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dust from which is being disposed of in accordance with the regulations. There ia<br />
considerable dissatisfaction felt among the white people about the way Indians kill<br />
and waste such large quantities of whitefish during he spawning season. It ia<br />
claimed that the extravagance is an injury to themselves, as well as to white settlers.<br />
This guardian started about the 20th November to make a tour of the district<br />
with a view to getting an estimate of the result of the fishing catch for the year,<br />
together with the quantity disposed of to the trade. He visited the principal fishing<br />
grounds and obtained considerable information from fishermen regarding their opera<br />
tions. Subjoined is a statement of the catch for the season :—<br />
Whitefish 45,000 lbs. valued at $1,350<br />
Pickerel 121,400 do 2,428<br />
Pike 97,600 do 976<br />
Tullibee . 195,800 do 1,958<br />
Mixed fish 192,000 do 960<br />
651.800 do $7672<br />
The following quantity of the above was disposed to the trade : —<br />
Whitefish 45,000 lbs. valued at $1,350<br />
Pickerel 50,000 do 1,000<br />
Tullibee. . 95,800 do 98<br />
Total 190,800 do $3,308<br />
There were between thirty and forty men employed at the various fishing<br />
stations on the west shore. Besides these there were about 100 settlers, who fish the<br />
year round for their own use, many of them being very poor, and larg&y dependent<br />
on fishing for a livelihood. There were 25 boats in use during the season, all small<br />
and not exceeding in total value $700; 8,060 fathoms of gill net were used, valued<br />
at $1,560.<br />
THE NARROWS—LAKE MANITOBA.<br />
Guardian II. Martineau reports having visited the fishing grounds under his<br />
supervision, viz,: The west, east, north and north-east shores of Lake Manitoba, Ebb<br />
and Flow and Dog Lakes with the creeks and streams adjacent l4iereto. Found as a<br />
rule, tht the close season was generally well observed. In one or two instances,<br />
where persons were in indigent circumstance, a permit was given them for their own<br />
use, with stated restrictions. A portable saw-mill was in operation for a short time<br />
during the summer on a small stream on Ebb and Flow Lake, and although precautions<br />
had been taken to prevent the deposit of sawdust in the lake, the force of<br />
the current was so great that it carried a portion of the debrL into the lake, but on<br />
bringing the matter before the owner of the mill, the sawdust was removed at his<br />
own expense, and the mill also, so as to avert any danger in future. About 50 men<br />
found employment in connection with the fisheries during the year. There were<br />
2,300 fathoms of gill net used, valued at $900. One sloop of about ten tons,<br />
valued at $200; one smaller sized boat of about five tons, valued at $100; thirty<br />
small skiffs and as many birch bark canoes, worth from $8 to $30. This comprises the<br />
fishing fleet in his district. There were 35,000 whitefish sold to traders at an average<br />
often cents apiece, realizing $3,500; 10,500 pickerel at 4 cents apiece, $40; 15,460 pike<br />
at 5 cents apiece, $770, making a total of $4,690. All fish in the district are sold by the<br />
piece. The home consumption, apart from Indians, is estimated at 56,00 whitefish,.<br />
valued at $3,360; 3,000 pickerel, $150 ; 5,000 pike, $200, making the total for home consumption<br />
$3,7 0. The principal buyers in this market are the Hudson's Bay Oompany,<br />
Wm. SifLon, A. G. Hepworth, John Munroc and Smalley & Ohantler.
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