DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES,

199
eports from Tobermoray, Club Islands, Squaw Island and Killarney, and from all
uorth shore points, which latter I ascertained were abandoned till the spring, as
were also Club and Squaw Islands. But four boats were fishing at Tobermoray, none
at Wingfield Basin and not over half a Iozen at Killarney, which would strip and
lay up as soon as the nets out could be raised. The reason gi von for the suspension
of operations being that buyers and fishermen would not take risks during the close
season, as the Department was in a position to watch them.
I heard, however, that fishing during the close season was contemplated a1
Griffiths Island and Port William, so I moved on to Owen Sound intending to take
Overseer Miller with me, but receiving a telegram on 31st October to lay the vessel
up, I stripped her, stored her stuff and left instructions with Overseer Miller to dry
dock her.
As the result of my observation I append suggestions for the Minister's consideration,
and believe that 1 am fully justified in saying that while the presence of
the "Cruiser" has been the means of causing the close season to be observed this
year, unless something is done to limit pound-net fishing, to eoforce the legal mesl
for gill nets, and to limit the quantity set; the valuable fishing grounds of Georgian
Bay and Lake Huron will be practically worthless in the course of ten years.
SUMMARY,
As the result of my season's labors, I beg to append the following summary :
1.—GOVERNMENT POUND NETS IN OOLPOY'S BAY.
These xets are licensed for the purpose of procuring ova for the Government
hatcheries.
The spawning time for whitefish and trout being now well established as be
tween 15th October and 1st December, and that of bass between 1st April and middle
of June, with slight variations due to temperature; I am of the opinion that these
Bets which are now set during the whole season in waters where such fishing engines
are prohibited, should be limited to the pericds necessary for providing the hatcheries
with ova; that is to say during the above mentioned dates, as under the present
arrangement half as many fish are destroyed as can be produced by artificial hatching.
Another incentive to the adoption of this suggestion is the dissatisfaction prevailing
among the fishermen who are refused the privilege of using such fishing
engines in the above named waters, which I am quite convinced would thus bG
allayed.
2.—LICENSE PEE ON GILL-NETS.
The present fee of $5 per boat might be deemed sufficient were fishermen
limited to 6,000 yards of 5inch mesh nets; but as almost without exception I found
them fishing double that quantity of under&ztd nets, the fec bhould be at least $12,
and the fishermen should be compelled to comply with the law regarding the size of
mesh
Ṫhe fee of $25 for steam tugs should be strictly adhered to, though there is a
movement on foot to endeavor to have it decreased during the coming winter.
3.—TIME LIMIT POR SMALL MESHES.
When the Department issued the notice prohibiting the use of small meshes
(1885) fishermen were granted a tacit permission to use up those on hand, on the
distinct understanding that all new nets should be of the regulation size; but as no
time was limited for the expiration of this leniency the fishermen have not adhered
to the arrangement, and have yielded to the temptation of renewing their nets with
undersized meshes, which they will continue to do until a date is specified after which
all nets must be of legal mesh, or the importation of small mesh nets prohibited.