes. Accompanied by lightkeeper Weightman, I left for Bruce Mines, to
visit the pound net fishermen of St. Joseph's Island, but learnt that the Bruce Mines
men had abandoned those fishing grounds for others below Thessalon, and near
M.issisauga River.
I found four pound nets in the vicinity of Tenby Bay and Kaskawong River, two
owned by Mr. Sims and one by Malcolm Matheson. These three were licensed.
The other pound was owned by American fishermen, living on Drummond Island, and
said to be in American waters, though others contended it was in Canadian waters.
Having no means of determining the boundary, I did not interfere with this net. I
found a small trap-net inside the Kaskawong River, set for bass ad pike, for which
I could find no owner, and had i removed. The catch of fish in this locality was
reported fair, and was bought principally by the Buffalo Fish Company and Davis of
Detroit, at average prices. Nets, as usual, undersized.
Arriving at Sault St. Marie, I was joined by Overseer Wilson for a tour of his
district. On the way down stress of water and a leaking boiler dchiyed us at Campeinent
D' Ours Island. Leaving here I ran into Bruce Mines for shelter, and sent
to Thessalon for guardian Strain. Overseer .Marlcs joined me here and reports all
fishermen in his district licensed. He was in doubt as to the position of the net set
by American fishermen. Guardian Strain having arrived I started for Mississauga.
River. Below Thessalon I found three licensed pound nets belonging to Messrs Marks
and Dobie. Good catches and prices reported. Fish shipped by line boats to Canadian
ports. From here I ranovor to the Grants, where I found three boats fishing for
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