DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES,

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in the Little Saskatchewan, which prevented them reaching their usual spawning
gounds. 1?he catch in this district for the trade was 247,5(0 lbs of whitefish, 16,000 lbs.
of pickerel, and valued at $6,620 in Fairford. In addition to this, about 00,000 lbs.
of different kinds of fish were caught by Indians and settlers for their own use.
About a hundred persons were employed in fishing, using ninety boats and canoes,
valued at $700. They used 9,000 fathoms of gill net, valued at $2,400. The
pincipal buryers at Fairford during the year were: Wm. Robinson & Co.,
Hudson's Bay Company, Wm. Hepworth, John McKenny and Wm. Sit ton. The fish
caught in this district, like all others for the trade from Lake Manitoba, are hauled
in sleighs a distance of 130 miles to Westbourne Station on the Manitoba and North-
Western Railway, and to Reaburn Station on the Canadian Pacific Railway.
FORT ALEXANDER, LAKE WINNIPEG.
Guardian John Wood reports having kept a careful superrision over the various
'fishing stations in his district, extending from the north of Red River along the east
side of Lake Winnipeg, as far north as Loon Straits. The catch in this district has
been less than last year, owing to the tact of a portion of it, viz, Black, Deer and
Big Islands having been asbigned to the charge of Officer Helgason o' the west
side of the lake. The principal fishing points are Broken Head River, Grand Marais,
Elk island, Fort Alexander, Black River, Bad Throat River and Loon 'itraits.
The total catch for the trade for the past year was as follows: 20,000 pounds of
'whitefish, 10,000 pounds pickerel, l+,350 pounds pike, 11,000 pounds sturgeon, 14,000
pounds catfith and 7,500 pounds tullibee; all valued at $2,417. Twenty-four fishermen
took out licenses in this district to fish for the trade, and they had in use 4,000
fathoms of gill net, valued at $800. They also had 20 boats and canoes engaged in
fishing, one being a small tug; the total value being about.$800. He estimates the
home consumption at 144,000 pounds of all kinds of fish, principally used by Indians.
RED RIVER DISTRICT.
In the immediate vicinity of Winnipeg, on the Red River, there were four
licensed fishermen operating during the summer months, using five boats and four
seines, and giving employment to seven other men. They caught 3,001) pounds
whitefish, 40,000 pounds pickerel, 35,000 pounds pike, 1,000 pounds sturgeon, 2,50G
pounds catfish and 75,000 pounds mixed fish, at an aggregate value for the catch of
$2,725. The total value of plant, consisting of boats and nets, being about 8300.
NORTH-WEST TERRITORIES.
As explained in a previous part of my report, there is little or no record of fishing
in the adjoining territories, except in Assiniboia, which is under the able
supervision of Overseer Gilchrist. I trust, however, to see some steps taken another
year towards ascertaining the resources of other territories, particularly those of
Alberta, in the vicinity of. Calgary and Fort McLeod, where I am informed there
are some excellent mountain trout. The waters of Athabasca and Saskatchewan
are also highly spoken of, and the appointm;nt of an overseer for each would result
in securing information that might be useful in view of the early prospect of their
being opened up to railway communication. I append hereto the report of Overseer
Gilchrist for the year ending 31st December, 1888
ASSINIB0IA,
FORT QU'APPELLE, 31st December, 1888.
ALEX, MCQUEEN,
inspector of Fisheries, Manitoba and North-West Territories.
SIR,—.-I beg to submit my Annual Report for the year ending 31st December,
1888, of the fisheries of the Qu'Appelle River and adjoining lakes.