DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES,

229
which was perhaps greitly owirg to its being out of seasonS I believe there are
oLher varieties of salmon in the same part of the country where this was caught.
Crooked Lake, referred to in my annual report for 1887 was visited by me twice
this fall, it is about 11 miles long and 1 mile wide. In the year 1874 according to
some of the old Indians anct a very intelligent officer of the Hudson's Bay Company,
stationed there, at the time the lake was literally alive with both varieties of white
fish. That was the year of the lowest water upon record, and was a very hot summer
and early autumn. About the 1st September or a little before of that year, the white
fish and tullibee commenced to die to such an extent that the Indians encamped along
its shores were compelled to move away, owing to the intolerable stench of the
decaying fish. In a very short time almost all the whitefish were dead, but no
other kinds died to any noticeable degree. The Indians claim that the fish were in
such numbers that they ate up all the food and then starved to death, but when I
asked them whether the fish were very poor or not, they could tell me nothing abou1
it. I am of the opinion that the lake is comparatively shallow which belief was
strengthened by the Hudson's Bay Company's official saying that there was but one
deep spot in it which was fifty or sixty feet beneath the surface and a couple of acres
in extent.
It is a well known fact that in water at a temperature of 72° whitefish will die,
and I think that the explanation of their dying in such numbers is, that owing to
the extraordinary lowness of the water, the great heat of that summer raised the
temperature to a point at or about 72° in the sballow water and if it was not raised
to the same height in the deeper place, the absence of food, which would soon take
place where so many fish were confined to the same small area, would force them te
go into the shallower and warmer water, to seek for it and they would soon perish
from suffocation. For some time after, no whitefish were seen but gradually the
remaining few, replenished perhaps by others from the Qu'Appelle, where the above
catastrophe did not take place, increased to such an extent as to make very fair
netting, 'but the Indians, with their small meshed nets, which they use in and out of
spawning seasons, soon reduced the lake to such a state that the total catch of C. albus
this fall was less than a score of fish. The tullibee are fairly plentiful yet, but they
are a haidier and more prolific fish than their cousins and are more given to migra..
ting from one lake to another and thus quickly restocking a run down lake with
their own species. It would perhaps be presumptuous for me to offor any suggestions
in the matter, but I think that the above instance proves pretty conclusively that
something should be done to try and get the Indians to observe the fishery regula.
tions more than they do at present. The Indians along the Qu'Appelle LakeB
observe the law regarding the size of mesh very well, they set no more fish traps
across the river and they do not fish so extensively during close season as they did;
all of which has resulted the last three years; and with pleasure I acknowledge the
assistance rendered me by Indian Agent Lash, who is stationed upon one (Muscowpetung's)
of the reserves near the lakes. Mr. Lash explained the reasons for my
removing their traps, &c., to the Indians, and they were apparently satisfied, and I
have had but little trouble with them sifl(o. He also stated to me that, during the
last couple of years, he has seen a great improvement in the white fisheries.
Considerable discussion has been going on in this country about the advisability
of placing in the waters of the Territories, varieties of fish that are not indigenous to
them. It has been recommended that the large mouthed black bass be used for
stocking our waters. There are many lakes where they would be a valuable addition
to the list of fishes, for instance, Devil's Lake in the Pelley district, 10 by f
miles; Leach Lake in the York Colony, 12 or 15 miles in length; Fishing Lake, 1G
miles long, north-east of the Touchwood Hills, and many others that have pike and
less valuable fish in them. I would, however, protest against putting them into
waters that are connected with lakes where there are whitefish or are suited to stock—
ing with the coregoni. In shallow lakes, with muddy bottoms and weeds, and where
there are only the predacious varieties, they would do well, but my examination of
the stomachs of hundreds, I have caught in the Otonabee, Trent and other rivers in