PART II. . REPORT = OPERATIONS EXCELLENT. MAJI ESTY. 1890. FISH BREEDING OPERATIONS DOMINION OF CANADA Si Oe PRINTED BY ORDER OF PARLIAMENT. OTTA WA: PRINTED BY BROWN CHAMBERLIN, PRINTER TO THE QUEEN’S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. 1890. ete coae achat ws foeedtadtneenedts 425,000 do 2ST lSSOr ElariBOnMruiVelenacseeressdecs cesses cae ces 600,000 March 6; 1889s SumaspWakermccceeen- sesso esese eee 400,000 do 141889; Pittlighke yc seseacstosesss ees eseaeeces 600,950 do 21, 1889, Chilawheck Rapids......................- 600,000 do 23 18898 HMarrisonphiverseeess sects se sae ncrre 600,000 do 26, 1889, do GO We idscuccwocecveseenscdenseer 550,000 April Ss 1LSSo Silveri@reekarese: serene eerasseecee seme 223,000 do AT AS89* Nicklemockeleeee-teecstete seaeceee eee 60,000 do 13, 1889, Coquitlam ....... Miarteeeeees aCpeeMennCs 161,000 Ho) ) Re ES ener re Sonarinn dein sacnaenucasoguosmocdcumasdenosacs 4,419,500 Included in the above number were 373,000 fry of the quinnat salmon (chouicha), which were put in the Fraser and Harrison Rivers. Of these the percentage of loss was much greater than the “Nerka,” on account of the fish having been caught by gill nets and kept in floating cribs, which caused bruises that developed fungus and unhealthiness of the fish. At the time these salmon were caught and stripped there was only one experienced man in charge of operations, the caretaker being at Okanagan, and Mr, McNish at River’s Inlet, where each were doing duty as fishery guardians. The “quinnat” fish were no doubt roughly handled by the Indian fishermen, for it was impossible for one man to be up day and night watching them. They were also the first eggs laid in the hatchery, and as the season was very mild 45 and the water warm, fungus had a better chance ofdeveloping. But notwithstanding the loss on the “ quinnat” saimon ova, taking the whole number laid in the nursery, the rate of mortality was nearly one-half less than in any previous season. This success is attributed to the fact that the parent fish last season were handled by men who had had experience and a knowledge of the business, and that my orders in stripping fish were strictly adhered to. which was that only three fish should be stripped at a time, and that it should be done under the shade of a tent or tree, so that the sun’s rays would not strike on the eggs, and that only a portion of the eggs should be taken from a fish at a time, and if the slightest disease was noticeable the fish were to be rejected. The eggs were laid in wire baskets as soon as they reached the hatchery, in place of being left on the trays, so that sedimentary matter had less chance of collecting on them and fungoid growth was less likely to prevail. There was no fry distributed in the rivers on Vancouver Island last season, as the capacity of the hatchery was capable of hatching the quantity of eggs laid in, and as the intention of the hatchery was to keep up the supply of fish in the Fraser, it was thought best to distribute them in it and its tributaries. Owing to the lateness of instructions and the difficulty to obtain suitable steamers at the proper time, the fish were held in the nursery until the sack was absorbed and many of them were taking food before leaving the troughs. The cost of distri- buting them at this age came to a little more than in previous years, as there could not be so many put in the distributing scows at once, which caused a greater number of trips with the steamers. But from this year’s experience I have learned that it is better to keep the fry in the nursery until the sack is all absorbed. They are then more active and better fitted to protect themselves. No shad were caught in the Fraser this season to my knowledge, but a good many were caught in the Columbia River, Puget Sound, and along the Vancouver Island coast. I would again recommend, as in previous years, that some shad fry be secured and put in the Fraser and other streams in this Province. Whitefish have not yet been introduced in any of these waters from Ontario, although enquiries still continue to be made for them. The lakes that produce native whitetish are so isolated that they can not be got to market without heavy cost, and even then the quality of the fish is quite inferior to those of the east. The quantities of salmon fry distributed from the hatchery since its erection are as follows :— The year 1885........ sa eceiennesagecenee ben masters cere eeae eee 1,800,000 * do USSG cccesc-vewnuecdye ser ctaesetenose eeeeeee seaceeees 2,625,000 do TBST rons sce tases co nncartias sopehaaeanestsecaeeeenenect 4,414,000 do USSR. oon sctec ss seco ce secisuseg oot emereteeee cease reoes 5,807,000 do I fcIok bee aban cASOaE AcbEsetapde sa socahs bane moans aedeence 4,149,500 Grand: Totallicvsce:--sete-eean eon eee rece . 19,065,500 From this output of fry there has been unmistakably a great deal of benefit derived, as will be seen by the enclosed certificates from the canners of the Fraser River, the fishery guardians of Nanaimo and Cowichan River, the corporation of the municipallty of Surrey, and Mr. Robert Kelly, of Couquitlam. From my own exper- ience on the Harrison River I must say that, I think the fish have increased ten- fold, as in the year of 1885-86 we could hardly secure any parent fish in the Morris Creek, where we now catch them numerously. Formerly they had to be swept from the lake with a net, and only a few hundred entered our traps the first two seasons. Last year the fish were in greater numbers than before, but of a smaller size. I believe the large run in Morris Creek in the year 1888 was caused by the output of fry from this nursery and the extraordinary masses of “suckeye” salmon that ascended all the streams of the Harrison, but more particularly the Morris Creek were also due to the output of fry from this establishment. It would be almost im- 46 possible for me to attempt to describe the quantities of fish that were in some of those streams, so I enclose with this report two photographs, one showing the fish in the stream ascending it to the traps, and the other showing the masses of fish that were crowded into the pens during the spawning season. The Indians living on the Harrison, where the parent fish are captured, were previous to this season unbelievers as to the benefits from the hatchery. But now they are decided to a man that the enormous swarms of fish seen this season were caused by the fry put into this hatchery. I enclose also for publication, in addition to the canner’s certificates, a letter from the State Fish Commissioners of Oregon, United States, which gives their views on the success of the Clackamas hatchery; and a letter from R. W. Hume, of Ellens- burg, who operated at his own expense a hatchery on Rogue River, State of Oregon. Collection of Ova. The number of eggs laid in the hatchery this fall amounted to 233,000, all of the “suckeye salmon” (Nerka). Operations were commenced on 23rd September and ended on 7th November. There were no “ quinnat” salmon eggs taken this season, as the fish are not procurable in traps at the points where the “ suckeye” salmon are cap- tured. The “quinnat” have to be caght by gill nets, which is more expensive, and so injures the fish that they give unhealthy eggs. ~In any case the “suckeye” salmon are considered of better color, and of more value to the general trade. There was no count kept of the fish captured, or that passed through our traps; in fact, it could hardly be done by any other means than a salmon register, as you will notice by the enclosed photo, that our pens were crowded all the time. We there- fore only selected the healthiest and strongest salmon, allowing the others to pass up the stream by the opening of a slide gate in the trap. However, the suckeye salmon will not average over 5,000 eggs to the fish, and from the majority of the fish stripped this season there was seldom more than 3,000 eggs taken from them. Repairs. This establishment has now run six years without any repairs, and a building of this kind soon goes to wreck. During the month of April or May next it should be fitted with a new gutter pipe, as the old one has fallen off. New hatching troughs are necessary to replace some that are very leaky. The foundations of the building under the water tank 1equires re-blocking, as tbe old ones are quite rotten. The upper part of the building should be fitted with a new races and troughs, in order to increase the capacity of the hatchery. ‘I'he roof of the building should be repaired, as it is leaking in places. The grounds should be put in new shape, and the entire building should have a coat of paint. A new and larger flume for conveying the water supply is absolutely necessary, as the one used now is unsafe and may at any time break down, causing the destruction of all the eggs or fry in the hatchery. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, THOS. MOWAT, Officer in Charge. ‘ 47 2.—SYDNEY HATCHERY. PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA, Report of the Officer in Charge of Sydney Hatchery, 1889. Str,—I have the honor herewith to submit my annual report upon the work done at this hatchery during the past year. As stated in a former report, I laid down in the hatching troughs in the fall of 1888, 2,678,000 ova; of these, 2,034,500 fry were hatched and distributed in the best possible condition in the following streams, viz.:— Margaree River (Inverness Co.).....-.....-0--0000-ee-se0esoe 200,000 Shubenacadie River (Cape Breton Co.) ..........22..0000:2000 50,000 Sydney River Ose ,. 4). i psasexces enero ee 350,000 Ball’s Creek Oy. c. ge teashasealepaass ance eeeeeee 150,000 Trout Brook dO, ©, a pteseedech diehaeeeere 150,000 Black Brook dO)... Rsseotesasaecredaeeeeee 134,000 Grand Lake dow (0) dedaczs Neat etaeeees 100,000 Eskasoni River do... tekaa-ectele ca eens 50,000 Salmon River Oi,” 4 uesstese aie suites te elbeorise 100,000 George’s River do a) \viskisigee eek eRe eRe 150,000 Leitch’s Creek dOin fy 1 1 ees. lghasd ain eeeeeeee 50,000 McLeau’s Brook dO-.. ay » jogtesssldetencveseosteees 150,000 MiddlesRiver (Vactoria.Co))) ....2.0:2-as-escegcedesee nee eee 150,000 Baddeck River GO) 5 niyeZisiisswdew nase Bemcvetelos eee eee 150,000 Grandetuver (Richmond |C0s). s-2.1-sseccests eee 50,000 Iron River Oley, gi). sdadeiecedadesSaeseeaee ee eases 50,000 Hatching Brook (Cape Breton Co.)............---:0-eseseese 50,000 otal vsecssctiobs dace aceecs: speeeece eae 2,034,500 The following table shows the number of parent salmon caught this season and the rivers in which they were caught, also the number of ova laid down in the hatching troughs this season. | Name of River. Males. Females. Total. No. of Ova. — | = —- Margarce Rilveren.. 4... esis. APs On eee ; 76 204 280 1,470,000 SSEGITIIE TRIG 2. eee ae et a 60 50 110 254,000 ower Wndgiernivers...2.2..:262s00..42 -s eke e ese 5d | 45 100 236,000 Siystnes; IRs 2 oo ee ae ae em | 30 | 50 80 400,000 SUGin Gas ce SR es ae rr 21 30 51 180,000 sstal seen Ceres Re see | 242 | 379 621 2,540,000 | The above is not strictly correct as to numbers of male and female, it being almost impossible to make an accurate count at Margaree and Middle Rivers. The number of ova is taken from the actual condition of the trays; after they were laid down and all the ova picked out that were affected by transportation from the dif- ferent spawning places. In the waters of this Island it is hard to show an increase in the salmon fish- eries. The rivers stocked from the hatchery were in years gone by good salmon rivers, and if to-day a goodly number of salmon were caught, the artificial means employed would not be fully credited for its assistance. This season all our fish seem to have left us ; even the cod, mackerel and herring deserted our shores; the catch of salmon was also below the average. There must be some general cause for this. If we look back over the last ten or fifteen years we find that every year is not equally prosperous with fishermen; some years they reap a goodly harvest, while perhaps the next year they are disappointed, and the fisherie isa failure, This is true of all kinds of fish, particularly salmon. Does not this lead us to believe that salmon do very frequently break the law and stray to other waters, the law governing their actions being the supply of food. Last season our salmon fishery during the open season was, if anything, above the average; this year it was below, but during the months of September, October and November they were as plenty as usual in the river and the average high. ‘There was one thing very no'iceable in the fish handled this season: they were small and of a uniform size; we have handled more fish from 7 to 9 pounds than ever before. We also handled some female grilse which we never saw in these waters before. Our rivers are teeming with young salmon, their increase being unanimously attributed to the work of this hatchery. The improvements done about the place this year were not great. As reported last year, the floor of the hatchery room required thorough repairing—in fact, a new floor. 1 received no instructions to proceed with the placing of a new floor, and con- sequently confined myself to the repairing of it. I found it in a very bad condition. Two pieces of joist had to be removed and new ones putin. About one-quarter of the whole floor had also to be replaced. The remainder is scarcely good enough to do for the winter. The whole floor will require to be taken out next summer and a new one put in. I also did some work to the outhouses. One required some shingling and roof boarding. Everything in and about the hatchery nowis in thorough con- dition, except the fioor already mentioned. The outside of the house also is sorely in need of paint. I would recommend that the painting be attended to as early as pos- sible in thespring. The flooring can be done any time during the summer. We have in this Island some of the finest fresh water lakes in the world, and it seems now the time has come when we should get a supply of land-locked salmon for them. With the facilities we have now of conveying fry and ova from the other Provinces to this most easterly part of the Dominion, there is no reason why we should not have these fish introduced here. I understand that strong efforts are to be made this season to secure some of these fish for our lakes. I hope you will favor the scheme and give us at least enough for our lakes. All of which is respectfully submitted. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, C. A. FARQUHARSON. 3.— BEDFORD HATCHERY. PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA. Report of the Officer in Charge of the Bedford Hatchery for 1889. Srr,—l have the honor herewith to submit my report upon the operations at this hatchery during the past year. As previously reported, the number of salmon ova laid down last year was 1,100,000. To this number was subsequently added 3,000,000 whitefish, 500,000 salmon-trout ova, making a total of 4,600,000. Shortly after the arrival of the whitefish and salmon trout ova from Ontario, I received instructions to distribute portions of them amongst the several small auxiliary hatcheries located in different parts of this Province. This distribution was as follows :— Lochaber, Antigonish County, Salmon-trout ova........... 120,000 do do do Whitefish Seas ca se 300,000 Kempt, Queen’s do Salmon! trowteeeen-s---c- 100,000 do do do Whitefish presi Gea asee 500,000 Tusket, Yarmouth do Salmon=broute “ossaracsecse 60,000 Sheet Harbor, Halifax do do tC dscns sess 60,000 Kentville, King’s do do SO aloe sels 70,000 1,210,000 49 Making a total of 1,210,000 semi-hatched ova disposed of in the month of April. At the same time I conveyed to these hatcheries their usual supplies of partially hatched salmon, as follows: Lochaber, 100,000; Tusket, 40,000; Sheet Harbor, 40,000—or a total distribution at that date of 1,390,000 ova, leaving the balance of 3,720,000 in the troughs of this establishment. With the salmon and whitefish ova the most satisfactory success was met with in their hatching; and while at Lochaber, Sheet Harbor and Kentville the percentage of salmon trout hatched was fully up to the average, some losses were met with at Kempt, Tusket, and at this hatchery. I have as yet been unable to solve the difficulty heretofore experienced in hatching the ova of the salmon trout in the water with which this hatchery is sup- plied, but from the results obtained at the different temporary hatcheries, and noting the temperature and condition of the waters at these points, I am led to believe that. in some way to those features the loss is attributable. During the next season I propose instituting such observations at these small temporary hatcheries as will be - likely to throw some light on the subject. Notwithstanding the partial failures to which I have alluded, I would respect- fully urge upon your Department the advisability of continuing the effort to stock the numerous lakes of this Province with these fish. Considering the number and extent of these inland waters and their apparent adaptability for supporting fish life, the extent, magnitude and commercial importance of which this prospective fishery is capable, a much more decided effort in future would be warranted, and to this end each of the counties in the western portion of this Province should be provided with an auxiliary hatchery. These could be built at but slight expense; being used only during the spring months they need not be so substantially constructed as this build- ing, and the cost of working them would not exceed $100 per year. They could be so arranged that a considerable number of whitefish could be hatched at the same time, and they could also accommodate a number of salmon ova, and thus materially assist in the economical prosecution and extension of the work to which this institu- tion has been particularly devoted. Such hatcheries as I refer to, capable of hatching 4,000,000 or 5,000,000 of whitefish, 200,000 salmon-trout, and a similar number of salmon ova, could be erected at a cost not exceeding $600. Distribution of Fry. The distribution of fry from this hatchery for the past year, including the semi-. hatched ova already mentioned, was as follows :— Salmon Fry. Musquodoboit River, Halitax County........-..-...-.-.....- 40,000 Sackville do OO) (Seoscenabsobassuudscsac 20,000 Nine Mile do dos > Sree eee 40,000 Pennant do GIO,» gasssosecan-naoaveuages: 20,000 Little Salmon do dio: 11° SRS eretec eee 20,000 Ecum Secum do Loy Al eadocuehbAcpsoBosdEueron 40,000 Salmon do Colchester County..................-. 40,000 Stewiacke do doe PER nee tae 40,000 Wallace do Cumberland County.................. 40,000 Philip do Bho)? Secbooasopsondobos 40,000 West dot” Pictou Countye.s eee cence. 40,000 East do dos eee ere Fete eeeea 40,000 Middle do GORA AP Re Neonat aces retest 40,000 Gaspereau do» King’s! County s. sticecsss eas rere 40,000 Cornwallis do Go) 1 09: SERS, US Bat eak det 40,000 La Have do Lunenburg County................... 40,000 Gold River, Lunenburg County.......-.....-.......0.eeeee 20,000 Middle do CLO ie me Hace dacetngdnnceSoctobaacNaRaanagD 20,000. East do Chee Rate 8 oS ocor ss Gaasacedboaan datas 40,000. 50 Annapolis River, Annapolis County ...............-......05 40.000 Round Hill do do GO w\- Fig heabonemptberemeacine ce 40,000 Tusket do) } Warmoutihiy doy gyemeresrereessens cere 40,000 Lochaber do Antigonish do = Ducrecherdd ses emeePeMmaees 100,000 Roseway do) Shelburne dos iaeeesseeseeeaeeeeee ees 20,000 Mo tallisalmon} inven s-seseeet see eee eee eee 900,000 Salmon-Trout Fry. Lochaber Lake, Antigonish County.......................5 . 120,000 Gaspereau do King’s (oleyiy Soubss SScbosos aacasob0be 70,000 Little River Lake, do ololenreumensstoeceteer et ea etae 20,000 Rossignol do Queen’s Ow ganscdatiicceset ccaserses 100,000 Tusket doy pYarnmonutheidois eesee-seseteses see eeees 60,000 Sheet Harbor do Halifax lof Shs ba cobacccmoHenosoboce 60,000 Hubley’s do do GOsys-paemiese ase ceeaeh es 20,000 Motalisalmon-troutsinyepersseceecressesrtcs 450,000 Whitefish Fry. Grand Dakevialitass Counbyzccc--es-eeeaeseeereeene ene ace 500,000 Hubley’s do do PS phenddacnorbanadaccéakemroenae 200 000 Williams’ Lake Dor MEPS Oe Ree cee ates coco eeucnas 200,000 Governor's do COMER EEA oaeActada acouasooiesbcRnAGod 200,000 Sandy do dos OMEN GSE. gamete teedertaces aomenitones 200,000 Lochaber do Antigonish County..... ............2........ 300,000 Rossignol do Queen’s OW Rasa eee aooe Rec tastes 500,000 Gaspereau do King’s Choe Tau onccrormaatoanoncebaciad 200,000 Miltord do Annapolis GO) i aiheccec gece tetaccas 200,000 Potallitwhitefshwtinysceseetceesen-secenssesc 2,500,000 Totals. Salm Ons422 05. oewawis sas aide oiyseiatslacis hsesennne cance saved iieleetestelse a 900.000 Salmon trowb..i.. sceteewgaae sees eooreace satanic ee cncssoaecatas 450,000 Whitefish 1c. ses. dbacvasee deste gence einen eee tee deesseceeesees 2,500,000 Grand) total Re sesssesssea- eee e peace ee rece 3,850,000 I am able to report that this work was performed with almost perfect success, no loss being met with, except among one lot, which I was ordered to take to the Rose- way River, in Shelburne County. Knowing the difficulties to be encountered on such a long journey by steamer I took every possible precaution to avoid loss. I provided six large casks of water, and so arranged the barrels containing the young fish that a stream of water could be kept passing through them.. Owing to rough weather and detention by fog, Shelburne was not reached until the following morning, over twenty hours after leaving Halifax, and my supply of ice and fresh water being exhausted, I met with considerable loss of fry. I would respectfully suggest that if any further attempts to stock the rivers of Shelburne County be contemplated by your Department that a small auxiliary hatchery be erected at Shelburne town, to which the ova could be taken some time before hatching with perfect safety, and from which the young fry could be readily conveyed to the different rivers. The rivers of Lunenburg County, which I have been endeavoring to re-stock for some years past, owing to their great distance by road from this hatchery, have not been served as generously or successfully as their 51 importance would warrant, and I would suggest that a small hatchery be erected at some central point in that county. The same plan should also be adopted in Digby and Annapolis counties. ‘The very marked increase in the salmon fisheries of this Province since the introduction of fish culture, as shown by the fishery statistics, and which I endeavored to demonstrate to your Department in my annual report of last year, should warrant the work being undertaken_on a much larger scale than at present. It can be justly claimed that fish culture has passed through the experimental stage, and has established itself as a practical art, upon which any expenditure made will give satisfaction and highly remunerative returns. The continual decline in the salmon fisheries of the Province up to the year 1882 clearly demonstrates the fact that in the present condition of our rivers the natural reproduction is quite insufficient to maintain the supply, and that to retain our present stock in the presence of the continuously increasing demand, more hatcheries are necessary, and all parts of our coast should receive a bountiful supply of young fry annually. The almost universally expressed desire of those of the inhabitants of the western counties of this Province with whom I have come in contact for the extension of the fish cultural operations of your Department prompts me to respectfully urge upon you compliance with their requests, and the introduction of such appliances as will enable us to produce such a number of young fry as will bear a reasonable proportion to the natural reproduction of past years. If I might be permitted to offer a suggestion in reference to the extension of fish cultural operations, I would say that probably the most economical manner in which an increased output would be effected would be to enlarge the hatching capacity of this institution to the desired extent, make this the general depét from which the auxiliary hatcheries located in such counties as are beyond the scope of this establish- ment, could receive their supplies of semi-hatched ova each spring. , The work of collecting the ova for this larger institution and the necessary care to be given them during the winter months would be obtained at very little over the cost of the present work, while the final hatching and the distribution of the fry from these points could be performed by the overseers or wardens of the districts at a cost not exceeding $100 per year. Collection of Ova. In the work of capturing a supply of parent fish from which to procure a stock of ova for this season’s operations | was very successful. Having obtained permis- sion from your Department to operate on the Musquodoboit River, on the 1st Sep- tember I engaged the fishermen and put them in charge of the trap, which had been placed in the natural pass around the dam at the mouth of the stream. Very dry weather having set in about that time the river became so low that no fish could enter—in fact, during the greater part of September no water passed through the lad- der. In the mean time large numbers of salmon congregated in the pools below the dam, and early in October, when the first freshet occurred, they commenced to ascend the pass, where they were captured in the trap. In this way a large number were taken, but as the water fell off again rendering this trap useless, I was obliged to resort to setting a net in the pools below. Altogether 270 salmon were taken from this river and conveyed by means of water-tight boxes to a raceway about one mile distant, where a tank and spawxing shed was provided. Here they were eventually shipped and returned to their native stream. Permission was also obtained from your Department to operate upon the West River, in Pictou County, but at this point it was not as successful as in former years. As in the Musquodoboit River, low water also prevailed during the season when salmon usually enter this river, and the fish were obliged to remain in the tidal waters, where I have reason to believe large numbers were caught by the inhabitants. The catch by the fishermen amounted to 67 fish in all at the West River. 52 The total catch from these two rivers amounted 337 fish, as follows : Musqudoboit River, 82 males, 188 females; West River, 24 males and 43 females. Of these 231 were females, producing about 2,300,000 ova. The loss up to the present time has not exceeded the usual percentage, and as the embryos are now visible in the greater portion of them, the prospects of a successful hatching are favorable. I beg to report that the hatchery and all its appliances are in good condition, and no extraordinary outlay will be required during the next year. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, a A. B. WILMOT, Officer in Charge. 4.—DUNK RIVER HATCHERY. PROVINCE OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. Not running in 1889, See summary (4). 5.—ST. JOHN RIVER HATCHERY. PROVINCE OF NEW BRUNSWICK. Report of the Officer in Charge of the St. John River Hatchery, 1889. Srr,—I have the honor to make the following report on the operations of the St. John River fish hatchery for the present year. In order to give an intelligent account of the work it will be necessary for me to state that in the autumn of 1888 I was informed by the Deputy Minister of Fisheries that it was not the intention of the Department to take any parent salmon on the Tobique River that year, but that this hatchery would be supplied with ova from the Restigouche nursery; consequently, there were no eggs putin this house the first part of the hatching season. However, in the month of March I received from the Newcastle and Sandwich hatcheries, in Ontario, by the hands of Mr. Charles Wilmot, 3,000,000 whitefish and 1,000,000 salmon-trout eggs; and on the first day of May I got another consignment of 150,000 Restigouche salmon eggs from Mr. Alexander Mowat, making in all 4,150,000 fish eggs of the different species above named. They were all received in fair condition. The only loss sustained was with a few of the Restigouche eggs, which hatched out prematurely, on account of the late- ness ef the season when they were transferred. With this exception the different classes of eggs did very well and a large percentage hatched out. On the 5th of April [ commenced the distribution of whitefish fry, a labor that is fraught with a great deal of hardship, owing to the very bad state of the roads at that season of the year. On the 5th of June I started to distribute the salmon-trout and salmon fry, and finished planting the entire lot on the 4th day of July. The work was successfully performed, without any appreciable loss of young fish, not- withstanding the long distances that the majority of them are carried. They were apportioned amongst the Counties of Victoria, Carlton, York, Sunbury, Queen’s King’s and Charlotte. Below I give a tabulated statement of the several localities in which I planted the different kinds of fry, the quantity put into each, the name of the river, lake or stream, and the distance in miles that each lot was carried, and the mode of conveyance. oO 53 Whitefish Fry Planted and Distance from the Hatchery. No. By rail. By waggon. Miles. Magaguadavic Lake, YorkCo. 350,000 Bobs sie 128 Harvey do do — 350,000 aoe ee 138 Oromocto do do 350,000 138 10 148 Lakeville Lake, Carleton Co. 350,000 46 13 59 Skiff do do —- 350,000 97 is 104 Foster do Charlotte do —- 350,000 145 ae 145 Portage do Victoria do 200,900 peace 7 ii Long do do do 300,000 abe 9 9 NG taleesecse eececaciscecmeess 2,600,000 738, Salmon-Trout Fry Planted and Distance from the Hatchery. Lakeville Lake, CarletonCo. 106,000 46 13 59) Skiff do York Co..... 140,000 97 7 104 Harvey do do 150,000 138 ae 138 Chamcook do CharlotteCo. 150,000 157 oe 157 Foster do do 120,000 145 ae 145 Long do Victoria Co. 90,000 wae 9 9 To a Mr. Thompson, Wood- stock, Carleton County...... 36,000 To Fishery Overseer Burt, Hartland, Carleton Co....... 30,000 Run outat the Hatchery about 8,000 MIO Teall Soe toe cose ctoaaslecttecciee 830,000 612 Salmon Fry planted and Distance from the Hatchery. Lake Alva, Kings Co....... 30,000 Byrail 190 Waggon 7 197 Washademoak River, Queen's Co.............0+-5. 25,000 do 210 Steamer 65 275 Salmon River, Queen’s Co. 25,000 do 210 do 70 280 Oromocto, North Branch Sunbury Co..............<- 25,000 do 135 Waggon 10 148 St. Croix River, Charlotte WOW acess scacewoesesaseses 25,000 do 132 Boat 2 134 St. John River, VictoriaCo 10,000 S08 ae ieee 140,000 1,034 Recapitulation— Wihitefish) fry..:-.--...------ 2,600,000 Miles travelled. 738 Salmon Trout...............+- 830,000 do 612 Grand total.............. 3,570,000 - do 2,384 I respectfully desire to inform you that in transporting the young fry such long distances as I am compelled to entails a vast amount of care and necessitates a heavy expenditure to perform the work in compliance with my instructions. we Sa There is a redeeming feature in connection with the work, that the applicants are delighted to get the young fry; but there is a special preference for the salmon fry, particularly for waters where sport is the object in view, but where the fish are required for food purposes the people are well pleased to see the salmon trout and whitefish introduced in the lakes, although they know very little about this class of 17*#—4 54 fish ; but I have endeavored to explain to them their quality and usefulness as a food fish. Some very fine specimens of the salmon trout were caught by Doctor Gove and another gentleman from St. Andrew’s, in Chamcook Lake last summer, weighing from three to seven pounds. I was also informed that salmon trout were taken by some of the New Brunswick railroad employés in Williamstown lakes, and no doubt both salmon-trout and whitefish were caught in other lakes. Some of these lakes are held by lessees, who will not permit outsiders to fish them, nor will the pro- prietors allow net fishing. It is, therefore, difficult to ascertain what quantity of these fish have matured in these waters. F Last autumn I got instructions by your Department to proceed up the Tobique and Serpentine rivers, with the view of capturing parent salmon to stock the nursery. When I arrived at the spawning grounds on the Serpentine I found scarcely any salmon there. I caught a few, but they had already spawned. I then abandoned the work and returned at once, in order to avoid expenses, being fully convinced that it was useless to spend time so late in the season, T was not unprepared to find the salmon scarce on the Serpentine, for on my way up I was informed that the lumber drive on that river was kept back last spring for the want of water to take it down; consequently, I was satisfied that if there was not water enough to float the lumber down there would not be sufficient water for the fish to get over the falls, as no salmon can ascend the several falls that are upon it except in the hight freshet in the spring. I learned from all the information that I could gather that the salmon are slaughtered by every conceivable means that the poachers could invent, even to dynamite. There seems to have been no protection for the salmon on the Tobique waters last summer, and if some authority does not take the matter in hand to protect this river the salmon will soon be as scarce on the Tobique and its tributaries as they were before the artificially hatched fry were first planted in them. Parent Salmon. It is much to be regretted that your Department does not come to a final conclu- sion to have the parent salmon for this hatchery taken in the St. John harbor. I cannot see any valid objections against the scheme, but on the contrary there is good reasons for adopting it. In the first place, a sufficient number of fish would be caught every year; in thesecond place, it would be the most certain and economical plan; and in the third place, it would be the most prudent system for the improvement of the St. John River fisheries. The eggs taken from the salmon now caught in the harbor for food purposes would be saved and hatched in the nursery, for the benefit of our waters, and the parent salmon would also be saved and liberated alive, whereas at present both the salmon and their eggs are wholly lost to the river. IT understand that some objections have been raised by certain parties against using the Carleton Pond, in St. John, as a safe resevoir for the salmon until they became ripe for spawning, The Superintendent of Fish Culture should be good author- ity on this point, and his opinion is that the pond in question could be made suitable at trifling expense for the purpose named. At any rate,some convenient place above or below the falls at Indiantown (St. John) should be provided, so that salmon when caught in the harbor could be put into scows and carried to the place and then safely kept till the spawning time, the same as is done at the Restigouche, Miramichi and Tadoussac hatcheries. At Bucksport, below Bangor, in the State of Maine, the Americans tow their parent fish from 6 to 8 miles with row boats from their nets to the shore; they are then taken some distance up a river to their reservoir. I would respectfully request your Department to give this your serious consideration, as it is absolutely necessary that some such scheme should be adopted for supplying this nursery with salmon ova in the future. Both salmon and speckled trout fry are in great demand by the people here and in the adjoining counties, and I have to request your Department of Fisheries to make full provision to supply these wants of the inhabitants. Very little repairs have been made about the house the past summer, although some were much needed, but the frequent admonitions not to incur expenses 55 coming from the Departments has deterred me from making necessary repairs. The floor of the hatchery where the tanks are placed is ina bad condition. It is now 9 or 10 years old, and being constantly exposed to wet and dry weather, decay has set in. The platform outside the door is also in a most dilapidated condition, and the plaster on the walls requires repairing. These and other minor matters must be attended to next summer. Respectfully submitted, CHAS. McCLUSKEY, Officer in Charge of St. John River Hatchery. 6.—MIRAMICHI HATCHERY. PROVINCE OF NEW BRUNSWICK. Report of the Officer in Charge of the Miramichi Hatchery for 1889. I herewith submit my annual report upon the operationsin connection with this hatchery for the past year. The eggs laid down in the hatching troughs on the Ist December, 1888, received the closest attention during the winter months, and I am pleased to state a very small loss was met with. In addition to the ova collected from parent salmon on this river, I received 50,000 “eyed eggs” from the Resti- gouche hatchery. Every exertion was made to have the young salmon hatched from these eggs planted as far up the streams as possible, and on the grounds best adapted for them to grow. Following is a list of the rivers, with the numbers of fry planted in each, viz.:— North-West Miramichi (native fry)...........02.sse.sssserecoee 400,000 do G@Resticouchotry))ieeencermene aes 30,000 Stony Brook (Restigouche fry).................- SRicboepebectotoc 20,000 South-West Miramichi (mative fry)...........:..cceccssseneeres 50,000 Little South-West Miramichi (native fry) ..................06 240,000 ‘SOOELGY (ORUTITG sia epecoodscboteepoodueccooscaooccocoaccteonesecooonc 100,000 SUCK ETHE LBRO) ke Godendeocsont cect eencoshocogpaccadcorsaccecapecascbestcos 10,000 Total. s.s05 evcadus res geetee as acloehctasbecteese sence 850,000 I was very successful in the work of distribution this season, the weather being cool and favorable. Thirty thousand of the Restigouche fry were planted at the request of the Hon. Mr. Adams on the North-West Miramichi, a distance of about 45 miles up river by the road and nearly 75 by the river. The upper 22 miles of this road is only a portage, and required the greatest care to be taken in the carrying of the fry safely to this destination. The remaining portion of the Restigouche fry, along with the 800,000 native fish, were planted as far as possible up the streams to which access was most easily gained. I would here respectfully ask that a quantity of whitefish eggs be forwarded from some of the Ontario hatcheries to this nursery, the product of which I pro- pose planting in the lake about seven miles distant from this establishment. I am of the opinion that this body of water would be well suited for this fresh-water fish. This lake is now almost destitute of fish of any kind, except some perch and a few lake trout. If the hatching and planting were successful, and as the growth of fish could easily be ascertained from time to time, it would be the means of introducing another valuable fish now altogether unknown in our waters. In order to illustrate the benefits which must be derived from artificially-bred fry being planted in small streams which empty into the large rivers, and to refute other statements that are sometimes made by persons who decry the worth of fish culture, let us take the small stream which runs into the Miramichi River and supplies this hatchery as an example. , 17*#—44 56 Previous to the erection of this hatchery not a salmon, smolt, or parr was to found in it, and what do we find now? Towards the latter part of August and Ist of September it was literally alive with young salmon, which are the results of planting in it eight or ten thousand fry every season, The small pools swarm with these young salmon, and hundreds could be taken with hook and line. When this result is obtained in this small brook (where any one can satisfy himself of the fact if he desires it) in which trout and other fish are also plentiful, and where the temperature and quality of the water does not differ materially from the up-river streams in which the fry are annually planted from this hatchery, then why should not this one simple fact give the strongest evidence of similar success attending the planting of the many thousands of fry from this hatchery into all the branches of the Miramichi for years past? But then there are designing persons who always oppose any progressive work, and who are so closely set in their own opinions that they will neither fairly consider nor inspect the workings of these public institutions, but prefer to circulate misleading state- ments and reports, which have no foundation whatever but in enmity. Look at the senseless fabrication which appeared some time ago in the columns of one of the local papers: “That thousands upon thousands of young salmon fry were found dead along the shores of the river.” And this was sixty miles below the place where they were planted. When the successful results that I have pointed out can be attained in this little stream, why should it not be the same in similar streams up river? Where is the supply coming from if the product of naturally-deposited ova is not greatly augmented by these artificial means? Even the salmon, that may reach the spawning grounds, after having passed poachers’ nets and other difficul- ties, will deposit their ova where ice, freshets, frost, and all the other elements may make war upon them. What has become of the ovanaturally deposited this season, and what return can be expected from these eggs after 3,000,000 feet of lumber has been driven over the beds, besides two heavy freshets, accompanied each time by running ice? This occurs nearly every season in our rivers, and surely must destroy the greater number of nattrally-laid ova. But still the salmon are not decreasing in the waters, although the fishermen are enlarging their operations and employing all the means they can to exhaust them. Nets are placed upon nearly every available stand upon the river, and salmon fishing was just as remunerative during the past season as for any time during the previous five or six years. The majority of fishermen believe this to be the beneficial results of artificial breeding. ‘These fishermen and dealers—who take an interest in keeping the supply equal to the demand—plainly see that if there was no other resource besides the natural one their business would soon be a failure, and the enterprise and actiy- ity which this industry now creates would have to be directed into other channels in order to be remunerative, Why is our striped bass fishery completely exhausted; and why is our smelt fishery yearly decreasing ? The answer is plain—the natural supply cannot equal the enormous drain that is put upon it year by year,—alongside of the startling facts that the bass fishery is depleted, and the smelt fishery yearly decreasing—how favorably can the salmon fishing be compared, when it is known that it was better this season just passed than it was six years ago, Some of the fishermen in tidal waters say they have not taken as great a number of salmon this season as others, but they account for this falling o7f in the following manner: springtime set in about three weeks earlier than usual, and naturally the salmon entered the rivers at a much earlier date than other seasons—so early, in fact, that but very few fishermen had their nets or rigging in readiness to take the first ruan—while those men who owned fishing stands further up river, and who had their nets set before the run reached them—claim that, they caught more fish by the last of May than they would, other seasons, up to the last of June. The fall run of salmon did not enter the rivers until October. There were some very large fish, and some of the fishermen are of the opinion that these large fish are the results of planting Restigouche fry in these head waters. Grilse were also very eee ee ee 57 plentiful, some of the up-river pools being literally alive with them about the latter days in September and first of October. Then the fishermen engaged to procure parent salmon for this house were seining in these pools; they have taken as many as a hundred and more of these youngsalmon at one sweep. When the enormous drain upon our salmon fiishery is considered—the almost endless number of nets from the mouth of the bay to the rapids—which are year by year doing a remunerative work—along with the facts that the waters are abounding with “parrs” “smolts” and “grilse”—it points to the conclusion that artificial hatching is the feeder that keeps up this supply, and is one of the greatest boons and benefits that can be granted to the fishermen of any river,—certain it is that, the natural sources could not supply the enormous demand—men of all opinions agree in this—and I may here add that the uniform good catches of fish for the past five years are now convincing the most skeptical of fishermen that the artificial breeding is most beneficial, as supplementing the products of natural-laid ova with millions of healthy—artificially bred fry—which are the surest safeguards against the depletion of our waters of these most valuable fish in future years. Collection of Parent Salmon. The work of collecting ova has been more successful this season than for the revious three or four years. The work was commenced about the first of Septem- er, but owing to extreme low water, very few salmon entered the River until the 25th of that month. Then there was a slight rise of water caused by heavy rain, which greatly lowered the temperature of the stream, in consequence of which great numbers of salmon and grilse which had been lying in the lower tidal waters began to ascend the upper parts of the rivers. As no wardens were appointed—auntil two weeks later—to guard the districts immediately below where our operations are car- ried on the poachers held fall sway, and a great number of breeding saimon must have been destroyed by them. Therefore, our men did not meet with as greatsuccess as was expected. Then, again, when the guardians had been appointed, and when our men were doing good fishing, a large drive of lumber, which had been left at the heads of the streams since spring, came down with the high water, and our oper- ations had to be suspended for five days, which caused us to lose part of the best run of fish. We succeeded, however, in capturing 261 parent salmon on the North- West and Little South-West Branches; and the man whom I had previously en- gaged procured 32 fish on the Big South-West Branch. Male fish predominated very largely. In some instances the men had to liberate as many as 100 or 150 grilse and male fish from the nets on one seining ground. Some of the female fish were very large, and the number of ova taken from each was above the usual average for our salmon of this river; quite a number of very small females were also taken. The number of fish taken from the North-West Branch was 141, from the Little South-West 120 and from the Big South-West 32, making a total of 293 parent fish. Of these, 153 were females, from which I gathered 1,100,000 ova, giving an average to each fish of about 7,190 eggs. Tn conclusion, I may say that this hatchery and its appliances, retaining ponds, ete., are all in good order, and Iam pleased to state the ova is progressing favor- ably, and there is every appearance of a good crop of fry. Tan, Sir, Your obedient servant, ISSAC SHEASGREEN. 58 7.—RESTIGOUCHE HATCHERY. PROVINCE OF QUEBEC. ; Report of the Officer in charge of the Restigouche Hatchery for 1889. I beg to lay before you a detailed report of the operations carried on at the Restigouche hatchery during the past year of 1889. From the crops of eggs obtained last year, 1,280,000 fry were successfully hatched and distributed in 1 good condition in the several streams, as follows :— Restigouche River, from Indian House to Tracy Brook, including Brook, and) 4'1 miles| from jhatcheryas..crasccemee sees cece eceeseeten-oceeeee eecseceaeeee 480,000 From Tracy Brook to Kedgewick, 50 miles from hatchery................00000 200,000 Upsalquitch River above the Great Falls, 20 miles from hatchery........... 200,000 Restigouche River, from hatchery to Patapedia, including river, 20 miles.. 200,000 Metapedia Lake, 50 miles from hatchery........ ..0.--.....c0se.se00e ceoeceeneesors 100,000 Metice River, 150) miles from shatcherys.c..1c-.escecessessessceecssceccsseescesanass 100,000 HBO WE Es am agp asondooqc6 cc500sa0005 .Aod SoA sotIpdono HaqooodeSoasosGdNNGSONS 1,280,000 Besides the above number of fry, 200,000 eyed eggs were distributed from the hatchery as follows:—50,000 were conveyed to the Miramichi establishment in the latter part of April, and 150,000 were conveyed at the same time to the St. John River nursery, all of which were deposited in the establishments in fine condition, Distribution of Fry. The distribution of fry began the 10th of June, and lasted until the 26th. The fry distributed in the Restigouche and its branches were all towed in large cribs 30 feet long by 33 feet wide and 15 inches deep, divisioned off and so arranged that any desired supply of pure fresh water could flow amongst the fish while on their journey, In this way the little fish were kept healthy and lively until they reached their des- tination, and they are allowed to gradually drop out through little gates in the scows as they are being towed along at the rate of three or four miles an hour, and in this way they are distributed all along the river. The fry distributed in the Metapedia Lake, and Metice' River were conveyed in cans over the Intercolonial Railway. They were very lively when liberated, and hid themselves among the stones and moss immediately. Net at Island to capture Parent Salmon. Owing to the very early spring this net was.set out in May, it being two weeks earlier than usu: ul,and I am able to give a very satisfactory report on this i important branch of the work, and herewith is given the catch of this He in detail :— Weight of Moh. in Ibs. May, | UES COR OM OAC HEC HEMEt ren Anenrcauioncaccdabccodsodaddo 2, 40 GO TONG Sovaaca'soh osinecoeesos staan eee ee EEE 4 80 Pl flit oY cee! PES teN Rere ce oacGeena cw: cuocusooracdosanedseade 6 120 Oo ae eer Somer cer Soca ceborrriccas coccnd dtlansacuobodctos 7 140 COS iisns cesseseaueseaeneo tecnica ees eae nee een if 220 (Goalie: PNR BR ncr Neate oteion asda ancaocacouboaobadacecéso 21 420 (0 CONN AR eRBA EEA SAraNCnm ern Jou eee rocccecooddonSooos 7 140 Oj (Gh cia owieste siieinatedoistosatecr cre oree eee eeee eee e oe eater We 140 OT sven sainiswes semsrathle siacowen se Seto e eee eee eee eee 14 280 Os 8. ccsaecewaee vaca semoncos socee tener = eee ereeee ene 8 160 GO? SOM cccvecdesntcmenceccecca ace ee eee eee eee 16 320 do 10 (Nets lifted to cle an.) COPD soe Sesees slesincente rae citsne (eee eee RRR CREE e ne 15 300 COW WD ccanscecexdclowey saae cate ooh ACE e ERE ECE EERE EEE 8 160 OD Ss seifsacrn osate saiieticciseiars ceteeertoat eee Eee EEL 480 a 59 C/U) I es orenoeon dee SaosOR eRe ascasbacecncccdaadaonncosacanonae 14 280 COMMS ea .eresons doecaeaes ces set aedas caer cap saeseeceeemeren a 21 420 G®> AIO Becson weet aneeino kcacOoneeer ene ocacahhoschioccocuaccdce 16 320 G10) ho Prana Rp OcenRE Ee ORC RE eGR earocceecicacccnacoongec 13 260 LOMMUGH s Snctcvcresuincsesosschctereesacctine ster coeeaeeeters 33 660 GIO] SID Re gcaocsacaarencoconcn cea ctenecenoscososncedococodabo: 8 160 GIO "ADS Senna cnoceeepaeead craoereeacrtcacetiescaracnccosoec 17 340 Ole) PUI GradepernaaacennoceosbentéececeencD screcoctiuacsseacc2 5 100 TOM 22 srs saa csusiess sealdeceh vaees eee osgecteaeaeaene eee eee 9 180 ClO)! “ZB acon anceopeneac aa opec once se npc nocrrccncraacacbodcenod: 19 380 Ope 2A is ce censcoseceonegetosodce aseccumeceteonene career 5 100 GO 2B os hoso2t ea ddenceuiea tog ses uaa lee mnaee ena e meee 11 220 (ka) = 2A Sa son sanerbonenorend ceepeaaceeandosucrngaeconaenccos 11 220 LOMA Uo icseossoics ys eesenss sens sense weeaaeiset casera cenee Neeeee 9 180 Oy 2G iascoscccscecsuseaueties ced sdasscareaceesstauesseacscetes 8 100 Choy. DOS eeasopnecccee ne snpecespecosnatoscmsebeioncrescnGs0ac 5 100 Go) il). seskadhedcaden ane seoaspceseapesencsanoaser sdaanecn 3500 3 60 Tialllj “sade: shoeespgsappacbesepanansodaepsbannaebnSacccnaso00> 37 540 US. Doabdesossadarpaapasnassesensncearepeanadcabocsobsacies 12 240 Ghd) Sieebsees cededgancos tesencapnccdaased beeesaraseeonesncbec + 80 OMMNEA MRE ers conosco eto oat oncs ce tect nner siecincese cere 4 80 GO . Bp cocsacStoceee Sena pon eer onoseneepancHnos nas! Brc-pudose 5 100 do 6 (Nets lifted to clean.) dk® — ‘fesdosesadadhestecneb atest boashoounscqoassoasnpeehendsus 3 60 GO Baauerbssssteaeectec ravenna soreror ae pe berEdiccddda soc 1 20 Gk Wa d8sceccotaccesees cneee abboreecorons poodoanacodscod 50 , 4 80 MOMMIES he ssnccc ac: ccnchenascaces-husceepsloceeesnarecar ce 6 120 alg) ili) esecqeaauyddeboanpencooogseadesanacsecnotaaccubdwccdc 4 80 Gla, ZR sccngocebo see bec beset pa acme teaeeoce so saue aocodtns26- 2 40 do 13 (Nets lifted on account of freshet.) do 14 do ) do 15 do do Qip, ‘Ge cpgoccsddedoonconeonaoscoococUped=soconcodpredsccSs = 3 60 Gla If cassocmesbooescanapeeococona oped pesouscaaeddS Sscsc0 2 40 Gig) TS}, eeceddadeadeec nee eeonaoam popeesancdsadcs ocecbaaecco0 il 20 GD, . 18 kcobssadqeqncbhocSonsoods=cbecarodpacopsocecococedasec 2 40 do 20 (Nets lifted to clean.) G®, Dil seadsessbnocobeaseonbanbessaconsnseransabcasecsecccooe 2 40 dln) DE cen catossssacdocceuse DoE reRe cab aatesoconcandecuconaé: il 20 LOM Seco es wo ee ce oo asieseaesidet soe eancomeeseseeeraes 1 20 Gl) Di. seccebosesaonneoue cece sbeed aco duDocacbosaEanEaETeGS 1 20 do 25 (Nets lifted.) 4i®) - WB scbcnseastocdbeee qgnesecbopsepboue coos udesescabse0¢ 1 20 GO) ATs ocesoncces a odons ana BaEce doeidaaspuORogoSaIcaGObe x00. 20 do 25 (Nil) dl DE) essopebevcoccnasocagondonauodudanodsecosoedaashGsecso¢ 1 20 do 30 (Nil.) do 31 (Nil.) Aug. 1| (Nil. ie 2. : Bins y ethan eno ceee ae teniee cece nce emacs 2 40 Glo, (Gases acbonoceHeca, apmoosdoonnocdeanecaaHacacscc 28 84 475 9,024 Purchased from McAdams neét...........--. 79 1,580 Caught in Mission net..........:+-.seeeere0ee 30 600 FES SHE BIO CIEE Jone CaO Tose Dsorneao 584 1,204 60 Some 70 of these fish, from injuries received in the nets and in towing them to the reservoirs, were useless for spawning purposes; those which were not affected with fungus were sold and accounted for. Manipulation of Fish. The work of spawning the fish began on the 15th October and lasted till the 10th of November; 512 fish were found in the reservoir-—259 females and 253 males. From these were collected 3,022,000 eggs, which were packed in moss and conveyed some 15 miles up river to the hatchery by scows at various times during the spawning period. A small loss oceurred in conveying the last batch to the hatchery, from the roughness of the road. The eggs in the hatchery at present are looking very well, and there is every reason to believe there will be a very successful hatching. But it will be necessary that a large number of the eyed eggs should be removed to some of the other establishments, to prevent overcrowding of the fry in the spring. Repairs to the Retaining Pond. As the instructions to build the block piers mentioned in my report were not received until too Jate in the season, the pond was only fitted up in a temporary way. It was also too late to obtain the necessary screen netting that was needed, the factory where it is made having closed down before the order was received. To carry on this work successfully another year three small block piers will have to be built, and one hundred yards of fine mesh screen netting obtained. The old wire screens have been in use for four or five years, and they have become so decayed as to be unsafe and useless. Repairs to Cribs and Plant Required. The cribs for transporting the fry will need to be repaired, and one new one built. It will be necessary to get fifty fathoms of new small mesh net, also to put both fishing stations in good condition. General Remarks. The several letters obtained from net fishermen and others holding angling property on the Restigouche, hereto appended, are conclusive evidences that the salmon fisheries on the Restigouche and the Bay are in a very healthy condition and are improving. Some large catches among the net fishermen were reported; one party caught sixty and seventy at one tide, with an average weight of twenty- three pounds. With conversations had with some parties owning nets on the coast below Dalhousie, they told me they made very fine fishing this season. Many of the anglers made excellent scores. Mr. Rogers and his friend, in two weeks angling at the mouth of the Kedgewick, killed 100 salmon. I have not been able to ascertain the correct angling catch, but from information gathered from fishery officers and guardians the angling catch on the Restigouche and its tributaries was about 1,400 salmon. Angling in the latter part of the year was poor. Owing to the continuous dry weather the water in the river became so low and warm the fish would not rise to the fly. The river was literally teeming with young “ parr” and “smolt” this season. The rod fishermen complained of them as being a nuisance when angling for salmon, I have seen and conversed with many of the fishery officers and guardians, some of whom were forty miles up the Kedgewick, and with others stationed along the River in various places, and they all say they never saw more fish in the river than there was this fall. 'The scowmen, who have been towing seventy and eighty miles up the river, corroborate this statement and say all the spawning grounds and gra- velly bars and shallows were overturned by the spawning salmon. Great numbers of fish spawned this season between the tide head and the hatchery,which is an unusual ——————————— 61 occurence, and it is only of late years, and since the fish began to increase, that they spawned in this portion of the river at all. A good deal of illegal fishing by drift nets and otherwise was reported having been carried on last season. It is to be hoped greater efforts will be made to stop this illegal fishing in the future. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, ALEX. MOWAT, Officer in Charge of Restigouche Hatchery. 8.—GASPE HATCHERY. PROVINCE OF QUEBEC. Report of the Officer in Charge of the Gaspe Hatchery for 1889. I beg to report on the operations of the Gaspé hatchery as follows:— The management of this hatchery came under my control on the 13th of June last, upon the death of the late Philip Vibert. The Department net was set on the 28th of May and taken up finally on the 6th August, One hundred and ten parent fish were taken, sixty-five females and forty- five males; all these fish were saved in good order, and not one was lost during the season, Owing to heavy freshets during the month of June the net had to be raised for some days. _ I began planting the fry in the rivers on the 3rd of June, and had completed the distribution by the 21st of the same month, The fry were in good condition, strong and healthy. The estimate of the number of ova placed in the trays last fall by Mr. Vibert proved to be below the actual quantity. The number of fry planted in June of this season is as follows :— Dartmouth River, above the falls..................ceeeeeeeeeeeees 250,000 do below (dO) W-7 seceseteseeesepoaceee teasers 100,000 BYGONE aE UI OT: sce chew cisla onloles cle igels ciate nia saiceiroae sa alocteisem cddertemeeeaeets 100,000 Mo taille. veereee odecteeuasiiec uve daaecee ce aose sate reeeeaeens 50,000 I began spawning operations on the 1st October and finished the work by the 6th of November. I estimate the number of ova placed in the hatchery as follows :— 40 females, averaging 14,000...........c.cceessece eee eeeeeeesee ones 560,000 20 do do ILI Neepaaeaue seep Baodesoccseocondescbdcosd] ZAI LUN 5 do do SHOT EBte sBscconbbo eoscoosodccodeesosN0000 40,000 65, dl Noy 1 PR eeancesgh aneease por eace Gapaaceeocdadcousbacacacea: 820,000 At present these eggs are looking well. By your instructions I purchased a stove for the house at the reserve pond ata cost of $13.50. Scows, flats and cribs are all in safety for the winter. ‘The trays and troughs were varnished in July and the interior of the hatchery was cleaned and aired, and everything is in good condition for the winter. The exterior of the build- ing should receive a fresh coat of paint next season. During the month of August the establishment was visited by the Hon. C. H. Tupper, Minister of Marine and Fisheries, who made a personal inspection of the property and ordered certain improvements and repairs which were accordingly made. 62 I beg also to report the following statements of facts in connection with the Gaspé nursery. Information is received from an old experienced canoeman, who has been employed the last twenty years by fly fishermen on these Gaspé rivers. He is a reliable man, and being well acquainted with him, his statement can be depended upon. When he first became acquainted with the St. John River here in, 1870, he says the average weight of the salmon varied from 12 to 15 lbs.; that average continued up to the year 1880: But since that year there has been a continued increase in the size of most of the fish. In 1887-88, the average weight of the salmon taken in the St. John River ran up to 18 and 19 lbs., and in 1889 the average was 22 lbs. This is a most decided increase ; and there has been salmon taken with the fly this season weighing 30 lbs. The gill net fishermen of that river complain of losing many salmon this season by the meshes of their nets being toosmall. Now, all this goes to show that a very con- siderable increase has taken place in the size of the St. John River salmon, and the impression prevails that the cause of this increase is due to the work from this hatchery, and the canoemen say this comes from the numbers of young salmon which have been regularly put in the St. John River from the Gaspé hatchery, and hatched from the eggs of the larger breed of salmon belonging to the Dartmouth River. They say the form of these larger St. John River salmon resemble those of the Dart- mouth, and that they enter the St. John two and three weeks earlier than formerly. These things certainly give good evidences of some benefits from the Gaspé nursery. The reports from the York River are that a very great number of salmon were seen in the upper waters, and that a great quantity of young salmon were also seen in the estuary and tideway. T cannot say much about the salmon in the upper parts of the Dartmouth River, but during the fall of 1885 I was up there and saw a great many parent salmon. In the year 1886 we planted fry above the fulls; since that date I have particularly noticed a very great increase in the number of young salmon. The estuary waters of Dartmouth River this season were alive with little salmon of two and three years’ growth ; the greater number appeared to be “smolts,” ready for their first migration to the sea, In conclusion, I may say that before this hatchery was established the Gaspé Basin rivers contained few parent salmon; and “parrs” and “smolts,” the young of the salmon, were not often seen, but at present all the rivers appear to be well supplied with parent salmon and their young. The latter are very numerous indeed in all the streams and in the estuaries. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, HENRY DAVIS, Officer in Charge of Gaspé Hatchery. 9.—-TADOUSSAC HATCHERY. PROVINCE OF QUEBEC. Report of the Officer in Charge of the Tadoussac Hatchery for 1889. I herewith submit my annual report of the operations connected with the fish hatchery under my charge. From the eggs laid down in the fall of 1888 there were successfully hatched 1,600,000 young fry, which were planted in the following rivers and lakes :— Ste. Margaret River, N.-W. Branch................ssseee.eees 100,000 do do.” IN.-HeBranehetre-tcccscetecsesscceccesse 300,000 PSJtpicl Ko) s¥ ale ath y(2) ehmanadepeneoposescan0de0D040n0090009000500000 Logoningcd 300,000 PAW Mar SWRIV EL caccevacctecdsstoencee ees ecenece an eeecee ane tae 200,000 Little Saguenay River............. goccsecaecasereeusdsercaeesoute 100,000 Sue wAnne! River “Cote Beaupre Ync-ccss2.-cecceseeesesse aces =e 20,000 MO watis, Lake. 2. ..cc.:cscsccscsssnteessceccseedeeesaete meereater ee 450,000 HecuteHemye Wakes... sssciendecverstesdonterte seer neanee nee Teer 130,000 Motals.cccenccscccsersesccosee see eemeenceeen 1,600,000 All these fry were distributed in the best condition, every river receiving its complement. By the order from the Department no more fry will be planted in the Ste. Margaret River, and I hope a similar order will be given for the Little Saguenay River, as both rivers are considered unsafe for the salmon fry, on account of the enormous quanties of trout in them. The first consideration in the planting of fry should be their safety, and they should be taken as far up as possible to the head waters of the river at the head of the Saguenay. Immediately after the distribution of the young fry the building was cleaned and ventilated. The improvements made in this house this year were very small, only repairing a certain number of troughs, and varnishing them and the taps; but the repairs necessarily required and mentioned in my report of 1888, estimated at a cost of $500, are now most urgent. The part of the building occupied for the hatchery isin a dangerous state. If the Department considers the sum of $500 too much to expend on the present old building, which stands on a wharf of slabs, and on that account being always a cause of trouble, with increasing expense, a new hatchery with stone foundation could be put up on the rock close by, on the stream which supplies the present house, which could be built for about $1,200. A good deal of the old building could be used, such as windows, doors and boards for covering the roof under the shingles. Capture of Parent Salmon, 1889. We caught in the Government nets 559 salmon; 310 were kept for breeding purposes, and 249 were liberated again, keeping only the largest sized fish. Those that were liberated were nearly all of the same size. On one occasion there were 70 salmon taken—the best tide of the season; of that number 42 salmon were put back in the water. The uniformity of size was very remarkable in these fish. During the whole summer we lost only one female and one male. Their cause of death was un- known, thus leaving 206 females and 102 males for manipulation. The 206 females were of large size and gave 2,557,000 ova. The eggs were all laid down in the hatching trays in good condition. The work of spawning commenced on the 21st of October, and was completed on the 9thof November. All the parent fish were retained in the pond after being stripped, and in a healthy condition. Residents of the place were invited to see them liberated. The Mayor of Tadoussac, J. E. Caron, Esq., and many others, saw that the salmon were as lively as before manipulation. No loss occurred in the spawning of the fish. Very few smolts came down from the Hatchery Lake this season, on account of the dryness of the summer and fall; the water of the lake did not flow over the dams as usual. It is not desirable to put as large a quantity of fry in this little lake as formerly, for in a dry summer the water does not flow over the dams; and the young fish cannot get a free passage to the salt water; and for the last two years the trout have been encreasing enormously in the lake. I would only advise the planting of a small number, only to show to the public how they grow and what they are like. A lake like Mowat’s Lake is far better adapted to receive a large quantity of fry. This lake has a good stream running from it to the salt water. In July last I went down to this lake with my nephew, son of J. A. Gagné, Esq., ex-M.P., and now Judge. We caught young salmon of one, two and three years. The first planting of fry was in 1886; they were of the size of 4, 8 and 12 inches for the three years. It was a matter of the greatest satisfaction to see the great number of young fish that were jumping at the fly. On oneoccasion I permitted the Bishop of Chicoutimi 64 to fish in the hatchery lake. He was accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Mathieu, Superior of the Quebec Seminary, and the Rev. Mr. Lemieux, of Tadoussac ; they were astonished at the number of young salmon that could be caught. Increase of Salmon. In my report of last year I said that there was a steady increase of salmon in my district. [ am happy to state that for this season, with the same number of nets, the salmon fishing shows an increase of over 50 per cent. above last season, and the per- centage would, no doubt, have been much better if there had not been so much time lost by repeated gales of winds, and the breaking up of the nets so often. I may also mention that we have taken nearly 300 per cent. more salmon with the same number of nets this season than we did in 1886—the first year of my taking charge of the Tadoussac hatchery. Salmon have been seen, and some were caught for the first time as far up as the River Shipshaw, about eighty-five miles from the mouth of the River Saguenay, and ten miles above the town of Chicoutimi. It is the opinion of many people in Chicoutimi that these salmon are the product of the Tadoussac hatchery. The editor of the Progrés du Saguenay, of the 26th of September, says: “One of the strongest evidence in favor of the Tadoussac hatchery is the fact that great quanti- ties of smolts, of good size, have been seen at the entrance of rivers where there were none before.” After this had been written, a gentleman from Ste. Anne du Saguenay, Mr. Joseph Villeneuve, when fishing for Winninish, caught a splendid salmon of 18 lbs. in the river Shipshaw; and another gentleman of the town of Chicoutimi, Mr. Francois Guay, caught another salmon of 8 lIbs., close to the entrance of River du Moulin, in the town. I have been told the several salmon rivers are well stocked with salmon, but I cannot give full particulars, as the local guardians have not answered my enquiries regarding any of these rivers. As an evidence of the salmon growing to a good size in the lakes where they were planted, a hunter of the name of Herménégilde Otis, whom I know well, when fishing trout to bait his trapS caught in Lake de la Boule, through the ice, a salmon of 2 feet 9 inches long, and saw another one caught in the same lake by one of his friends of about 3 feet long. He knows that others have been taken, but he did not see the salmon, These are the fruit of some salmon fry planted by the late Mr. Radford in that lake. I have received by the last mail a letter from Mr. I. D. Guay, proprietor of the newspaper Le Progrés du Saguenay. I send you a copy of his letter and a certificate of Mr. Guay, the gaoler of Chicoutimi, about some salmon caught in and around Chicoutimi. It is the first time that salmon have been seen above Ha! Ha! Bay, and they all give credit to the Tadoussac hatchery for the appearance of these salmon. T have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, L. N. CATELLIER, Officer in Charge Tadoussac Hatchery. ( Translation.) Curcoutrmt, 15th December, 1889. L. A. Care.iier, Esq., Officer in Charge Tadoussac Hatchery. Str,—As you are on the eve of making and sending your annual report, I wish to draw your attention to the importance for the Department of Fisheries to plant salmon fry in many rivers above Ha! Ha! Bay. We have in the following rivers: River of Pelletier’s Cove, River Valin, River Caribou, River Shipshaw, &c., &c., some places favorable for the artificial reproduction of salmon, and it seems to me that the Government should give you orders to plant salmon fry in some of them. I take the liberty of enclosing a certficate showing the fact that many salmon, quite enough, have been caught by chance at Chicoutimi. I know a gentleman named Joseph 65 Villeneuve, from “ Terres Rompues,” caught a salmon of eighteen pounds in the River Shipshaw, ten miles above Chicoutimi. [ am not able for the present to send you the certificate of the gentleman in question. Good many facts come to confirm me in the good opinion I always had in favor of the fish breeding in Tadoussac. My own experience, and the reports made to me, make me believe that the Government must continue its work and place your hatchery on a good footing. There is room eee for important improvements, that would be prized with satisfaction by all. I wish to congratulate you on your success since you are at the head of the Tadoussac hatchery. Believe me, dear Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed) IL) 1D, (EOWA (Translation.) I, the undersigned, certify by these presents, that I have myself caught asalmon of 84 pounds in the River Saguenay a little lower than River du Moulin, and about one mile below the Government wharf, and I certify also that it is in my personal knowledge that two more salmon have been caught, one in the River Shipshaw and the other in the basin of the River Chicoutimi. The first one caught by Mr. Francis Mattais, and the second, a salmon of 20 pounds, caught by a man named Harvey. (Signed) FRS. GUAY. Curtcourmi, 12th, December, 1889. Witness—I. D. Guay. 10.—MAGOG HATCHERY. PROVINCE OF QUEBEC. Report of the Officer in Charge of the Magog Hatchery for 1889, T herewith submit the annual report of the operations of the Magog fish hatch- ery for the year 1889. From the eggs received from the Newcastle hatchery in March, 1889, I had the good fortune to hatch out 1,700,000 whitefish, and 1,100,000 salmon-trout fry, which were safely deposited in the following named bodies of water, to wit :— Whitefish. Oxford Lake, Brome and Sherbrooke Counties............. 400,000 Massawippi Lake, Stanstead County.......-....-.ssssseeeseeees 200,000 Megantic Lake, Megantic County..........::-sseseeeseeeeeeeeeee 100,000 Memphremagog Lake, Stanstead and Brome Counties....... 1,000,000 MG tat leer setees on acess encconceecoce sussectemeMetenenas 1,700,000 Salmon Trout. Oxford Lake, Brome and Sherbrooke Counties............. 250,000 Megantic Lake, Megantic County.............:-.-+se::eseeeeees 100,000 Massawippi Lake, Stanstead County..........:-..ssseeses sees 125,000 People’s Lake, Stanstead County............:2sseseeeeeeeseeeeees 50,000 Lake Fortin, Beauce County..............ssceseseseeeeeeeee cen eees 25,000 Lake St. Charles, Beauce County..........-.-cseseesesereereeees 50,000 Memphremagog Lake, Stanstead and Brome Counties...... 500,000 MO TAL 8k NR ne ee 1,100,000 66 ; On account of the forwardness of the spring and consequently the high temper- ature of the water the fry were successfully developed and deposited in the above named sheets of water a fortnight earlier than usual. Whitefish did especially well this season, the loss being comparatively small. The glass incubators working well, kept themselves free, by carying off all badeggs. The hatching proceeded regularly and the fry were exceptionally strong. The salmon-trout eggs I consider were above the average, and the mortality was slight until hatching time, when a slight loss was sustained. There were no whitefish in any of the waters hereinbefore named previous to their artificial propagation in the Magog hatchery. At the present time they are seen in large numbers, but as netting and spearing are prohibed, and as they do not take the hook, but few have been caught. Guardians of Memphremagog Lake (thelargest sheet of water in the Province) inform me that during the close season last autumn the shoals were visited by a much larger number of salmon-trout than ever before. Black bass are still rapidly increasing ; the spawning beds in June last were fairly alive with them. Two were caught last fall, weighing respectively 7 and 7 ths. Illegal fishing still continues, and the cutting down of the appropriations the present season for guarding the shoals during the spawning season weakened the force of the guardians, and stimulated the feelings of poachers to break the law. Repairs thus far have been slight but there now requires to be a new floor and underlays, the old one haying become too much decayed by constant wetting to be safe. It will require about fifty dollars to put the hatchery in first-class condition. All of which I most respectfully submit. A. H. MOORE, Officer in Charge of Magog Hatchery. 11.—NEWCASTLE FISH HATCHERY. PROVINCE OF ONTARIO. Report of the Officer in Charge of the Newcastle Establishment for 1889. Herewith is submitted the annual report of operations carried on at this hatchery during the past year. The fry distributed from this nursery last spring were liberated in excellent condition, notwithstanding the fact that a large proportion of them were subjected to long journeys. The following detailed statement shows the number of semi-hatched eggs ship- ped to the different hatcheries in the Lower Provinces last winter; also the number and kinds of fry planted in the various waters of Ontario during the spring of 1889 :-— Whitefish. bake Ontario, INewcastle.....-..c-.--ssassateecssesosseecmeneees 500,000 do Torontossss ccd rocetacascacese tenon ce nemacenere 500,000 Bay of Quinté: Bell evillles sy... secscee-cseerese-cee sess seeeeeer 500,000 Waker Ontario, Port Hoperse.s.s-ccesserescsocecent ese eemeeer eee 200,000 Georgian Bay, Meaford) poc.c.s.c.cstcscccesensceeeacseeeecn seat 200,000 do TMhOrNbDeLVy ..s.cecessenesesesoeanseeseceensmeetess 200,000 MakesWihite; Arn prion:..co.c-.-sceeses ececseeree teen taeeaeeee 100,000 Singleton Lake, north of Gananoque...............seseeeeee+ 100,000 Delta Lake do dO: ys Oana ees oes ote 100,000 Couchiching Wake ,Orillia-s.c..ce-cseeerereseeeoee tees e eee 200,000 Simcoe Take;, Barrios. cctGie f.csect sceecosere eeceaeee enon 200,000 Wey) Baceracrogdaedodsosodcacadcoodedosacabocubaeccoscosbc% 2,800,000 ~~ = s”:h—C CC 67 Salmon-Trout. owardelaker NOronto, scence. oceesssoaassetceen taste eetaaes 50,000 Georciant Bay. Wiarton. csc qc asecae sdccsecteee secs does maces 300,000 © MaketOntario, Hamilton... :cs.5.0-0.c.-cs-sceseeaceoseeseteeese 100,000 do TOPONbO: jcccareocce» snes cee decssabeotnesoeeeeenere 100,000 do W Hit iy 5 thc taajsentec sat date tnastestgoaneeeomeretes 100,000 do Bort HOpOsscc.c-ss-+ eoocnscenosmeseeeeeeeereet 100,000 do IPOLONGO! Gi ctoseec. seat ossete ee teceseetnceeer eres 100,000 do BS [ACE Tsid GiigeeepopaocaesedosDsevdacsebosedesdacoaes 800,000 Geoncranvbaye Meatonds. cores cnocisecceeatocueae sae aaeaeeaae 200,000 Crow Bay and Ely’s Falls, Campbelltord...................06+ 100,000 Charleston Lake, North of Gananoque .............:0.00.0008+ 50,000 ipavgotauinte, Belleville .2.2...c.:.cascnsecoesccserasecseseeaseerr 100,000 Doctor Dean’s Lake, Brighton...............csssseeceseeesseeeeee 50,000 onseaumlake.. Muskoka'..:.cc-cecsssesscce sss desenorssmeecseees 100,000 Wernoneliake, Huntsville: «cc. -stuccscscensescescesscseeceeeecement= 50,000 Fary Lake GO” a lacncsxcuncacesieccdeo nero sereaeeen teat 50,000 Rerimenlaeake me GOl cecuessccsasscacsencseenseseccneceenenets 50,000 SMT COOP MAKOY BAITIC..<..<.-ccecsceossnessadssesnentessceccormseeres 100,000 Stoea JbalkewEirec laporaeeanossracteocspeesbencaernéoncneaceasdance 50,000 Humphrey’s Lake, North Hastings..........--...------s-++++ 25,000 Nick’s Lake dO 2 Neth seueasnnscueeamaeeeres 10,000 Wilson’s Lake COUN § © eb gaastscadetiondbascsacco0ce 25,000 Bear Shanty Lake Oho = “Nbcapaocbndesacosadsodenanes 25,000 Eagle Lake GO eessnncenaicnsanmecsieeeeetce 25,000 MObaleeieeece Svat sadses ddetapeleess Mes uaeerons tensors 2,760,000 Speckled Trout. J. B. Thompson, Orillia..............csecceevecsseroceesssnescessees 4,000 Henrys rellat, Orillia. ....:.-.cs-sccwsanecsecencseneaete-ocren ana 4,000 Slanley Trout Club, Hagersville..............-..2.seeseeceeeeeee 5,000 William Henry, Niagara Falls................2scsscssscceseeees 5,000 1D), Wlemrtitiy, (ERG) ie Reeceecodno pans adsocsbocdasbadeonncnosoccsupadeced 2,500 Mhomas Goldie, Guelph... .....-....0:..ss-+-+reourscoesnnsceseseces 7,000 G. W.. Lawrence, Stratford................0...--ccosserereescnaesees 10,000 Samuel Grigg, London..............:ecessceenseeseseececeeeneenees 5,000 Warren Tolton, Woodstock..............c2ceseceeseeeecreereereee 20,000 RaO pHinlmepBelleviller.c:.c.ccecse- ansecrseecuncenasermcer merc 4,000 Cyrus Teal, Wooler..........ccccc:essseeeeeeeceeeeseaeeeeeesseenees 4,000 George Hoar, Clinton...........--sssseessesssessesesseeeeeeeseees 1,000 SPENT CO alll ViMUGOTIA s)-01.c2 000. -aaccceneenccascnssenscunsnassoses 8,000 HB. R. ©. Clarkson, Toronto. .........:.s..cesceeceseeereereeceeoees 10,000 Thomas Ford, Credit Forks.. ...........:sseeeceeeereeeeerercees 20,000 Mm G Onin. Oita Was....o---- 000 .acosecersccscceecnetasersc mses: 10,000 S. Dice, Milton ...............scceseseeerreroeeeeroeeeseceeevereeeees 6,000 R. J. Laidlaw, Hamilton................0cesseseereereeneeeenseees 1,000 R. Southam, London..............cseceecsrerseceeceeeescessesceeees 7,000 W. Myres, Orangeville ..........::::sssceceeeeeeteeeeeteseneneeees 10,000 Hf. ©. Dennis, Cobourg.............0.0.csseccnesencocerencerveesrees 40,000 Government Museum, Ottawa..........cseceeeseeteeseetereeeeees 3,000 Kept for pond at Neweastle hatchery ............+:s1eeeee 20,000 TGA Tee os. oc Sekt teee hae ne ee 206,500 68 Black Bass. Howard Wake, Morontose...-neccre-csceeor sees deeeeeneecesecenct 30,000 Thos Blliott, Hamptons. ..ccs--easceresecsncees ee eecescenesecises 30,000 Ponds at Newcastle hatchery........-.--.-ssscscoccseresrerneneee 20,000 Motalll 2: \ponstocaneen cabaeo gues] ice Sor odbancetecconce 1,000,000 Peree OM Bay, | | GO) © -cnsaceeswee song aqeeemterie ee ode weer 1,000,000 Colchester GO pipaswoes seen ear danenceee eee caer eee 1,000,000 Kingsville (6 oa HecerenerRonscraceo cee mashoatocndysedd: 6 1,000,000 Wreamuangton) (dO) ....-<-2ere.r00--n22e-- ance om anee roses 1,000,000 Romp Sicily Gla) | Basseesec vosccsscbactoesecanconcesaceasdss 1,000,000 arnilions ake) Ontario. ...sc-..0---20. sree) one eanceme reece 1,000,000 Niagara do ACR EA Aba Mon OD conan, donempoasosceeacebe 1,000,000 17*—54 72 In tiverat:Hatchery. | j\es-cs-smsccuseseceh ele ee estcr-eee tt 5,000,000 Sent to Newcastle, Ont. | Peabo D Aouad sano esesanobodaSioccaca 3,000,000 do St. John, N. B.} Semi-hatched..................... 3,000,000 dor) Bedford: (Ness. 4 | Peassccscesen:eeee ee eesectee cect 3,000,000 do) Magog. "Que Wyn ssseeienclsmeti etoile aepsetcmssee 2,000,000 : Note bia aeonaoctNeehoodedbocostonbpdsdcddcoane 32,000,000 After having distributed all the young whitefish, the next part of the work was to clean up the hatchery, and re-fill it with the eggs of the pickerel (doré). From four fishing grounds we were successful in gathering 30,000,000 eggs of this fish, and placing them in the hatchery. I might here state that while gathering these eggs at Port Lambton, during one night, when about a million eggs were in the floats - ready to be conveyed to the hatchery, some person or persons either stole or destroyed the lot. As I could place the blame on no particular person, I was obliged to put up with this loss without any remedy. The fishing grounds where the eges were gathered were as follows, in Lake Huron :— AV Vetrst dey Roseaiaoeonocd shocnodacaccaapbono crescendo cdogcisucoceocrnceon 8,000,000 Joseph Leazew...........csceeescnnerscereneseensseiineceseesesceace 7,000,000 . Stead& Bitch cocksens.cesccececemeentiececeeet seiieeeneescteenciet 10,000,000 . Soloman’s; RivertSt:Clainsatecc-cuseemeces ste seeccece merece 5,000,000 . INGE Pag neoadanscostharosooobedccqosobconaadanGouc 30,000,000 ~ From these eggs we hatched out 70 per cent., or 21,000,000 young pickerel, and placed them in the following waters := Point Edward, Wake Huron... 2.02...) fsme sneer enter 2,000,000 Port, Lambton, River Sts Clair 25.) ausaecnss scleral 2,000,000 BellecRiver!, Wake StC@laires-c-ccm-mecesceste seeks eee nace 2,000,000 Stony Island, Detroit River................c.cceeeesesee eee eeeee 1,000,000 Bois: Blane Tslandus doi stent pabeneden ces BOMBOSECOOOS 1,000,000 Fighting Island Oia ye decease Rneer cldselocisersseeaite 2,000,000 Pigeon Bays Wakewbinier ..g-spsecsse therefore 2,000,000 PortiStanlleyy = sido) | cease tate ee cietee te terleen eee cee 1,000,000 In river at Hatchery. ....... oboe ceecitamelaloesebnieceea see ete 8,000,000 21,000,000 The fishermen throughout this quarter believe that through the agency of the hatchery this fishery is greatly improved, The run of pickerel this year was very much the same as last, and all seem to be satisfied with the catch. Eggs Collected, Season of 1889. The number of whitefish eggs laid down in the hatchery this year was far greater than any previous year since the hatchery was started—in fact, nearly double. This is accounted for by the measures adopted by the Department in securing many fishing grounds at which we could handle the fish. The number of eggs put in the hatchery this year was 70,C00,000. They were secured at the following places :— Bois Blanc Island, Detroit River.............seeceeeseseeeee 30,000,000 Stony Island Cowan taArnedauaaon cocoucoretocaas 20,000,000 Fighting Island CLOW all) nasoognpboobdooadennscdecce ‘ 20,000,000 f 170) 47) Keep reersecriaa pe seaudbactod saabedduncaqctas 70,000,000 73 In addition to this number put in the hatchery, 4,000,000 eggs were taken from fish at different stations, and impregnated and then thrown into the river. The places where this work was done were as follows :— Bois 1S brea ei bins ees ease aneSe see son n seancboocodcbusosacaadoe 1,000,000 Hight Island (pier tishery,)s..--2-2.s0--4--2-0-+- sere eee 1,000,000 Jollres (Main land: fishery,).....--.<.-.-«2s<0< wes ep aSeRBABOaenaedaaeaun Ded sadoar 7 do The formerly valuable lobster fisheries are now in many places given up, and those remaining diminish year from year. Even the fishermen themselves have come to the conclusion that nothing but the wholesale catching of spawning fish could have caused such results. The natural oyster beds on the Atlantic coasts of the United States, that hitherto were considered inexhaustible, show now such an alarming decrease that the sharpest rules of prohibition have come into operation for its conservation. In 1860 the market was nearly altogether supplied with oysters from the natural beds, while, on the contrary, in 1886, about 60 per cent. came from private beds. ‘What has been said above in regard to the United States may also be said of the Atlantic coast of Canada. As well known, these are the seats of the greatest lobster fisheries in the world, but which have just as little, as the European, been able to escape the common danger to diminish year after year, and this to such a degree that now there are proposed certain prohibitory regulations, to which I will revert, and which approach nearly total prohibition. From Scotland, where, during the last few years, a committee of fisheries has been appointed, the same complaint is heard in regard to the decrease of fish, lobsters and oysters. In a letter from the committee received lately, it is stated that the oysters are practically exterminated. Similar reports have been received from the most different countries, as well as in outside Europe; but I suppose that - what has been said above is sufficient to show that a decrease in the number of fish on our coasts is nothing singular, but an exhibition to be found all over, and which draws the attention of the respective authorities. In regard to our home circum- stances, it would be expected that they should be well known, but this is, however, not the fact. There are persons yet who, by looking at the residue in the caut at their wharves, consider that they have sufficient proofs that there is yet enough fish in the océan, and who do not know or do not wish to know that the number of the fish has increased with the growing efficiency of the fishing appliances, and that a considerable number of fish is imported from Sweden and Denmark, When to this is added that our natural oyster grounds are destroyed, and that the export of lobsters during the last 20 years has been down from 1,858,000 to 835,000 which, at the current price, is a national loss of over half a million kroners per year, then an attempt to get these matters corrected must not be considered out of place. One must not expect or entertain any allusion that these things will become better by themselves ; when in year after year the capital is spent, it is plain that this as well as the interest will grow less. __ When the results of prodigality with the richness of nature commence to be felt in a higher degree, and people slowly get their eyes opened to see that the repro- duction cannot keep steps with the increasing devastation, as a rule the nearest means are grasped at, to decrease the catch by means of prohibition. The useful- ness of this will, at all times, stand in a decided comparison to the length of the pro- hibition and the way in which itis watched. Iwill giveafewsamples. Ifa certain water can stand a yearly assessment of 1,000 fishes, and the owner, to save against 88 loss, agrees only to fish one month during the year and keep strictly to this agree- ment, there would be no use of this, supposing there are caught during the allowed period, for instance, 5,000. The stock will in this case always decrease and the owners can rightly assert that prohibition has been of no use. How a real good law becomes valueless through neglected inspection is shown at our salmon fisheries. The law prescribes here a certain size of the mesh of the netting, allowing fish of about 18 inches length to slip through, and this is quite right. But what is the use of such a regulation when the fisher with the small meshed nets catches as many young salmon as he can get hold of when it only has a length of 8 inches, and without grumbling these are sold under the name of “blegers.” It is plain that the law in this case is without aim, when the just mentioned abuse is s0 common, that after my experience there are in this district many more young salmon under than over 18 inches length caught. When prohibitory laws on account of above named reasons and others so seldom have proven themselves to be of use, and as a consequence come into discredit, especially amongst the fishermen, who say that the more pro- hibited the more the fish disappear. That this in most cases is true cannot be denied, but the reason for this is not that there is prohibition, but that the prohibition is not strong enough. To cause any perceivable increase in the number of fish through prohibitory laws alone is very doubtful, or rather impossible, as for many districts or fisheries nothing but absolute prohibition during a longer period could produce results so that a reasonable catch in the*future could satisfy the daily want. With us, where the daily fisheries plays such an important part, these arrangéments with prohibition would be impossible, and there remains nothing but either to allow the fish to gradually diminish until totally destroyed, or use the artificial hatchery. The best proof that in foreign parts people have got their eyes opened to see that the case is as above stated, is the eagerness with which they seem to explore the causes. Expeditions sent and sustained by the different Governments and provided with scientific and practical expedients have been employed for some years and have already produced rich results and assisted in explaining many hitherto enig- matical problems in regard to fhe ocean and its inhabitants. Regarding the main question, the reasons for the decrease of the fishes, as well as other useful sea animals, it has been agreed upon that increased consumption, mainly caused by improved means of communication, has caused a stronger assess- ment than the stock could bear, and consequently a decrease takes place. On the other hand, the statistics of fishery has shown what enormous interest is at stake, and strongly urged that the respective Governments take steps to correct the mat- ters in an energetic manner. In regard to this, how it can be done, the well known Prof. Spencer F. Baird says, that there are only two ways towards the increase of the fisheries, and that is, strict prohibitory laws or artificial hatching. He says that one of these may, in single cases, be sufficient to reach the desired aim, but by using both one gets the power to restore the fishery to its old position, and, on the whole, pro- duce results that, without the experierience gained during the last ten years, would have been considered impossible. That the professor does not stand alone in his Opinion is shown by the many existing hatcheries, in different methods, that have commenced operations, or are planned, and which will give this business an import- ance never before thought of The United States have now two hatcheries in operation for salt-water fish designed to produce each 100 millions at a time, which, when the work is extended over the whole spawning season, is equal to a yearly production of about 500 mil- lions. Of lobsters there is a quantity hatched, both for output on the Atlantic coast and to send to the Pacific, on which coast it is desired to be introduce them. That in Newfounland it is intended to follow the same plan, is seen by an enquiry received, asking for a man well posted with the labors of a hatchery to take the place of manager in such an institution. In Europe this one was the first institution of its kind, and has been, during its short duration, visited by many foreigners seeking information, 89 A hatchery for lobsters is now under construction in Durham, England, and is expected to commence operations next summer. It is calculated to cost about Kr. 30,000, and it is built for the Government. A sample apparatus was sent from here some time ago, and by what is known as my method to be used,which is clearly proven by the fact that I have been requested to go over there when the work is to commence. The Marine Fisheries Society of Grimsby is constructing a hatchery for salt- water fish, to commence operations this winter if possible. The secretary of the NY: Mr. A. T. Olson, visited our hatchery some time ago to get information and advice. Also, from other places in Europe—for instance, France, Austria, Russia, Den- mark, Iceland, etc.—many enquiries have come respecting the hatching operations in their different branches. Before I finish this chapter I will briefly give a few words as to how in foreign parts the laws of prohibition are, and in what way they are enforced. In the United States, the history of which is so short, and where the results of spawn fisheries can so easily be seen, the regulations prescribed are very strict. I may say, for an example, that the punishment for having put out during time of pro- hibition one so-called pound (a kind of net) is confiscation of the implements, $1,000 fine and six months imprisonment. For having brought on shore mackerel during the time from Ist March to 1st June, caught otherwise than with hooks, the punish- ment is the loss of the catch and loss of license to carry on fishery.* Quite lately a collision took place between some fishermen who were fishing oysters on prohibited beds and one steamer of the inspectors. The result was that two schooners were sunk, four were driven aground and one captured; nine of the oyster fishermen, who were looked upon as pirates, were drowned, and some were wounded. In Canada, as is above said, proposition made to restricted prohibitory rules for lobsters, which stipulates that the time for fishing would be limited to two months in the year. The half of the number of the members of the committee pro- poses furthermore that the minimum length, which is now 94 in., shall be increased to 103 inches, and that all canning factories for lobsters in Canada be closed for a period of trom three to five years. When it is said that the number of these latter are about 500, with a ground capital of about $1,000,000. it is easily understood, that there is really danger ahead. In 1886, over half of the factories in Prince Edward Island had to be closed for want of lobsters in the middle of July. Compared with above mentioned strict regulations, our laws, with their insignificant fines and want of superintendence, look rather innocent. The main contention of all above said is this, that the number of fish at the coasts of all civilized countries are rapidly declining, and that the laws of prohibition, as generally put in force, never will be able to stop this decrease, but only delay the total destruction. I find, therefore, and may once more say it, that the only way that we can find to save what we have and to effect an increase is artificial hatching. 9—Wuat Remains TO BE DONE. To continue with experiments after the problems that caused them were solved in a satisfactory manner is, according to my ideas, a superflous labor. What to do, is to get proofs that artificial hatching of salt-water fish also is able to increase the quantity of fish, and for this purpose the present hatchery is too small. When I therefore, repeatly, have proposed the extension of the hatchery, and now strongly urge the same, it is because I feel sure that it will never fill its destiny to such a degree that this matter will gain the assistance of the public, which I consi- der absolutely necessary if it will ever be, what it ought to or could be, a blessing to the coast inhabitants. If it was thus that the expenditure rose in the same degree as the production, people might be right to entertain doubts, but this is far from the case. In my *This law was proposed in the House of Representatives on 21st May, 1886, and also passed through the Senate, and, as far as known, is probably in force now. 90 report for last year I gave an average calculation of what the production of brood would cost in hatcheries of different sizes, which is below:— 30 millions will cost Kr, 5,000,—thus 162 ore per 1,000 100 do do 6,500 do 64 do 1,000 200 do do 8,000 do 4 do 1,000 If the hatchery is removed, as proposed, the expenditures will be still more reduced, and, to a considerable degree, this saving will be accomplished in two months —tirst, directly from the method of working being cheaper, and then indirectly that the mortality becomes less and the gain consequently larger for the same amount of work, Would a person calculate further, it will be seen that where thereis now produced 3,000,000 to a price of 16% ore per 1,000, the hatchery will, after the exten- sion, produce the balance of 70,000,000 for 14 ore per 1,000. Taking these numbers into consideration,it must be admitted that if it pays to run a smaller hatchery it will do so to a much greater extent with a larger one. : From one source has been heard the saying that the hatchery in its present extension is large enough, but this is not easy to understand. If the intention was only to supply a single closed-in bay with brood, this assertion may have its reasons, but not when our long-stretched and our depleted fishing coasts are taken into con- sideration. Here may the saying fit in—the more the better. Besides the number of hatched brood, which, according to above statement, causes the said expenditure, one gets for the same money received the work that the manager can perform outside the time of hatching, and which, if he is fit for his position, can be of great importance to the fisheries. In regard to myself, I beg to refer to my experiments with lobsters and oysters, which have cost hardly anything, and consequently, when the building is removed closer to the basins, such work will be performed in a larger degree, as the necessary quantity of water then can be taken from the basins, the contents of which, however, has to be renewed from time to time. In regard to the future work, I wish to propose that after the hatchery is removed and extended the cod hatching be again taken up on the largest possible scale, and then that the experiments with hatching and breeding of lobsters may- be con- tinued on a smaller scale, if possible, to introduce improvements in the method of working. Finally, oyster culture should be tried for two years in the proposed new basin, and their breeding ina similar long period. If the work brings forth good results, which, to judge from work done up to this, is most probable, we may then be able to direct the public as to the most advantageous method in the business, and with this the work of the hatchery may be said to have finished. Later on experiments ought to be made with the breeding of the hatched cod-brood, thus, that it reached a length of about 1 inch before being liberated, and thus much be gained. This breeding ought to be done in a bay separated from the sea of a couple of fathoms’ depth and would hardly cost anything. The most important improvements to overcome the worst difficulties have all been planned, and the rea- son that I will not explain them now is that this question is only for publication when reply has been received (regarding the future of the hatchery and its cause) to these my above proposed plans, 10.—Wuo Pays tHe EXPENDITURE or THE HATCHERY AT FLODEVIGEN. That there appears, in this era of inventions in which we now live, manifold propositions more or less suitable to the assistance of industry, is plain, and it must not be considered asking too much if those making the propositions, and who believe themselves to work for the general good of the people, believe themselves also entitled to some support to have their plans realized. In this they do not succeed well, as the Government, as a rule, and of course, rightly enough, takes a watchful position before new and doubtful enterprises, and only renders its assistance in connection with and on account of the utteranses given on the subject from that quarter which 91 will be benefited by the work. That such an order, referring to the great careful- ness with which, in this country, new ideas are met with, in some single instances may stop or delay the introduction of new improvements, is true, but on the other hand it has many advantages. The issuer of those propositions is then forced to look to the great public, and especially to that class of people he will through his inyen- tion be of most use to, and who understand the thing best of all and its possible practical usefulness. The change of opinions taking place thus between the opposition and the defence opens up his eyes, and causes him to look at the thing from other sides and in a new light. If the plan be practicable, and the inventor has succeeded in convincing the public of this, and its being of great importance to the community, it will seldom occur that it will be dropped for lack of assistance, provided not too much money is required for its realization. The practical experiments then commenced leave the decision altogether to the public. If these fail, the cause will soon be given up by that side; if happy results are met with on the other hand, the cause has gained a place in the practical life and will cause itself to be acknowledged. With these sup- positions I took up the question of artificial hatching of salt-water fish, which, look- ing at the great decrease in our daily fishery, was greatly needed. I turned with my petitions for money contributions, first to private gentlemen and corporations, and not in vain. The income of the hatchery has been, up to the end of 1888, Kr. 43,000—of which Government assistance. 1884, through the Fishery Society................... Kr, 2,000 1885, do do \,) | sisttinaeeeeeeeeee 2,000 1887, de GO: ao caghehs BS Sols ereepeeheren ieee 2,000 NSS uaCOUmbeEArNAMeNt)....c..0.cse>asestesceseeieelersetaey es 2,500 1888, through the Fishery Society................... 3,500 Thus, Government assistance, Kr. 13,000. Private assistance, Kr. 30,000. In this sum is included Kr. 2,000 from the Royal Society for the Welfare of Nor- way. I believe thus to have fulfilled the common rule in a case like this—to have ~ principally, with assistance of private contributions, brought the thing so far that its practicability is proven, when the reasons that caused the construction of the hatchery always are at hand and never, either in foreign countries or here, was there any other or better means found to restore the quantity of fish than artificial hatching. It is plain that the work ought to be continued, and then comes the question, who will in the future have to defray the expenses. The last five years’ statement from the bailiff in Nedeuces shows that the coast district of the bailiwick have together a population of 42,600 inhabitants. If to this is added the poplation of the villages, the total number will be above 50,000 souls who thus can be said to have an interest in the daily fishery. The gain of this, as well as the indirect advantages of a rich supply of fresh fish, is so evenly dealt out that, outside of this, the original fishermen cannot be said to make a great pecuniary gain. On the whole, this matter is of the greatest import- ance. If it is supposed that the above-named 50,000 people form 10,000 families, and each of them uses about 80 ore worth of fish per week, the total amount for the year will amount to 400,000 kroners. This only refers to the bailiwick of Nedeuces. In the country between the Swedish boundary and Lindosuces, along the coast, where the number of inhabitants is about 400,000 individuals, the value of the consumption as above would amount to close upon three and a-half millions, and for the whole country to about six million kroners per annum, It is thus this income which is on the decrease, and which is to be saved. To look to those men who, with such liberality seldom seen, have helped the undertaking over the first and worst difficul- ties, will not do. They have shown their interest in the matter, and this is the onl correct way, namely, by assisting at one time so plentifully that the work could be per- 92 formed in a satisfactory manner. This has, more than anything else, helped to reach satisfactory results. To petition the great public is of no use, as every single indi- vidual, when asked for a pecuniary help, considers the question out of his line; also it is impossible to ask for assistance, by contributions, from the community of sur- rounding villages or districts, when this question is not yet quite clear to the public generally. First there must be such plain proofs produced of the usefulness of the hatchery that all doubts and opposition are silenced; butthis can never be done with the hatchery in its present state. As the daily fishery is of such an enormous importance, and private voluntary contributions to any extent can no longer be expected to run the hatchery in the future, it seems but rea sonable that the Government should now take up the case or rather allow asum yearly sufficiently large to run the hatchery without the help of private people, except what comes in as con- tingencies from the members. This is also the rule for the Fishery Society of Bergen, as well as other branches. That this branch at Arendal is in need of assistance to larger extent is a consequence of its greater operations. In the yearly report for 1884, page xi, the Fishery Society says, in regard to this matter: “Should these experi- ments fail, this allowance will probably be taken away in five years. Ifagain successful there will arise the question to establish similar hatcheries in other places, and as no individual is specially benefitted by it, but the matter becomesan interest of the public generally, and consequently should be kept up by public funds. If the society, by saying public funds means exclusively allowances from the Government, I may say that I cannot agree to that. I know the disposition of the coast inhabi- tants, and feel sure that as soon as the increase of the number of fish through the operation of the hatchery is proven, the different districts will gladly contribute towards the running of the new established hatcheries. But to produce these proofs is in the hands of the Government. For instance, some would say that too much is expected from the Government. I will give a comparative statement between the salmon and fresh-water fisheries on one hand and the daily fish and lobster fisheries on the other. The value of the first named is, if I remember right, put down to about 800,000 kroner per annum, when the income of the daily fishery may be put down to about six and the lobster fishery to about one million, or about seven miilion kronor per annum. ‘The salmon fisheries are pursued principally by well-off persons, while, on the other hand, the daily fishery is what may be called the daily bread of the poorer inhabitants of the coast. The salmon fisheries form, truly enough, a valuable export article, but the same can be said about the lobster fisheries, the amount of both being about thesame. In regard to the daily consumption, then the salmon is a luxury that only comes upon the table of the wealthy, while, on the con- trary the daily fishery forms such a valuable and common industry that, for the coast, inhabitants, it may be considered an article of exigency. The daily fishery may then be said to-he-of far more economical importance to the country than the salmon fishery, a1 “——"1~ sums (in 1888 23,940 k o be asking a yearly a herto neglected daily fi: Fiopevia, F TT i Biological & Medical Serials PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKET UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY