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198<br />
Mr. Gauthier, each operating about 10,000 yards of gill nets. They reported a fairY<br />
catch during the summer; whitefish now getting scarcer, and salmon trout more<br />
plentiful. They also reported a large catch of sturgeon. Fish offals were here<br />
rendered into oil.<br />
I next visited Mississauga River, where Mr. Gauthier has three licensed pound.<br />
nets, all with undersized mesh. Men reported fair catch throughout summer, but<br />
now getting scarcer. Examined pound-net fished by Mr. Gauthier, at Algoma Mills,.<br />
and found the meshes undersized.<br />
At Spanish River, 1 found a net set partially across the channel and less than<br />
one mile from the mouth of the river. I ordered the men to take this net up<br />
which they did.<br />
Guardian Strain returned to Thessalon and the steamr proceeded to Killarney,<br />
where Overseer Wilson distributed his licenses and made his collections. Here preparations<br />
had been made for carrying fishery operations during the oose season, but<br />
the presence of the "Cruiser" and other efforts to prevent it effectually baulked any<br />
organized action.<br />
At Manitowaning I met Overseer A. Brinkman, and we proceeded on the north<br />
side of the island. 1 found four pound-nets owned by Mr. Gauthier, at Bayfields<br />
Sound, their catch being pickerel, bass and sturgeon, with a few whitefish and trout.<br />
Returns smaller than last season. These nets were all of undersized mesh.<br />
1 next visited Rattlesnake Bay, where I found two pound nets owned by Mr.<br />
Gauthier, to which the above remarks also apply.<br />
At Meidrum Bay I found there had been no fishing this season, as well as at<br />
Cockburn Island, next visited.<br />
I then proceeded to Sault St. Marie, where I landed overseer Wilson from whom<br />
I had received invaluable assistance.<br />
I had intended calling at different points between this and Oollingwood, but bad<br />
weather on the way down and consequent consumption of coal decided me to proceed<br />
to that port.<br />
From here I ran to Midland, calling at Penetanguishene on the way. At Midland<br />
Overseer Samuel Fraser came on board and reported no fishing then going on<br />
in his district. Overseer F. J. M. Fraser was away at the northern end of his division,<br />
so I moved on to Parry Sound, and found all the fishing grounds on my way<br />
up deserted except at Moose Deer Point, where there were two licensed boats<br />
fishing. They reported a good catch and good prices; fish disposed of to Anderson<br />
Vo., of Midland. They also stated that whiteflh and trout were then (14th October)<br />
beginning to spawn, which I verified by personal observation.<br />
On arriving at Mink Islands, I found no safe harbors and too much sea on toeffect<br />
a landing, so 1 continued on to Point au Barril. This station was entirely<br />
deserted, the fishermen having left for Griffiths Island and other fishing stations.<br />
Ascertaining that Byng Inlet and Daffy Island fishermen had either left or were<br />
about leaving for their homes at Collingwood, I started for Parry Sound. Heavy<br />
winds and thick weather compelled me to make Shawanaga village, where I met<br />
ex.Overseer James, who reçorted the season's fishing good; the catch being shipped<br />
to Buffalo. I found that the trout were running in very thick and were then (16th<br />
October) spawning on the shoals.<br />
On my way to Parry Sound I noticed at the Mink Islands that all but two boats<br />
had left the fishing grounds, and these were preparing to do so when their nets<br />
eould be lifted. At Parry Sound I found several fishermen from Limestone, Bustard's,<br />
Minks, and Point an Barril, on their way to Collingwood, Meaford, and Owen Sound,<br />
apparently satisfied that the presence of the "Cruiser" and other risks would make<br />
it worth their while to observe the close season. They reported the catch up to the<br />
average during the season, and trout then (16th October) very plentiful on the<br />
shoals, some having already spawned. I proceeded down the inside channel, north<br />
of Parry Island, to Penetanguishene.<br />
I was detained at Collingwood by stress of weather, and while there most of the<br />
Lahing boats belonging to that port came in and stripped for the winter. I got