CIHM
Microfiche
Series
(Monographs)
ICMH
Collection de
microfiches
(monographies)
Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian da microreproductions historiques
Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques
The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original
copy available for filming. Features of this copy which
may be bioliographically unique, which may alter any of
the images in the reproduction, or which may
significantly change the usual method of filming are
checked below.
Q
Coloured covers /
Couverture de couleur
I I Covers damaged /
Couverture endommagde
□ Covers restored and/or laminated /
Couverture restaur^ et/ou pellicul^e
nj Cover title missing / Le titre de couverture manque
I I Coloured maps / Cartes g6ographiques en couleur
□ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black) /
Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire)
□ Coloured plates and/or illustrations /
Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur
Bound with other material /
Relie avec d'autres documents
Only edition available /
Seule Edition disponible
Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along
interior margin / La reliure serr^e peut causer de
I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge
int^rieure.
Blank leaves added during restorations may appear
within the text. Whenever possible, these have been
omitted from filming / Use peut que certaines pages
blanches ajout^es lors d'une restauration
apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 6\a\\
possible, ces pages n'ont pas ^t^ filmees.
D
D
D
D
L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a
6X6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exem-
plaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibli-
ographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite,
ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m^tho-
de normale de filmage sont indiqu^s ci-dessous.
[ I Coloured pages / Pages de couleur
I I Pages damaged / Pages endommagees
D
D
D
D
Pages restored and/or laminated /
Pages restaur^es et/ou pellicul^es
B Pages discoloured, stained or foxed /
Pages d^olor^es, tachet^es ou piqu^es
Pages detached / Pages d6tach6es
\sy\ Showthrough / Transparence
Quality of print varies /
Quality in^gale de I'impression
Includes supplementary material /
Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire
Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips,
tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best
possible image / Les pages totalement ou
partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une
pelure, etc., ont 616 filmees k nouveau de fagon h
obtenir la meilleure image possible.
Opposing pages with varying colouration or
discolourations are filmed twice to ensure the best
possible image / Les pages s'opposant ayant des
colorations variables ou des decolorations sont
filmees deux fois afin d'obtenir la meilleure image
possible.
Additional comments /
Commentaires supplemental res:
Page 27 Is incorrectly mmbered page 2.
This item Is filmed at the reduction ratio checlced below /
Ce documei«t est IWmi au taux de rMuction indiqu4 ci-dessous.
10x
14x
18x
22x
26x
30x
1
, 1 .
J
12x
18k
20x
24x
2ax
32x
Th« copy filmad h«r« hat b««n reproduced thanks
to tha ganarosity of:
Queen's University
OocuMnts Library
Kingston
Tha imagat appaaring hara ar» tha bast quality
possjbia considaring tha condition and lagibiiity
of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha
filming contract spacificationa.
Original copias in printad papar covars ara fllmad
beginning with tha front cover and ending on
the last page with a printad or illustrated impres-
sion, or the back cover when appropriate. Ail
other originel copies are filmed beginning on the
first page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, and ending on the last page with a printad
or illustrated impression.
The iaat recorded frame on each microfiche
shall contain tha symbol — ^ (meaning "CON-
TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"),
whichever applies.
Maps, plates, charts, etc.. may be filmed at
different reduction ratios. Those too large to be
entirely included in one exposure are filmed
beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to
right and top to bonom, as many frames as
required. The following diagrams illustrate the
method:
L'exemplaira film* fut reproduit grice A la
g*n«rosit4 de:
Queen's University
DociMents Library
Kingston
Les imsges suivsntas ont «t« raproduites avec la
plus grsnd soin. compts tanu da la condition at
de la nanet* da I'axamplaira film*, at an
conformit* avec les conditions du contrat da
filmaga.
Lea exemplairaa originaux dont la couvarture an
papier est imprimis sont film«s en commanpant
par la premier plat at tn terminant soit par la
derniAre page qui comporta une amprainta
d'imprassion ou d'cltustration, soit par la second
plat, salon la cas. Tous las sutras axamplairas
originaux sont film«s en commanpant par la
premiere page qui comporte une amprainta
d'Impreasion ou d'illustration at an tarmlnant par
la derni*re page qui comporta une telle
empreinte.
Un dee symboles suivants spparaitra sur la
darni*re image de cheque microfiche, salon le
cas: le symbols — ^ signifis "A SUIVRE" le
symbols V signifis "FIN".
Les cartes, plenches, tableaux, etc., peuvent *tre
filmis * des taux de reduction diff*rents.
Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre
reproduit en un seul clich*. il est film* * partir
de rsngle sup*rieur gauche, de gauche * droite.
at de haut an bas, en prenant la nombre
d'imagas nicessaira. Les diagrammas suivants
illustrent la m*thode.
1
2
3
4
5
6
MiatOCOPY KESOlUriON TEST CHAUT
.ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No 2i
2.2
aaar^ '^'J-J Eos* Ma.n Stre*-
^^ ^^16) 482 - 0300 ^ PhoH.
^S (716) 288-59d9 - Tq,
UNIVERSITY IlAURENTIAM
LailBPMVit.-MK.r-l '■riivirnr TV
^^:
N, )
WHITEFISH IN THE GREAT
LAKES
FISH CULTURE IN CANADA
FISHERIES OF PRINCE ED-
WARD ISLAND, MANITOBA
AND
BRITISH COLUMBIA
QDFEN'SuNlu',,,; .-'^
m
dUL3 : ^^'O
REPRINTED FROM THE REPORT ON
LANDS. FISHERIES. GAME AND Mil .RALS
ISSUED BY
THE COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION, CANADA. 1911
J
■H
8
WHITEFISH IN THE GREAT LAKES
BV
C. W. (MUTHIER
FISH CULTURE IN CANADA
FISHERIES OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
BY
E. T. CARBONELL
FISHERIES OF MANITOBA
FISHERIES OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
m
REPRINTED FROM THE REPORT ON
LANDS. FISHERIES. GAME AND MINERALS
ISSUED BY
THE COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION, CANADA. 1911
OTTAWA ROLLA L. GRAIN CO . LIMITED
r X
wmrKi-isii IN I mi: (iUKAT i,\ki;s
Hy (' W (i VI I iiiKU
/' lias (. 'siild-ii! II, siiiilil, III i.liliitii I III fiiii\> .,/ Ill, I r/ii III III I 'I
iijn rill, I ,111 this siihjii I, III,, I Mr. (iivillm r l.iiiilh) i nnsi iilnl In i milrihiili
Iht liilli'ii-iitij ,irliil, Ills rii ii\ nri suhmilli il fur i ,,i,siili niliini.
Kditor
In '•nrif,i.li|-iiit; tile i|ii.sl mil nf tin- su|)|(l\ iiC wliilctisli III tln' filial
li'l^ ^ till' I '.:ii;ii';,iliilion.s lumir liy I'riihk N Chirk, of llic I'liitcd Stjili-,s
Kish ((iiiHiiissi..:.. lit Hie liifi'iiiatinnnl l•'islll•^i(■^ ( '(i,i\ciiti(iii Iii'|<| at
Wasliii :l'I..i, i • S(|ili'niliir. IIMtS. m-,. 'vortliv d' attfiition. .Mr. (lark,
who is an cNiicrt fish lulliirist. riTdtiiniciHliMl tliat rmiu tw.i fi. tiv.- I.MIi >n
wiiitclish frv he |no|iiii.iitiil yearly on x-,\v\\ siilr id' tlic (iri'al hikes, tind
stHti'il that, it' tills Wi'i-i' iluni'. tlic lisli uipiiiij smiii licciniif as ahuiiijaiil as
ill II ruiiT yi-ai-s, lie also rt'conmu'inleil tiiat tlif [ircsfiif liati'licrii's In-
fiihtiirfd and m-w oin s having larRi' I'apaiity hi- huilt. so tliat a I'lose
si'asoti would be practicullv iiiiiii ssary. The artiiifial propajfation and
introdui'liiiii nf whit.'fish into lake Kric and tlie Detroit river, he sjiid. had
itu-reased the raich in I'eeeiit years, lie lielieved that, if h i-lose season
must lie enl'oreed, it should lie ehanned tmiii Noveinher to ,|ii|y and
Aujjnst, when the wati r is warm and the Msh. eonseipiently. are in poor
eoiiditioii tor the market, Hon. Seymour Mowers, of the Mielii(;an Fish-
eries Commi.ssioii, f'rof. ••■Miies Nevin. of the Wisconsin Fish Commis-
sion. I'rof DnwiiinK. m I'nited States Fish Commission, and the
ma.jority of tliii.se preset. ,^reed with the views ahove quoted.
The principal causes for the depletion of whitelisli in the (ireat lak^s
are n The use of larj;e nunihers of ^ill nets set upmi the feediii-'
grounds in deep waters, where they eateli only the whitelisli and trout:
(2i the soft fish which fre(iuent the shnilov.- water arc not cnu<rlii in these
deep water nets; conseipienti.x when the whitetish eoii;e into tiie sliallow
waters to spawn, these soft tish such as herrinsr. mullets, pike, perch and
pickerel, prey upon the c^'u's ii I upon the yoiiiij? wliitefish.
The remedy I'or ,|iis de|)letioii is th- Iniihriijf of new hatcheries and
tlie cnliir^'cmenl of present hatcheries t - make it possible to iiicrea.sc the
output to two billions of whiteti,sh fry yearly, for the (ireat lakes The
use III' pound nets should be eneonrap'd because these nets can be set only
in slmal waters and will catch larpre i|Uaiititics of the aforemeiitiencd soft
fish and pickerel, wliicli prey upon the whitetish and their cs;j;s The
takintr ashore of all fish causrht in the pound nets, except imtiiatiire white-
4 (.OMMISSKiN "»■ roNSI in ATloV
HMh Hhoul.l Ik. .n... ..npulm.iy. The pr..|m»Ht.o„ of Kah,,..,, tr.u.t hI.ouM
I., aiwontii,!..-.! »n tlu-v Hr.- of !.■«. .•oiMMMT.-inl vhIu.. than wlut-tisi, . mI
..o:; t..i. ti....-H ,no.v p.-r .oillion to propn^Htr. Wl,.i. trout hiv o.Htur...
fhrv .l!-v..ur til. whif.-tWi. lK>tli Kfown aii.l iiMiMHtuir,
Y! • 1-Hk.- Kri.' a.i.l Detroit Riv.-r whiti'tmli ar.' Ilif llii.Nt .p""l'»> '"
North AM...ri.a. I.-mo!^ th.- whit.'Mt in ...lor hihI th.' ll.i.Kt in Havonr. Km
thiN r..«Ho... a. M.u.h Hpawn an poH.ihl.- nhouhl he .olh-.t.-.l e«.;h year tn.m
the HHherieK ih U'M Krie an.l Detroit river for prop>««' ti'Mi m the hat-li-
..rien f. repleniHh the «i...i» Inken. With proper arranReuient m-vernl
hun.lrea ...illioMH of whiteilHh eKKS eouhl he ohtaine.l en.l. vear. In tonn.r
vearM. nmnev han heen Hpent in pro.M.rin^ e»r«s of inferior ..ual.ty tron.
'the bav of (ininte, TheHe e««H were H..nt f. Sa.ulwieh hatehery for pro-
paKHtion. when Hutlieient e^^K ..r K..o.i MUHlitv eouhl have h. .htan.e.l
frou. the Detn.it riv.-r to Irnv .n.phlely tiih.l the San.iw.eh an- Sam..
hateheries an.l for h-.H n, y per million than w«h spent .n ohta.n.ng
eRg8 fro„. the hay <.t' liuinte. The a.nount ohtame.l from the hay <■.
Liuinte was 8.. small that the Sarnia hatehery was elose,! during 1! 0.) • -A
U,e «a.ulwieh hatehery ha.l to operate at only partial eapoe.ty In three
years I'tOl 1«t)2 an<l lilOT. ninety million e(j(fs were sent from the Detroit
Rive^ Hsheries to the Selkirk. Manit.-lm hatehery. where the whitefish are
worth to the ;.shern.an <.nly :»e. per 11... while, aeeonhuK to the reports o
the Department of Marine an.l Fisheries, they are worth loe 1 ere. This
wUl show the ..e..essity for the enlargement of our pres.M.t hatelu J.es an.l
will "" "« TM ..o,(MMI.()()() eu'Rt! ^u\ out of th.- Pro-
the estahlishmei't ( t new ones, as in« . ", . r
vin,.e were badlv uee.le.l in (ieorgian hay. In the years 1H97. IWl. 1006
1.11908 eggs wen. n..t supplie.l to the Selkirk hatehery. nor were the>
^upp ed to tt Kerens River hatehery in Vm. S.^ew eggs w. .'e pro-
S for the Selkirk hatehery that only 2H9...rH).0O0 fry was le toj^
output for sixteen years, while the eapae.ty for that time was
1,440,000,000 eggs. . • , a.i.
The whitefish of the Gre.it lake:, is the n.ost valuable eommereia fish
iuCana.l«. Those weighing 4-. " -''VrT :," "'l^o falent
to $30 per 100 lbs. an.l an- use.l ..« plank.'H whitehsh. The l^JP"^™
sL'ad obtai.. eggs from the large variet.v and P-pagate t.,em or marke
in laree eities The Department shoul.l have the advice of a practical
expeTnct fisherman /one who is thoroughly versed in he varion
Ss of fish, their habits, the l..-Rlities which they frequent, the kinds
rnttsused in the Great lakes and rive,., and the Propa^;^>; ^ X
servation of the most valued kinds of fresh-water fish. The t^^* """J^^
Ton should be the building of hatcheries and t^-/'^^^™ '^^l;^*^.
hatcheries and the svstematic gathering of spawn, yearly. The IXpan
men? hTsnevn. placed whiteHsh fry in lake Superior, fieorgian bay. or
The Manit^ulin Island district, and has planted iu the southern portion of
I
U III I I I ISM IN I in- C.UI- \ I l.\M s »
Inkf llurori diirii.jf Mir piixt tm >ciirH the t'rv frnni nnlv :{.<XX) Huh K<>r
flu' ii|i|i<T liikcH. Iml^liiTitu MJHiiilil lie I'Htal'lixhfil iit I'orf Arttmr. Stiult
Stf Miirif. ('olliiijfwood. Ovviii Sound hikI S(iutliiim|it<>ii Tlu' hntilifry
at Winrtoii Mliotdd |>r<>|m!ratc wliittHKli fUfpt otdy In tln' pnut, tliin
hHli'hi'n liiis |irii|iM^uti-d Miilriiipii trinit. fhf inoht vontcii)\iM tit" Huh. whifh
di'VDHfN Hotli yoiiiii,' Hnd iimtiiri' wliitcfish.
For lnk«'s Krir iind nniniii), Jmtilicrii'M xlioiilil Im- fHttil»li»ht'd ut
KiiiWNvilli'. tiiid Ht one III- tvvi. ..th.-r plmcH hihIi hh llHiiiiltdii. I'urt Hope.
Kiti(fMtoti or Itfllcvillc.
Tlic wriftT foiild tliis vfiir providi- 2.iMm.iHM),tNHi or iipwHrilH of
wliitctiMli .-iftpt Ht li'Hs tlinii oiu- li. • ■ the rout per niillioii. on thf Hvt'rtiKf.
than liHH lift-n fxpiMidi'd diirintt lit- past v\g\\t ycai-H to pnividi- an in-
sutHfii'iit ipuintity for thi' Samlwich and Sarnia hatchiTicM.
DiiHinr ihf .)aKl lour yi-arn. aliout 8().(HM» whit»'Hnh have \m't\ i-auKht
in thf Imy of (Jiiintf. The rm-ky and Kravcl bt'a<hi'H h.vv ho injured tht-n*-
titth that only aliouf l^.'i.dOO.IMK) ^^|t^!H were pr«Mii-i'd innttad of thn !I(K),-
fMKt.OIMt « hicii that nninlM r of finh nliould liavc yichii'd. Thfw t'dt^M, takt'ii
from Hsh of Iht inftiior dark-scali' varifty. were hrouifht at iinnt'oHwiry
pxppiisc ti) ihc Sandwiih hatchcrN . TliiH Murdy sIiowh inisiiianaiT'iiicnt.
when liiri;<' ipiafititics of Nupcrioi (Hudity were ohf«inal)h' from the
Detroit river, at the very dmu-M of the Sanilwieli hatriiery, especially ax
egftH from an inferior (piality flxh aueii as those of lake Ontario 'on! !
not he plaiitetj amon>f the Hnest tjuality whitetiah in Canada, wli^ hey
will iiierease in numlM-rs to the detriment of the Hupeiior fj.ieeies. -inR
the same four years, the Department planted in lake l^ntario r'ie progeny
of less than eight hundre<l whiteflsh.
The inereased eateh of whitetisli in reee ii > -ars in 'al-i Urie and the
Detroit river is priwf of the benefit of liatel. . s. there heiiiK no doubt
that the increase i.s the result of the deposit of fry from the .Sandwich
hatelury. Some lakes show depletion on account of no deposit of fry.
while in otiiers the deposit has been so inadequate as to be of little benefit.
The amount of fish caught by Americans in lake Krie has been much
greater than tl.e ainoiuit caught by Canadians. This is partly t.ue to
there In-ing fewer restrictions placed on the Americans, and partly to
the fact that Americans have propagated and deposited more fry in
their fishing grounds.
In order to understand present conditions and the means for remedy-
ing the depiction, I beg to give the following figures taken from the
Annual Report.s of the Department of Marine and Fisheries. .\ com-
parison of the catch of whitefish shows an increa.sed catch out of lake
Winnipeg in 1909. The value of the whitefish to the Winnipeg fishermen
is only :{c. per lb. All the whitefish that come from lake Winnipeg and
6 COMMISSION OF CONSKKX ATION
lake Winnipefrosis nro i-aught in a lake area of about 4,000 s(|UHrr miles,
as compared with :ir).000 siiuare n.ili-s of Canadian waters in lakes Super-
ior. Huron, Erie. Ontario and (ieoririaTi ha.v. The Manitoba Fisheries
Commission, in its recent report, reeoininended the eiilarginjr of the old
and the huildiiiR of additional h;iteheries in Manitoba. The i-apaeity of
the three hatcheries now in operation in that province is ;{00.000,000
whitetish eggs. If the reeoininendations of the Coinniission are carried
out. it will probably result in one billion eggs being propagated yearly
for the waters of Manitoba. In recent years, as few as twenty-five,
thirty, forty and less than fifty million whitefish fry have been pro-
pagated yearly. This year about seventy-five million have been pro-
pagated in the 36,000 -([uare miles of water constituting the Great lakes
of Ontario. Seventy-five per cent, of the fry were liberated into lake
Erie and Detroit river, which waters in recent years show a steady in-
crease in catch.
The following statement shows the catch of whitefish in lake Winni-
peg ami tributary waters:
18()(; 2,871.5:19 pounds
j,«09 2.5-1.7.041 "
1900 1.974,020 "
1909 :5.468.100 "
Contrast the above with the great decrease in the five Great lakes
of Ontario.
Ig90 7,r)9r).692 pounds
1894 4,598.972 "
lg99 2,926,035 "
1905 2.895.170 "
1906 '.'. 3.545.100 "
1908 4.076.643 "
The increased catch of whitefish in the last two years is partly ac-
counted for by the larger catch in lak.- Erie, which rose from 204.322 lbs.
in 1890. to 826.189 lbs. in 1908. The Department of Marine and Fisher-
ies values the whitefish caught in the five Great lakes at lOe. per lb. and
the total catch, of all kinds of fish out of said lakes decreased froin
33.328.433 lbs. in 1892 to only 22.572.300 lbs. in 1905. Of this decrease
about one-half was in the catch of whitefish.
The need of propagation a.id liberation of fry in the waters of cer-
tain localities where the greatest depletion has occurred will be apparent
from a comparison of the catch for the several years, out of the various
lakes.
On the American side of the lakes, the fishermen do not pay license
fees, and there is no limitation to the number of nets used. They prop-
WHITEFISll IN THI-; GRKAT LAKI'.S <
agate a minli largt-r (luaiitity of whitetisli fry With the result that thev
fatch more fisli. In ISitf). the average catch per man on the Arnericau
side of lake Krie was 7.00(1 jlis. more than the catch of the Canadian fish-
erman out of the same lake.
Following is a comparison of amounts taken on the American and
Canadian sides of the (Jreat Lake Fisheries:
Amehic.^n Side
1880 6X.742.;iOO ll)s,
1885 !t;».S42.00() "
1889 117.0sr).r)68 "
18f)9 11:{.17S.7.")0 "
Total. 4 vears .. :{!W.848.118 "
C.WADIAN Sn)E
l].47:$,0001bs.
27.2!t8,0OO "
82,169,082 '•
28.677.691 "
9<t,61 7,728 ■•
The la.st r. S. Census report for
catch of tish ill the (ireiit lakes and
lake Krie is not jivailaMc at the
time of writing.
1892 88,828.488 lbs.
1902 26,912,66") "
1908 27,614,295 "
1909 28,670,861 "
Total for 8 vears hv Canadians out of the five (ireat lakes. 216. 148,477
Tiie following shows the decrease in Canadian whitcfisli catches in
various waters :
L.XKK SiPF.RIOR
1890 978.400 Ihs.
1894 991.888 "
1907 800.640 ' '
Decrease from 1890 to 1907 677.760 "
Georoi,\n B.w .v.M) Lake Hi'ron
1890 5.940.800 Ihs.
1894 2,697,0.86 "
1905 1,073.030 "
1907 1,162,660 "
Decrease from 1890 to 1907 4,778,140 "
COMMISSION- OK CONSKKX ATION
Georgian Bay
1890 2.966.000 lbs.
1900 818,420 "
1907 293,240 "
Decrease from 1890 to 1907 2,672,760 "
North Channel, Lake Huron
1890 2,532,800 lbs.
1907 293,240 "
Decrease from 1890 to 1907 2,239,560 "
Lake Huron Proper
1890 442,000 lbs.
1907 81,820 "
Decrease from 1890 to 1907 360.180 "
The Sandwich hatchery established in 1876 has. during a period of
thirty-five .vears, liberated only about 1.400,000,000 whitefish fry. most of
whicli have been for Detroit river and lake Erie. A mucli larger ()uantity
should have been propagated for these waters. That even tliis amount
has been beneficial, may be seen in the increased catch of wiiitefish in
recent years from Detroit river and lake Erie as shown in the following
tables :
Detroit River Catch of Whitepish
1896 19,500 lbs.
1900 9,126 "
1901 20,721 "
1906 30,800 "
1907 150,000 "
1908 140,000 "
1909 175,000 "
Increase from 1900 to 1909 of 165,874 "
i
w iiiTi-.i'isii IN rm: GKf AT i..\Ki:s ••
liAKi: Erie < aici! of Wuiteiisii
ISOO 2(U.;i:{2 11)8.
1!I0S 8:{0.180 "
Increase in catch of 62:),8:)7
It" we take llie <rrcat increase in the catcli ol' tisli in tiie state of
Michigan from .TIJU.HGS llis. in 18!)2 to .')().464.(l()0 in 1906. as a criter-
ion, it is prolinblc tlnit tlie yearly catcli hy Americans in recent years has
been about 1:!(),(H»0.II(»() lbs. annually, while the Canadian catch in HM).')
was only 22.r)72..'{00 lbs. and, in lODK. only 28,670.:!61 Ib.s. The following
statement shows the catch in the waters of lake Michijran. which is about
one-third the area of the Great lakes of Ontario, and also the catel- in the
Canadian (ireat lakes:
L.vKE Michigan Canapia.v Lake><
1885 27,2fl4,!t75 lbs. 27,778,100 lbs.
1892 ;53,7U,868 " ;j;U28,433"
1905 44.:{26,00(t •• 22,572,:{00 "
1906 ,-)0.4fi4,0n(» •' 2:<,141.8:}0 "
Total 4 years . 155,799,84:1
106.820,66;!
The fishermen of Miehif^an caught far more whitetish and salmon
trout— tiie best kinds of fi.sh— than the Canadians. The Americans plant-
ed several times more whitetish fry in lake Krie than the Canadians.
Following is a comparison of the catch of whitetish in lake Krie:
A.MEKI(A.\ Ca.wdiw
1880 :{.:]:!;!.80() ll)s. 205,090 lbs.
1885 :i..5:n.855 " 186.080 "
1889 :w2;}.772 " ;}06.2i:{ "
1899 2.066.314 " 431.022 "
Total 4 years . 12,245,741
1.128,405
The Department of Marine and Fisheries expended for the propaga-
tion of British Columbia salmou, and Atlantic salmon more than one
thousand dollars per million fry on the average, and these fish are not so
valuable per pouml as the whitetish in the (treat lakes of Ontario, which
may be propagated ui large hatcheries at a cost of less than .1i70 per
10
( o^!MiSS■l )N' ' )!•■ i.ONSI:k\ \ I II i\
inillioM I'ty. A fait jirohiilil.v not known to the pnhlii' is that IJritish
Coln!M!>ia siilmon live only four yt-ars, and deposit their eggs only onee
(luring their lifetii-ie. averaging .'{.MOO eggs to a tish. The whitelish lives
fifty to one hundred years and yields ;{r),()()0 eggs yearly and is more
valuable per pound tiian the Hritisli Colunihia saluiou.
Ill eonelusioii. I wouM say that niiieli remains to he done under
systeniatie l)iisinesslike management to arrest the rapid depletion of the
whitefish, our most valuable tish. I liave conelusively shown (<») the
value of hateheries, in the comparisons given above lietween the
Anieriean and ("anadian fisheries, and also between the lakes of Manitoba
and Ontario; (It) that the expense of operating small hateheries is
greater in proportion than would be the expense of hateheries of larger
eapaeity. and. (c^ also that tliere is great need of larger hateheries
run at full capiu-ity. Further, 1 have indicated where it is alisolutely
i-ertain that eggs from the finest species of whitefish in Canada can be ob-
tained ill gnat (|nantities. and that there is an actual need for propagat-
ing all fry obfainabli . i have no hesitaiiey in stating that the subordin-
ates of the Department refused to obtain eggs from Detroit River fisher-
ies at one-third the expense per million which they paid at lake Ontario
and, in conse(|Uenee. the hatcheries were often only half filled. In recent
.vears a number of incorrect reports have been given to the Department
and this statement can be verified by reference to the Blue Book.
1 have also recommended the use of a larger iniiiiber of pound nets
and fewer gill nets. In addition to reasons above given, the loss of fish
caught in gill nets during stormy weather is very great. To my own
knowledge. 19.r)()0 whitefish have been lost in two lifts of about 80 gill
nets at George island, lake Winnipeg. These nets could not be lifted
because of storm, weather, and thousands of fish decayed in them.
According to the last two reports of the Department of Maritie and
F ishcries. Parliament voted $6-14.600 for fish iireeding, of wliieli the
department expended !}!.'{70,')08 leaving an unexpended balance of $273,-
6;t2. I strongly recommend that all money left unexpended be used
solely for the purpose of the propagation of whitefish fry for the Great
lakes of Oiitario. since they are the most valuable commercial fish in
Canada.
WnrjEFISir AKKAS in TIIK (iREAT l.AKKS
The ii(M'onii)aii.ving ninps of wliitefish areas in the (ireat lakes are
reproduced from an article by Paul Reigliard, of the Tniversity of
Michigan, on "A Plan for Promoting the Whitetish Production of the
Great Lakes."* In explanation of the maps the author makes the fol-
lowing statements:
"In the accompanying maps we have attempt "ti to indicate the
extent of the whitetish areas f(.r each of the (Sreat Lakes. These are the
areas within which the fishermen find the whitetisli when carrying on
(iomiuereial fishing operations at other times than during tii- fall and
spring migrations. They are the areas over whiirli it is, or has been,
profitable to fish and outside of which the whitetish is found in relatively
smafl numbers. The maps have been made by tracing the appropriate
fathom lines on the I'nited States engineer charts of the (ireat Ijakes.
They are sutlticiently explained in the legends attached to them. In the
following table we have given the wliitefish areas for each of the Great
Lakes together with the e..tent in scpiare miles of the lakes themselves.
These whitetish areas have been obtained by measuring with a planiraeter
the areas plotn-d on the maps. The lake areas are taken from H. M.
Smith. 1894.
AbKA ok E.\C11 of TFIE GUE.VT L.VKES. WlIITEFISIl AREA OF EACH, AND
Percentage of Whitefish Area
Lake Superi r .
Lake Michigan .
Lake Huron . .
Lake ICric
Lake Ontari>, .
Ti.tal. . . .
ri>tal arc
I
Whit
L>fis!i area
W
hit
■fish .Xre.T
|uare mi
Ic
S|u
ire Mites
.12.000
7,^00
22.000
2.600
12
2 1 ,000
1.400
!.s
') ,i00
1,100
l.i
6,.i00
2.200
S4
<) ! ,000
,;oo
•' It is to be noted that tlic area occupied by the ♦rue whitefish is rela-
tively least in Lake Michigan, where it forms but 12 per cent, of the lake
area. Lake Erie comes next with a whitefish area 14 per cent, of its total
area, if the eastern part of tlie lake only is iHken. but if the western plat-
fr-"^ of Lake Erie be incluiled over depths of 12 to W fathoms, its white
• Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, Vol. XXVIll. i> 64.';.
i
u
COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION
fieh area is raified to 4,100 square miles, or 4.} per cent, of that whole area.
Whitefish are taken on those parts of the platform of suitable depth, but
in relatively small numbers.
"An examination of the whitetish areas as platted on the accompany-
ing maps tends to strengthen this view of tlie local habit of the whitefish.
In Lakes Superior. Ontario and Michigan wc see this area siretcliing in a
relatively narrow /one along the whole shore. This zone incloses a cen-
tral area of deeper water which separates the whitefish area of one side of
the lake from that of the other side and is probably never crossed hy these
fish. Within it ocfur the blackfins and longjaws. In Lake Huron we see
a similar i^ondition of affairs for the main lake, but in Georgian Bay we
find the 'greater part of the area taken up by whitefish grounds. Here the
deep wafer is not central in the whitefish area but is displaced toward the
southwest so as to leavv the marginal whitefish area very narrow on one
side of the lake and very broad on the other side. In the North Channel
of Lake Huron a continuous whitefish area occupies its center uninter-
rupted by a deeper middle water. In this lake the reef which cuts
obliquely across the main lake is said not to harbor whitefish in com-
mercial quantities and not io afford them spawning ground. It is, there-
fore, not included in the whitefish area, although of suitable depth, and
its extent is indicated on the map in outline only."
TORONTO
OalniUr
HAMILTON
w
1
1
^ ■'"'"li^^lVhjd^^
^-^^fe
"=-3^
1
"■>*— ^^
iE^mtmu'wn of <£<tn«rniaKmi
Cmtadic
i
LAKE ONTARIO
Whitefish aroa (shown in black) 10-20 fathoms
Scale, 33 miles = 1 inch
1
1
(R«produci<l from "Plans for oromet'ng the Whitatish Production
of tlw QrMi UUtM", in Bull. XXVIII. U. S. Burmu of FishwiM
i
«■
I
LAKE ERIE
Whlt«<ith tfM ((hown m black) 12-30 fathoms
Seal*, SS milM^il inch
(INpreduoM from "Pl«m for pramotlna ttw WMMtith ^roduoflen
of tiM OrMi LakM", In lull. XXVIII U S. lurMU of FItlMriM
J
;
-iii?'^,t
3
:
IMlluth
9
;p»*;5^
'^M
^9
FisFi ( riTnn: i\ ( anada
During tl,.' |.iist y.iir l.^•.>^,L>^2.(|(t.l iVy w.r.' pliuit.,! i,, ( iniH.lu.u
WHft'rs t(y tlif Doiiiiriioii fish liiitc-licrics. Soirif idcii of tlir .xti.Msii.n of
this work may !>.• Iinil if \v«. nniiiiilMT fliat tlif ihiimImt of fn plinit.'.! in
IfMC) wax U27.r>41. (»(»(>. whil,. ji, |<mH) it a>ri<>iintr<l to only 2ti">.:t41.<NiO
Notwithstanding the tiiocnions out|nil of oiir hHt( Ijfiit's in 1"MI!I. \\,-
I'annof yet rival the pnidiicfioii of those of tlu^ I'nit.Ml Stat.s which, in
that y.jir. planffd .I.IOT.IMI.HK) fry.
PRY PRODUCED BY nOMIMON (i<)VERN..ii:NT HATCHFRIFS
{(H)0 omitted I
"^'''^ "•■' l.(»7(»
lf^T4 5,0
'^"' 1.570
i'*"^ »,6r,:)
1*^77 ];{4;,]
l^'f^ 27,042
I«7!t 21.fiN4
ISHO 21.01:;
1881 22.!t4!t
18S2 .")r).7<l!t
18S;{ K{.7^4
l«8-» 5:i.l4:{
l'*^"''' SI, 067
18S() 7fi.714
1887 70.27;;
1888 88.10!t
188!) 47,fif,,,
lS!tO 1(0 2]o
l^^'l '.'...'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 115772
1^"2 1H5.!t5I»
'^^':i 258,:{14
18!)4 2.')4,ftl0
189.") 294,040
1896 202.459
1897 ^.a-io
1898 192.477
1899 222,:}.50
1 oMMISSION Ol' (()NS|;KV Al ION
l!tl»l
1!MI2
l!M);i
l!lt)4
1 !»().")
VMM
271,!t!»6
2<):{,.">4t)
2i\:m
:»14 57«
47:t.2.'.M
()27..')41
Gr.7.!)2.->
Hl:».!t7!i
()S2..')4.'>
I'lOii 1.(I24.2V2
Tin- iiiiiiiIm !■ of luiti'licrics in opi-ratioii. of course, sliows h i-orivs-
poiidiinf in.iiiis.'. Ill IIMKI. tluTi- ..frf 12. in 1!H».'>, 2M. iiiui lust Vfiir flu-
miiiilicr was :!". in other wonis, tlie number of iiatelieries in ten veiii>
has increased l>\ neariy 2H) per cent., ami tlie output hy alioiit 27ti per
cent,
Tlic ;fi.vcri.n]eiit fisli and lolistcr liatcluries are locat.-d tliroufliciut
tlie |)i>iililiion as fdllows :
I HI Nova Scotia: Medl'ord. Windsor. Martjarec. I!a.\ View. Caiiso
I))) New Hruu.s\vicl<: Resti^roiidie. MirHiiiiehi. (irand KallH. Sliippi
(ian. Sliemoj^ue.
(CI Prince Kdward Island; Kelly poiiil. ChHrlottetown. (ieoiyetown.
((h (jnebei'; MaKojr, lac Treinhlant. Tadoussac. (ias|)e. lake Lester.
St. AlfxiH.
(o) Ontario: Ottawa. Newcastle. Sandwich. Wiarton. Sariiia.
(f) Manitoba: Selkirk. Hereiu river.
igi Mritish Coluniltia : (intiiite creek, Skeeiia river. Harrison lake
IVnihcrton. Kivcrs inlet. Malune, Stuart lake, Ninipkish.
The total e.vpeiiditure in liHMt on tisli culture in Canada vvas iflSO.-
:U-'). The amount voted for this purpose was !ti;?22.:il)0: so that appro.xi-
luately 'y6 per cent, of t!.e authorized aiiioiiiit was expended. The
expenditure for each i)rovince. and the nniiil'er of hatcheries in each, was
as follows:*
KXl'KNOITrKK NO. (IK IIATCI IKKIKS
Nova Scotia ^ l."i.722 ■'>
New Mriiiiswick .
Prince Kdward Island
(Quebec
Ontario
Manitoba
21.102 •>
S.liiO :l
10.202 H
22.614 '>
14.386 :t
British Coliiiiibia 66.S47.
Oeneral Account .
• Cents omttted.
12,240
ms^w*r^-'-^:m
FISHKUIKS OK 1»UIN( K KDWAUI) ISLAM)
My K. T. Cakmonki.i,
Sirnlaii/ of till Fisli Hint (iomi I'mli i linn A inlii
liisiintor of I'rinci Lthiiinl Islii iil
mill
uiimp
Althi)ii(fli tlif 111(11 of I'riii.i- Kilwiinl InIiiiicI Ih .(iiiiiuiralivclv nimhII.
♦Ii«' i'i''"i Icrivcd from iInIi ami ifniiit', when I'dhMidiTnl in I'DiiiKM'tinri
with tile una. c si'ccds that id' must of the other proN iriciN of the
Doniiiiioii. Still, tli.' prcsfiit valiu of the tisli and tiamc to the I'roviiicf
is hut a frai'tioiial part of that \.lii h it most asHiindly woidd In- if prop.r
corisi i vatio!i rricasiirt's wvv iidopt.'d
Tht' Droviiiic of Prim I Kdward JNlaiid Imik an iM-ran lappid shorf of
ahoiit tlir«'f hundred and eighty miles, intersected by nuiiieroUN hays, and
inarsh-hordered ereeks and tidal rivers, [t is studded with hoth fresh-
water and salt water ponds and nunierouH small lakes. These natural
advantajfes make it not otdy the ideal habitation for many speeips of
food (ish and resident sranie birds, but also the most attraetive restinR
place and feedintr (fround for wild >r<'f'se. hrant and other migratory
frame birds on their northern and southern flijfhts.
rnf(»rtunately for the I'rovince. neither the food fish, tin- gamp fish
nor tlie jfame birds are is plentiftil as they were thirty or forty years aj?o,
o\vin(f. doubtless, to the suicidal polii-y which lias been followed, of catch-
ing and killiiifT all that was i)ossible in any manner and at any time
opportunity offered. The food fish and crustacea are liecnmintr scarcer
each succeeding year. F.ast year the output showed a decrea.se in
value of ,tl81,Of)7.r)6 from the ])revious year. (In the other hand, the
eanip fish and game birds durintr the past five years have shown a great
increase in numbers in consefpiencc of the incrca.sed measure of proti-c-
tion they have received duriniLr those years. This is a .stronjr argument
in favour of the con.servation of all fish and Hiw>"
Game Fish
Salmon '''''*' industry of salmon fishing is but little attended to
in this Provi?ice. the catch last year being less than 'i.OCH)
pounds. Tliere is a hatchery at Kelly pond maintained at a cost of
nearly $2,000 a year, from which hundreds of thousands of salmon fry
arc distriliuted among the various rivers. Last season over one million
were so placed. Every fall the rivers of the I'rovince are invaded with
vast numbers of salmon, which go np the rivers to spawn. These .ire
the genuine salmo sahr, which retur-; to the salt water after snawr.in.
I'l
IMISSli iN < il II iN'SI \i\ \ 11' iN
uihI ill) ii"t th.ii ilif iiiii liiitily. an in fhf imki' with tli.' wilinoii
on thf I'Hfitlr .•imst. I 'iilnrtiiiiiit.lv. Imt v.ry iVw wilnioii ar.> t.iiiptfil
to fiitiT till- ihliinil wiitiis iluriiijr tl |"ii hihmom when tlu-ir fliuli Ih kimh!
for ( I; for tliiTf iiti' no HuriiiK-wati-r rivcm on the Uhiml ulii.h thf>
cHii poHMihly r.iiili to .l.iin thiMiiHflviH. iin in N'l'W HniiiHwi.k iiml Novii
Scotiii. Thr only Hiiliiioii tiiki'ii. tlnTi'forr. lire thow <ii|itiiriMl in lu-tx
(,.1'th*' .•xpoM.'.i hfiKlliiMilN, with tl xi'i'pliori of the frw spviit tixli wlii.h
Hri- takfit ill tin- Nprintr of tin- ytur in thi- Morell rivi-r whii.' on tlifir wny
to thf Hitit WHi.T ThiHf IInIi ivmiily tiik.' rith.-r thr tly or Iwil. hut iir.'
unfit for fooil (Iwiiiir to thf iintunil <■ litioiiN. nothing ••tin h.- .h>rii' to
rt-ndiT thlK induNtry of iiny jtrntt viiluiv It is vrry .lonl>tful if ••vm the
plHi'inu of ti(*h\vnys in tin- ilaniN wouiil l.f of inurh valui' ho far as tin-
MiltMon tiMluTv is foniMTnttl.
During thr Hinnimr niontliN tlir tiilai rivi is ol' tlir riovincf
^'■°"' ar.' iiihaliiti-.; hy tff'at iiumhcrs of tin- hraiitiful Oni-nlaiid
tnnit (Canada salt-watrr trout i. Th.-si' tish otT.-r .'V.-ry possiM.' indii.'i'
nicnt to tiic aii({lfi-. as thi-y ar.' nii roiis and jraiiicy. whih- thrir flish.
whiili is a hrijrht nddish pink, is a f.'mit .l.-li.-a.y Thi-y vary in wtiKlit
from half a pound to thri'f |)ounds t-arh. DuriiiR th.- last tivf years
tiiey have hc.-ii fairly well prote.'te.l. and. in eons«M|Uenee, they iiave
vastly inereased in nuiuhers in spite of the larKf eatehes that liav.' heen
iimde. The niill-poiiilH of the Island and th.' str.'ains aliove the dams
on the rivers are tille ' with the ofTspriiiK of the (ir land troni whi.'h
were iniprisoneil when (he dams were er.-eted. These tish, hein^ preveiil.-d
by the dams from makinjr their annual pilKrini'ires to the sea. have de
teriorated so mu.-h as to have ht me of little or i... value, eitiier as a
game tish or as an artiele of food. Not only have their gainey eharacter
isties heen lost, hut their liodies have Iteeome soft and slimy. Their flesh.
having lost its firmness and hri^ht pink eolour, hait In'eome flahhy and
of a dirty white hue. with no trace of the origina'. delieate taste. An
eftieient fi.shway ere.'ted in every dam would permit thes.- tish to make
their needed trips to the .sea and in one season they would iv.'iiperat.'
and thus HKaiu hecome of value.
The streams ahove the dams rei|uire to lie stoeked with the fry of
brook trout, or other fresh-water tish, and. if the hat.'hery at Kelly
pond were to be devot.'d to the hatehiiiK an.l distributing of .sueh tish.
it would he doiiif? a miieh more valuable work than it does now in liat.li
ing salmon from wliieh the Island receives little or no b.'iiefit.
The dates at which the sea trout make their appearance in th.' iii,.lcr
nientione.l harbours, or begin to ascend the rivei-s nam.-d below nr.'
approximately as follows :
Chnrlottetown harbour May 2-ttn.
Rustieo harbour >1«.^ '•''^''-
FISHKIIFS Of I'lUVl I IDU AKI) ISI.Wf) ,;
New l,<)iii|i(ii |inr(M>iir .May |„j
•SouriM h„rh,,„r ; .' ; 'fimt spring ti.l.N i,, Mhv
• '"■'^"" """ .Mhv r.th
f " '■""'•■ '""••...•..■ Kirxt spri„i, ti.l... H, .M,.v
'J"""* •■'^'••- Fun.. iHf
Kiisf iiH.I \V,.Nt riv.-i-M .fiihr L'fith,
K.irtiM,.. riv..,- „M,I I{m||„ I,„v Kin-t .N,,ri„i, ti,|..> ,„ .\:„v
"'"''■'• 'I*''- Iiilv iL'tll
•'^'"•■'1' ""■<■ (.1-,. L'llth
WI,.,,t|.N riv.r |„.„. |,-„|,
"""' '■"■■'■<■ .Jiirr- Isf
^""'•'»"'iV'''' .1,,,,.. ].st
l'i.'nv.fiMi|ii..» r...r ,(„,„• iDtl,
Johiis...! nv.T ,\„^, I^,
Food Rish
Cod •■'"'■ ^'""" '■"•'"' "'I HHliintr is iiof n,,u }„;„u hh viu'or
"""'> l"-"«''""t..| as it w,,N „ f.w yrnvH at;,., a triflr Ivsk than
2.IM.0n(l ||,«. havitu' l.....n fakrii last snis..... Mapi-ily fhr .l..i:tisl,. tlms.-
HriwgvH whirh hav chiimmI m. inaiiv tishrnruii !., rHiiv fn.i.i tli.. iiMliisfr.v
111 .listMst. an. ..itii.r rii.,vii,k' away to otli.T .|iiiirt.Ts „r, for s..tri.- ofh.-r
ivasoii. ,|,..-tvasin!,' in miiMl»Ts. Tliis .l.-T.-asr is .•|„i,r..,| l.v « to 1„.
.!u.. to th- vast irMT.'».s,- in mimlMTs of tlip (ish..ati.,jf hjnls «lii..|i ,„vv
on tl,.. yountr .loifHsh. Tli.s,. l.ir.ls hav I n prot.M.tr.l aroiunl the
.■oasts tor s..v..ral y.-ars It is to 1,.. h. that, witi, tlu- <lisapp,.«ra
"I til.. .I..i;fisli i-lasiu... many fonn.T | tUUrruu- ay l„. ..n.^ourajr.-.l
t.) Htrain m^n'jv m tin. inilustry.
Hpddock Ha.l.lo. k lishintr. likr .o.l lisliin-.'. has not h...-n pros.-.-ilti'd
witli as inn.'li vij;onf as fortnftly, tisli.rni.ii having h.-conu'
.iis.-onratr..| l,y tli.. .loKlisli, Th.. hH.|,lo..k ,-at,-ii hist v.-ar amoi.nf.Ml
t.. l.'M.T.iG 1I.S. of .Iri.Ml tish an.l 4:UM0 Ihs. of fn.sh. Th.. .lisapp..anin,...
ot th.. .loirHsh will a._'ain iihlnc.- nn-n to . •ijrai;.. in this in. lust ry.
Hake ""'^•' 'i'^liiii'^' .•ontinii..s t.. h..hl its own. The .•af.-li last
s..aso.i was noarly up to th.- aviTatr.' ..f 1.2(>0.(MM) It.s a
jvar. Tin- sliplit de-T.-as,. in the catcli from that of th.. pivvio.is var
was ow.njr to th.. ..x..f.Miin>riy stormy s.-ason nn.l fh.. .•.., s.>.p.cnt .la. r
of staying out ..n th.- H.shini? (?r..un<Is .hiring th.. night time in th.- v.'^rv
Binall ..raft whi.-h the Hsherincn use.
HerrinK ''''"' '"■'"'•iMK Hsli..ry industry appears to h,. .,n the in..r.'asp.
Tli..r.' was. howt.vcr, a shortaL'c last v.-ar i>, Kio"« ...... .>ty
l.ut It was nior.. than nui.l,. up by th." i,„.r,.a.s...i ..at.li in Que..ns and
!S
( ! iMMISSU )N < »l- r< ).\SI-.K\Ai'l' >':
MacUsrei
p .„,,.. ,.|i,.M Tlif tdtiil <-a1cli lust si'Jisiiii was 12,(M)() l)l)ls. salted hcrr-
j„g_ , -II., Mill ll>s. wliii-h wciv ilisposcl (iT I'lvsli or siiiok.'tl, aiid iiiaii.v
tliousiiiids of hiirrrls wiiirli wiM't" uscil Un- I'liit.
Til.' i-iitch 111' iiiai-k.'ivl last vear aiuniiiitcil to 1.:;:!.'^ lil)ls.
sal;r,l. wliirh ivali/.Ml *1.-. i»T M,l.. and 40.4(10 ll.s- fivsli.
whii-li ^u■n^ disiMs...! ..f at V2 cmts per pound. Kvp.Tier,.-.. l,.i.d> to show
that o!. whafver .-oast lohsler iishiii- is vi<.'oi-ousl,v earrird on. niai-kci-.-l
l)(MM)ii:f i'oi-i-,spoiidiii'il.\ scai'i-f.
Till- sM.-lt li:.l,iui: iiidiistr.v i,i this I'rovii.r.- is in a tliriviii!.'
^'"''''*' ,-,,..,iiii-,: ^melt nets to tie' ninidier of 1.14.'.. valued at
$10.11.-.. weiv 1., use last seas.,-n. a,:d the ,-ateh aiiHMinted to S.-.7..-..-.0 Ihs..
wlli, ll r,ali/ed ^t^.'.l.r.:;. These iish Welv. for tile most part, shipped 111 a
fn./en state to eitiier P.ostou ov New York. l'rotital,le as this ilidustr.v is
„t the pr.sent ti:,!e. it is un.-easonahle to rNpe<.t it to ,.on1inue so lor an.v
(rn.iit iiin.ilM'r of wais unless some .iirasuivs ate adol.te.l to ensure the
returning' to 1l„. wat.r. while tlie.v are .vet alive, of all the uii.lersi/.ed tish
taken in the ha- nets. When a l.ijl haul is made, it frequeiitl.v happens
that all the small fish are dead hefore the euUin^ of the take is eom
plete,l, and the u.isaleahle fish are shovelled haek into the water.
The ahwives. or gaspereaii.\ lisliery. is l.y ik. means as
vijrorouslv proseeuted as it miglit L". fl>" -■"f'l' last >>av
amountiug to onlv 500 l.hls.. whieh sold at the rate of *4 per harrel. T h.
Xd w'ers of this IVov.uee aetually teem with these fish at eertam
seasons of the year.
Alewives
Lobsters
Crustacea
l.,iM,.e Kdward island is parlirularl.x adapted to tie
in.lustrv of lohster fishing. Lobsters rai. he found ever.v
where ahu.^ the .oasts of the Island, and tl oast line is in.hmted w,t„
;„„„„„.,,,,,.. small hays and ereeks whieh form good harbours tor tl ■■
,„..„. ,.„..M.'ed in this industry. The industry is of sueli great importaie •
th.atit should not he allowe.l to .lie .,ut f.u- th.. want ..f I.rop.u- e,.,.s,.rv,.
.|.,„.,„ ,„,, i„ ,l„, |.r,.viii.... at the present time, 1.-- .■aniM^ries. vain-
at *14.-..-l,s in whi.-h •-'.4--"l men aiv ,.mi.h.v..d. To sup|.ly thes.. .•ar,n..v-
•no .-,.).-. traps. valu,..l at .+240.474. w, .v .s.-t ,.ut last s.-as.,,,. 1 h.^ pa.^k I-
'the's,.ason am.mnt.Ml to 2,2.-,.-..sil^ |hs.. and. in ad.iith.n. 1..S..0 .■.,! w.
,lisp..sed of fresh in fii.^ shell. The lohst..rs paok.^.l. h..w..ver. w...v
the most part, very small in size. The i.ra.ti.e ot eannn.g su , ^.
stnall lobsters, if permitte.l to eonti.ute, nu.st ot ,te<-es.s,ty prove ta
to the lobster paoking indnstry. Tf this i.ult.stry ,s to be perpet.tat,
'l>m-RII.S ..,• viUSCl M.UXKI. (Sl.XXU
1'
all the traps us.',! i,iiist W riisiiidii,.,) «. ., t
from l...i„., ,,,„.,i„ ■,.,, ■"""""•' ^" •'- tH ,„vv,.nt tl,.. snu.ll U,\,.U;-s
'l-'vi.. Ti„. i„.,.s,.:„-. -.,..,.„.,;■ '■■'"'"'-''■'•-"-.MO, U. ,.,„ ,
<-.s. <s , I,,, i„...„n.i ,.'-:"" '"'"'"'■^ "■'■"''"'""" ■'•--
ti.M^'J:::;::::;;::;:;::'-^;v;'''''r^
;;"•-'->■ ■•''■-•.■"lMJ,s,,::':::^ :;;:1;;^J;:7;';:-■
Oystv
'lia! tli,. (|iialily ,,!' ,1,,. |
'I'i'i'-'' K(luiir,| Islaii.l ..yst,-,- js
......,:r;r,,,;;,;;:;:;:;:;';:,,;;;:";™,j*'-'', "-' "
;;:::.:;;:;r': = ; ::H,:"";:m"i:r;:s
'.>->HI 11 lis 1|,|\,- hern CdllS aiith tisll..,l r..,r..,. ll .•
latioi.>< •,.„! ... , , 'iMi.,1, ^•c.'ai-(||,.ss ,,t seasons or n-sru-
'■'■n...;:.;*:: ■h:';::;;!:v;:; :;,'s;; ::;;:v:;^ "'-; ■■:•••■
'"• 'i v,.r.v ,,roli,al,l.. ,.M,..n,li,n,v is l„.v,„:,l ,.avi| .^ ,|„. , I,
■<l'T.-nl,un. ,,„ ,.ra, •finally til,, wliol,. .-oast of
.■■{7;
4.7,
■atfll <.rtli.. |(iv\i,,us yv.w. Tin
■■If-.T liliiiili.T oT ,ii.'n u-,.|v ,.]:
"■iiiU' I'ai'slioi-t of that of rli,- ,,.
'"V"'' '"""-'^ -""■ ' -.not i: i;;. ':;!::;;*";:;:,.;;'■':,
!"Ml,au.Mishin^ in tl.islVovi,:,.,. Willi,,, „,„„,„, ""'■"" "'"" "'
'li.' Islan.l.
Quahaugs l-^' -■'■^<"i 12,;{7,s haf,s of ,|ual,a„os uv,v taU,.,. an,| thcv
".•.-. s„|,| lor m7o.i. This was a slight in.-ivas.. ov.t tlu.
-■^- -Hunl... ,,f ,n..n w,.n. ,.,.C;7r r ;'T ''' '^' '''■'''"''' '''''^
-... n. s,,oH of , hat .,f ;,:,., ;::"'';;,.'':'''r 7- ''^': :•''''•''•
■ \f In.- r;i[-.i.l iat,- of ,i..|,i,..
II
21)
COMMISSION Ol'" CONSKKVATION
Altliough rlains aro very plentiful and of a k'mxI size, as
^•""^ vvull as of a sph-ndid (inaiity. but little nttentioi. is paid
to then, the total output last year Lein- only 410 l.Ms.. wldrl, sold for
S per liarrel. and :{()0 vases of eanned ela.us. whi.-l, l.rou-ht ^4 per .'ase.
The s\ipi)ly iii.iiears to he almost iiiexhaiistihle.
Kverv iohster packer and all p.'rsoiis en^'ajred in fishing!
License ,.,„. ,.„.;i,au>.'s. ovsters or sm.'lts. as well as all non-residents
^"' an^'lin.' for trout, are re.p.ired to take out licenses hetore
they eon.u.e.,ee Hs^.in,'. For these the followin,' fees are re,u.re,l :
' Lobster packers: *5 for first hundred cases ,.acked and *2 tor each
succeeding hnndretl cases,
t^uahauf: tishernieii : !l<l each.
Ovster tislwrnieii :.■)(! cents each man.
Smelt fishennen nsinv ^'ill-nets: One cent for every lathmn ot net
useil.
Smelt fishermen usiiif; ha'-'-nets: >)<2 per net. , • , d,o
Non-residents ansrii..!-' for tn.ut: Koreisrners ^i^:.. British suh.iects $2.
ne :!<nii mikI Sept. 1st to
Open
Seasons
(^nahaii'-'s: From .Ma.\ Isl to -1
Sept. :i<»tii.
Oysters: From October Isl u.i'il tlie ic^e forms over the rivers.
Smelts: \vith trill-nets, from Od. ir)th to Feb. irnh.
Smelts: With lmf;-nets. fro,, he 1st to Feb. If.th.
Lobsters: Queens and Kin.s counties, April 26th to July KHli.
Part of Prince County, from May 2r,th to August 10th.
Trout: From April 1st to September :iOth. See sec. 2b ..t the Act.
The warden svstem. as at tlm pr.'seiit time sustained by
Warden the Dominion (iovernment for the ..ouservation of the fisher-
System i,., „f t,„. I.,,,viiice. .'osts that (iovernment about *H».000 a
,,^v The stHft- of fishery otflcers ....nsists of an ,ns,,ector. four overseers
J, d about seventy wardens. This system, in so far as the hsher.es o
Prinl-e Hdward Island are concerne.l. has outlived its uset illness and
should be replaced liy one that is more efficient.
The amount of money beinsr now annually expended ni support,,,,
the warden svste.n, if judiciously use.l. would be suffi.-.eiit to elTectuall.v
nut a stop to all Hshinu' at illeeal seasons ami by unlawtul means. A
elerk in tlie tlsherv ot^icc to keep the statistics aii.l receive nitormation,
tocrether with a force of six detectives under the supervisio,. ot a strenu-
ous otHcer. similar to the Mounted Police ..f the North W est could eas, v
W supported by the su,„ now expended: and their enforts. it .nd.-...^^ v
airec el would not only do the work that the wardens have tailed to
Z, but would cause Prince Edward Island to beeoine the ideal summer
resort for foreign anglers.
1 iSllKKlES OF MAMTOBA
l)ii Miircli 1(J. lllOit, ji Cimmiissioii was iippdintcd liy tlic Doiniiiioii
(iovcriiiiifiit to invi'stiiTiiti' the Mslicrics of Maiiitoliii. Coiiiplaints liad
lici'ii iriadc llifit the cxistinf.' r-ru'iilatiotis applyiiij; to the Wcsti-rn Pro-
vinces, un-i- out ol' (late and imsuitcd to present eonditioiis. These
re<.'uliitioiis. ill laet, applied to all of .Manitolia, Saskatehewa... AUierta
and tile Xortli West Tirritories. and one of the important tasks of the
Coiiiiiiission was to reeoiiiiiieiid that a separate set of reiiujations should
he put i:i foi-ee. apply iiif,' only to Maiiitoha ami Keewaiin waters.
The ( 'oliiinissioii. as tinally eoiisl it iiled. consisted of I'm', K. K.
I'riuee, ehairinan. •). I>. IIiil's;, and I), F. Keid. The principal rei-ominen-
dations made arc' lieic ijUotiMl without aii> opuiion lieinj; ventured as to
their justness nv accuracy.
In llieir report the Commissioners state that:
"he one marked ahuse in connection with the ie<'idatioii.s
IK ...1.: .1. 1
System
_icenbnig ^viih'li have for over twenty years heeii in force, has heeii that.
while a distinction was drawn lietween conunereial licenses
and domestic licenses, there actually existed no sui'h distinction in
pi-actice. Domestic licenses have heeii constantly used for com-
mercial piiri)oses. ami it has heen a matter of coinmoii criticism that
the idea of the domestic license has never heen carried out at all. In
our present rei-ome- ■ 'ations we meet this ditlHeidty hy aholishinir
the comiiiercial i estic license and hy providing for tishiny
licenses only. apa. he .settlei-'s permit for tishin;; for his own
use.
"If hasajipeared to ns nece.ssar.\ to provide for only one type ol'
fishiiiH: license, namely, the license to he used hy the frentiiiie fisher
man. one liee,ise for summer lishint; and another license for winter
lishini; and. instead of the domestic license to he used for food pur-
poses, it has appeared to us that tlie issue of a .settler's permit would
amply sut'fice. I'nder this permit any settler or Indian I'an tish at
any time for his own domestic needs.
"Inasmueh as tiitxs are Mh.solutely iiecessars on the lakes, we
have provided for a spec' ' >u<x license, which will enalih' these ves-
sels to do limited tishii,, .,ilierwise then' was the possihility that
steam tiiys wouhl not he operated in towinjjr hoats id' the tishermen.
an iiiiportant accommodation, uidess stich tu^s had some tisliiii'.'
pri\i!eire accorded them. As a matter of fai't, tliis commission lias
al'olisiied the ( ommeri'ial Company's license alto^rether. the olijeet
hi ie.r t" remove all control l)y eouimereial companies or eomtiines.
and In place the fisheries, as far as pnssihle. in the hands f>f the
hi, nil pil( fishermen."
Iferetot'ore the tnetliod of issuing; licenses has lieen e.M-eedinsrly cum-
■'■' ' 'I'id h.'is led to '^reat la\it\ in the ent'orcemeiit of the fislierv
I ' iNiMISSH »N
( I
i\'>i''K\ .\; '< )N
„.g„latic>n.s. «o„.-,.rnin« this .nntl-r. th. Cmnnissi, rs vrp„vU>\ ms
follows: , „*,. >i
•• Ai-MH froM. the ,,,...stion of insuffi nt supervision hihI .-ont.ol
of fisheA- op.-n.tio-.s. th.T.. .s -point "^ ,--■;•'■••;', ';;";;);:';;;r
n.s-.,M-tins; the niatt.T of issnm- lie.M.s.-s which vn. think h.i-. ha-l .
g o'.l .halt., .lo with the laxity ..n th.- pnrt ..t tlu- ^^^^'"''-'l^^
Lhinp Hnns in the .,l.s..rvan.v .,f ' '" .•■'•^'"'"»'?'"^„, , ' , ,
issuinir lie..ns..s r..,ui.vs to 1... cfr...tlv naprov.-.l. ,)^ ^'^ ,;;,;,,, ^
the rule for all li.-enses to he nia.le out an.l tssue.l h> tne .l.'i.aitni. nt
n Ot twa The n,..th...l is as f..ll..ws: Appiieatwois are sent ,n
Ue Mu.nn..n t.. th.- i„sp..etor of Fish.-n.-s u, * ''jl --";;: J, ^."^
enters them on orti-ial f..nns and torwar. s 'l''■'^'"<'^''"" ".''."
remarks an.l re,..>Mnn..n,lati..ns an.l witl, th.- iVHU.s.t.. te.- hn . ft. . -
Hv su,...rvision ..f th.. Hsliin- op.'rations. tlu- lu-nse sli..uh lu .s-
s u.l 1 .' .t ■ V. so that it may he in the han.ls .,1 the tish..rinan
Tfor. . .. u^ins'to tlsh. Hut this we hn.l is nev.r .hm.- an.l. un.h-r
?h. present .;nnl.ers..m,. ami nn.n.lah.mt syst..n tn.- hsh..r.m;,.. as a
vMile goes to the tishiuK proun.ls. .-arrh-s .... his fishui- op.-rat„.ns L.r
sS^ra mlnt^'l!. ami. on his r.-turn from the tislnng ^tvmn.ls ma>
then n.,ssil.lv reeeiv.- his li.vnse, th..u?h we hav.- t.mn.l that ... I ...^
8 p -rh 1 as tiv.. ..r six months nu,y elapse aft.M- the fislnng is a 1 ov r.
before his li.'en.se n-a.-h.-s him. Thus, his li.-ense whieh .s his an
thSv tW .. m.'H.'ins: to fish an.l for .■arryiuK on fishery . . pera-
tio, is ev' is possessi.-n n.it.l h.u, after the fish.ns; is ..om-
ph' ed Th s '. sslv lax m..th...l has a t.m.h.m-y t.. render tlu' l'-"^' •
t!ul emulit s atta.-h..d to it. unim,..rt«nt^ ^'.^''^^r;: - W^ 1 h s
enuan. II." po-'S to tin- fish.n--t-'roun,l before h. lias i' * V," T
^L. an.l -mt kn..win. wh...h.T he will n-e.-v.- ^' l--- 1,^ ,,, ^;
has no means ..f b.vomins ae.|uaint.".l with the hsh.-iv i. rriii.ui iis
Xi.'h aiv p int..l ..n the ba.-k of the lieense. an.l th.-iv is no ... 1
th . 1 h rJ nnmb..r of the fishermen never s,..- the .■omlitions ..f the
emt u^il ZV«ft.'r tin- fishing is starte.l. The pivse,^ ^s^.m,
«lls f..r ra.lieal .-hanpe. but. in a.l.lition to the serious laMt> aiis-
calls tor a ra.iuai . m.im^, . ,• ., p,. is an a bs.) ute ne.-essity
z S;::'r.- r.^;2;z:; ^.' o th:'m:;iS:'>:;ion of ti... 0,...,., fish..ry
S^ff in ll,:;;".;:;;. if any effeetive improveinei. in th.- ..hservan.-e
and eiifoivment of the law is to be a. eomplish.-d.
V'o,. imu.v vears. there have been constant .-omplaints that
Supply of Manitoba waters were beinp over-fished, an.l that theiv ^^as
''^'''**''' real danger that the whitefish industry, esne-iallv. was b,.,n!i
seriously affe-ted. rmieerni„..r th.-se reports the Fisneri.. (•om.,n,.ss,on,.rs
,pea. as ^^^^^'^^^^.^^^^ ,, ,.,.,,.^,.,„ ,, .. -;;V:rw ^h^^!!;:
^M
1
1
1
•
4
i
i'
!
f
i
i
I 1
I
1
1
♦ i
^^^^H^'»
I i
^^L'
r
H
1
r
Bj
\
^^■^
i*
^H|
f
H
'-
^■j
t :
^^
^ [
■
I
FISH PROir iTION
' 1 itures f
1892
1S93
1S94
1895
IS'.Mi
1897
189S
1899 III
)0
-_
WhKefisli. .
4,:{r>t,oi:5
4,5:50,-.'.5.5
t)00,371
3,416,69s
4,270,319
4,, 573, 660
1,41S,870
3,363,803
3,301,141
10,000
1,357,422
i,, 523,. 520 .Vs:
10,000
1,195,758 J.L>7
3,4l»i
Trout . •
Pickiivl
I'ik.' ...
.Stiirp'Oti
59; , .593
1,261,050
931,190
1,343,048
5.1(>
■laii.sa')
57j,0<)(!
749,5.sn
689,395
934.995
639,973
593,278
2,021,2.5.8 m.30
9;!,t)90
IC.I.S'X)
37,2(K)
,53,600
76,270
18.431
:',78,.",21
104,240
175,74:;
50.800
309,504
225,619
447,510
8,520
75,790
303,620
444,787 ;k
15,745 1
71.013 1
239,94j> .'I
1,.5U
7,50
Caviuiv.
Percli
Tiillilioc .
29,4.50
278,800
56,737
359,410
1,21
Cat!.>li .
Coarse V\4i
! ,.10(i.-20()
10,150
1,118,150
,59,7.3N
1, OSS, no
79,721
85.S,700
178.0(K)
1,071.800
92,664
827,200
164,363
1,965,1311
124,653 11
1,884,100
■:5.8S1
4,4*
!.4«
7.2
Gold-eyjs.
16,000
Basp
Consumed at home .
and not enumerated
1,303,515
2,020..S4.")
10 •260,1 1.^.')
1,928.230
1 , S94 , Sof
817,100
9.52.1 0'>
9,23s;,S74
.572 .500 1
10.129,163 II!,;
|-<,8
Total.
7, 131. ,591
.S.2.SC.301
9,170,048
11,224.293
7,72.M)14
14. .S
n Where blanks occur no figure.s were given in the Fisheries Reparts.
I '^ ^ t:;'!^:^^,^'^:^^ ^^r^ of the same Report where the production for the
year is again given, different f
'««l»i^''Hr
>;«»r*W-?S«
OD'JCTION OF MANITOBA, 1892-1909 '
1 1 ii-nres Rivi'ti in pounds)
v.m
.•J75.U«t
111,300
!»sl,5U<l
i:.5o()
l>;,(K)()
I
lil.Wi
■: \.m)
T.JOO
111,
HtUl
■■.,sr2,40() 7,207,600
4, 533, 700
3,050,300
R00,000
20,000
28,500
802, 0(X)
5.50.000
5,022,000
2(M),0(KI
|S,SOO 73>»,0fl<t
I4..sn0 22.7.'-_>,TO')
7,'Hl,.">iiO
.■)>?i iiiiO
:■• l^l.MiO
r,i)l).(KIO
.!0.(XiO
tll.lHH)
^11. .'00
iiiK).()liO
7 .ll'iD.IHHI
.!iii.l,l)i){)
l.!ni>'j0
■J7 1.'2.-.'i'0
I'.'IM
0,100,000
0,9C0,(X)0
3.S-I0,(K)0
OOO.OOO
25,0(K)
I .000,000
1,, 562, 000
.500,000
T,100,(H!0
10f),n;)n
1 ,1SO,0(M)
:i2.20~,(K)i)
1!HM
9,400,000
7, 2.50. (MX)
1,2S5,(HX)
000,000
.35,000
140,000
2,068,000
.5.50,000
0.765,000
:;n,non
1,510.000
32.1114.000
l!tl).5/<
S,(V)5,0(HI
<i.<HMI. 1)1)11
3,7'.»0,0(/ii
000,00(1
30,(HKi
14t,(X)(l
2. 074, OIK I
.5(M),(HX1
0.250,(M)(i
311 .01)11
1 ,.570, (XII I
30.180,111)11
1900
0,136.000
46,0(K)
0,161,(XK)
2,S25,0<X)
325,000
37,000
89,000
1,706,000
200,000
4.840,000
.557, 0(H)
1.725,000
>4.647.0(X)
I907r
3,095,000
1(X),00()
3. 095, (XX)
2,321,0<X)
177.000
17, 5(H)
S2,0(X)
1,. 380, 000
175.0(X)
2.0(X),000
506, 0(X)
1,665,000
16,713,5(M)
190,8
3,219,000
15.2(K)
2,9.36,000
2.207,(K)0
87 , 500
12,800
4->,«X)
477, (XX)
201,7(X)
791, (XH)
0.35. (KH)
8.87,000
11 .513,800
1909
4,662,100
4,600
5,750,4(K)
3.067,100
94,300
3,600
64 , 800
.834,200
87, 2(H)
1,317,600
9.59,200
3,614,2(X)
20.459,200
Whitcrish
Trout
Pickerel
Pike
Sturgeon
(-'aviare
Perch
TuUibec
Catfish
Coarse l'"i«ti
(jold-cyes
Baas
Consumed at Home
Not enumerated
Total
, difTerent figures are stated for f oirse 1 ish and Gold-eyes, from those ticre .nioted.
i«ri»«K=«s&> -
m
M
mmm
1 iSillvlJl I S ( 'I M \Ni II il'. \ -'
liiis ,11:11 vtlloiisly l;.|il ii|i. iiiiil lliat. iidt witlist.miliii^r ii pn'V )il<-..'
t'rcli:i)i 111' unciisiii.'ss in n-jTiinl to tlir |)ii'Sfiit (1111(11111111 of Ilii-M'
watirs. "itii 'ill' ri'Ntiii'tivi- I'l'^iibitiini.-. wlii.ji »<■ imu n'loiiiiiu'iiil
tliiTr is. ill our (ipiiiioii. no I'ciir ol' the rxluiiistioii oi' tli.'s.' lisini'iiv
ill tlic limnciliHt)' t'litiiri'.*
A\M\I. r\Tllll> UN I.VKK WINMI'lii AM' >I liilKsliilt
LIMIT \TtON
'•\V.' haw laktii spiMial pains to asri-rtain with as inin-li ay
fiirafv as possiliic thr total anmial siiiiuiiiT cati-in's of whifftisii in
rcfciit yiar«^ Tlir ililTnMilly of collalinf: from thi- ofti.'ial pnlilishcil
reports aiM'iiratf totals of \\w ratflifs in ilitViTfiit Vfurs has lifeii
(iri-at. I Willi.' t • til"' iai-i< of uniformity in thf statistics, and tii(> in-
clusion of wiiil«r<ain.'ht ami falli-aut.'lil tisli. 'i'ln'si', an<l olhtT
coiifusinu iiuthoils, howcM'r. wc liavr clMwhcrc ri'fcrrt'd to. The
followill}; tiirures we helieve to lie as aecliratf lis it is possilile for Sllill
tishery returns to Iw.
.>! .MMKiMMiiin wiiiii:ki-~ii- i.\kk winmii;!;
In the roiiiiil
1<I(I4 r).'2U.ln4 Ills.
100:, :{.7S().1?<S "
1!)06 .[ :{,:.6r).!lOs ••
1907 1.272.00(1 ••
IMOM 2.:!:i.'),noo "
1<»0!) 2,162.2!)>< •■
1010 2.4tin.s4.'i ■■
"The total eateli specified in tlio rejruiatioiis for 1!I10 nipiircil
that not more than 2.400.000 His. of whiteti.sli should lie taken; liiit
the last lifts of tisli. .just liefore the season lei^ally closed were far
heavier than the most experienced men could have foreseen. As a
matter of fact, during the last few days of the season, a reduced
aiMomit of net was placed in the water in order to a\oid aii.\ excess in
the catch over the specified lejial ipiaiitity. hut tin- total catch was as
stated id'ovc. There was also an iliidoillited misii!iderstaiidinL' iii
regard li <■ total catch as defined in siili-.section 4 of section 12 of
the leiiulalions. dated .\pril IS. HMO. which was rcjarded as apply-
ing to wliitclisJ! ill t!ie round.' whereas on the lake it was (reiierally
iinderstooil hy the Hsheriucn and the ti.sli hiiyers that the total
*iuaiitity spe ■ilied was to apply to 'dressed" fisli. In the recoiiniieiida-
fioiis we make in the iireseiit report, the limit we specify is for
■dressed" whiteilsii. It is sjenerally held li\- practical men in the fish
husiiiess that the difT'ereiice lietweeii the ■dressed" fish and fish in the
'round' is ahout one-eitrhth of the total weiirht.
"Coiisiih'fahle dissatisfaction arose from tlic fii-t that in the
order in council the expression 'In tlie round' was used, which, of
course, consiihTahly reduced the total amount of fisii. and the pro-
• In 1904. in the npriod of iirirestrirted fishing, the catch of sii-nmer-caught
white-fish in the round in lake WinnipeK, was ."..•>i44.r.l4 Itis. as jriven above;
while in 1909. the last year of the unrestricted fishing perioii. it was 2,!62.29S lbs.
I DM MISSION' 'II I ()NSl.l;\ \ IM iN
porfioiiN wliii li, l).v iirniiii.'1'infiif. rm) paiiy whs pifpiirfil
hiiiMll"' l'"r<iiii tlif inl'ciriiialioii wiiifli Iiiih Im'cii plinfil In run-
thfi-f i> .slt•^«ll^' i-ciiHdii ti. liili.'Vi- tluit tlif limit of '2.4i)t),(l(MI pom
wiw not originally inti'iulid tn n^lVr ti. 'r-iiiiul' fish, liiit tn •(iresN
tisli, mill our ncoiniin'iKliitioii woiiM. f li<-ri-l'orf, \»\ that a riiaxii'
limit of the siiiiiiiK r ■atcii \<f piuvidrd. Init tliat ij lie pla.-f.i
2.r)()(l.(MHI piiiiiids of whiti'tish in a dri'ssrd rondition."
■riicrc lias lii'fn niui'li dilVi'i'itin- ol' opinion a.s to llic
Summer visaltilitv of pfri.iittint.' tli<' rontinua-u'c of sinnmiT tisliinj
risnlnc' • ' , , .1.
Manitolia lakrs. It lias l.rcn assert. '.I that twt-iity-tivi'
«'cnt. of till' snmiiii'r caiiKliI lisli were lost owiii^ to storniN pn-vcritiii','
ovorliaiilinjr of the mis n^iiilarly, and thi' lisli In-iiur li'I't in tlir nics
died and pollntnl ih.' ImIms The ( 'onunissiomrs treat tiiis (piestioi
somo li'n){tli. Tlit-y sa> ;
"To the main |(oition of the iniri'im report, iinanimoiisl.v aiii
ti) li\ tl miiiissioii as a whole, thire were added two ma.jo
reports, each liearintr the siunatiires of two iiienilieis of the eom
sion-one report distii".:uished as adihndnm A 'pane 11 of tin
torim report' which nru'ed that lake Winnipei: had reached sm
serious cojnlition in tl pinion of the ma.jorily that the total clo:
of th.' lake to all summer tishinir was justitiaMe, commencinir \
the ensent year 1!U1. suc'h •Insure to continue until ividence
forth ins that Ihe tishiry rcsouri'is of tlu' waters mnneil
n.o- . .'.I in a measure their former phntilude. This 1- •ommei
tion for -■losin'i lake VVinnipeir was adopted hy the ilepariment.
would have come into force durinir the present year. 1!M1. in
ordinary course of events. I'.y order in council, .late., April IM. 1
sei'. rj.' suh-scc. !t. it is provided that after the year 1"lil._ (
mciciai summer tisli in?.' shall he prohihited in lake WinnipcL'.'
■'The second ma.jority report, distinirnislied as addendni
I pa«'e 12 of the int. •rim r.'port . susrsrests that th.'re slmuhl he a I
imp.is.>.l ..n th,- annual .•at.^h .)f whit.'Hsh taken durintr the sun
^•as..n. dune 1 to Am^'ust 1."). an. I this r.^conun.^ndation of two 01
tiir f the .•mnniissioners was ad.>ptc.l liy the d.'partment
nn^ncirT with th.' simmer lishintr ..p.'rations ••( HMO. By or.l.
.oun.-il ahove nam. .1. se.^. 12. suh-s.-.^. !t. it was provnl.^.l tli
■iMiriti" th.' summer .•nunn.r.^ial seas.. 11 .if HMO, not more than
ledlion four hun.lr..! th.iusami (2.400.000 pounds in the roui
whitetish shall h.' taken. As soon as su.^h .pmntity is cauirht
Inspect. .r of Kishi^rics shall I'r.h-r all nets t.) he tak.'ii ..ut ol
water.' „. ■ £.11
•Willi r.>s|..^ct totheclosinirof lake \\iniupcfr. we teel lioni
on.'c to .-all attention to the important fa.'t. that evideli.e ol
.leclin.' of the lisli. 'rv resources of lake Winnip.'Sl to the serious e;
.'eneralh alleired has not lieeii amply borne out by our suhsei
hivcsti^'.-tti-iiH hvA that, in suite of the ev.'essiv.' fishiii!.'. or
tist'iin'.'ras has been allowed, tlie su|.ply of whitefish in lake Willi
is still enorm.Mis and iriv.-s no sutH.-ieiit ground for serious tear
th.' fntnr.'. The sub-.ommiftee whi.-li visited the hsliin<r '-'r
iift.'r th.' end of the summ.'r tishiuir operations and persoiiallv t
-rms M ir. - :
wrra
IISIIKUIIS <)| MAMK 111 \
)ri'PHn'il to
I 111 rin'f (IN
(HXI |)(iuiii1k
to "(IrcsiMMr
H iiiiix'ii'iiin
I' pliii'i'il at
4 to tjir ail
i<r tisliiii^' ill
iif.v-tivi' |irr'
I'Vi'iitiii',' till-
tlir liu'sllt'S.
i|iii'stioii at
Dllsl.N alTffCll
wo majority
till' rouiinis-
II of till' iii-
iclli'il Sllrll a
total I'losintr
ii'iH'iiisr uitli
• vidi'iii'i' was
iiaiiit'il liad
!•■ •OllllllclKla-
ii'Tiiii'iit. aiul
mil. ill till'
pril IS, Ifillt,
r unit, I'oiM-
iiiilii'i-'. '
iii(ii"i<iiiiii u
lilt III' a limit
: till' suiimicr
of two out of
iitiiii'Mt com-
iiy oi'iliT ill
viiii'il that
loi'c tliaii two
till' I'ouml of
s I'au'/lit. tli(>
'!i out of the
fi'i'l lioiiiiil at
illcllri' of till'
serious I'Xtciit
ir sultsi'iiui'iit
liiisr. or ovor-
ikf \Viiiiii]>('g
mis fi'ar as to
sliiii<r trrounil
soiiallv ti'sti'il
ii|ii'i'ial loi'alitii's wliiili hail Im n aliamloni'il Imi aiisi' of lln' KiippoMiil
total ili';>lilion of lisli. t'oiiinl I'viijiin'i' li\ srtliiiif nils that thr ilrplc
tii'ii was far Irss M'rious iluiii luui Ihiii allfU'iil. nml thai thr iinaiin
luki'ii for flioroiiirlily iiiM'stiifalini; llu' stati' of tlirsc irrmimls .'stali
liMlii'il this niiiarkalili' nsiilt, that tin- fiars aiiti'ipati'il liy many
\V(T>' not I'i'ali/i'ii ami that tli.' ari'as ri'fi-rn'.l to ilnl not show siu'iiH
of thi' ilaiiw'tr of imiiii'iliati' i\haiistion. It is trui' that tli.' si.i' of thi'
tisli appiari'il to Iuim- ■h'.iiasi'il somiwhat, liut tln' ipiaiitit,\ of whitf
fish alioiimliiij.' ih tlirM' .n-i'as hail not ili-.-r.-asi'il lo tlu' cxti'iil that
hail I'i'i'ii I'ommoily i-laimnl. Wf do not tliiiil;. Ihiri'fori'. that, in
view of this I'viiiiiH-,'. ami in virw of tlii' I'ai-ts awrrtaiiu'd. thi' ron
titi'iHliri' of till' prohihitioii of HUiiimi'i' fishiiiir is jiisliliaMi' ; and \vi
sti'iMi(fly ri'i-omim'iiil. thi'ii'fori'. that tin- liist |iart of suh .'.ii-tion !• of
siTlion 12 of tl rdi-r in < nimiil of April Is. l!i|i». ln' ri'si'lndrd. To
cIiiM- down summer lishini; uperations in aii.v i-asi- would he a most
.serious step and liaxe far rea'hins; i'oosei|Ui'nies on the industries of
the proviii.e. .\iiil iIiIm iiiipoi'tant faet must lie hi.riie In mind, that
lake WiiiiiipcK is fli.' only souree of supply for- fresh whilelish on
whicli the wi'slein Caiadiaii and other markets in the Dominion laii
depend. a':d tin' i losinsr down of summer (ishiiikf would therefori'
deprive a lai;'e part of our popnlation of any siipplv of fresh white-
fish diirinir the s'.immer seasoii. The summer fishinu' is I'arried on !n
a part of this 'rieat lake the shores of whieh an' almost r'ntirelv
without population and not likel\ to I"' settled for a eonsiderahle
fim'- oi, ai-eniiii! '■( Ihe speria! n.-'tiire of the eoiintry and its not heinu'
adapted for a"ri 'itiiiai purposes Tin- somewhat satisfaetory siiins
wlii. h mir fni-tln r iiivistitrationv havf shown as to the state of the
fish supply in the iMirthern portion of hike \Vinni|>e!r. would not
.justify, ill our opinion, the induslrial dislocation to which we refer,
vi/. : the stopfia','!' of an important tislier\ eiiterprisi'. and the eiitti ii;
otf of a valued and Meeessai'\- supply of fresh (isli t'or our own |o."i|
' 's in the i\c-st and for c.-istern mark-ets,"
,„^. ^ ^ That sonietliin'; should I"' done to increase the si/e of the
Wliitefish 1 ■, c 1 I • , . . „
.Size Limit wliiteli.sli cailfflit was reeotfiiized l>\ the ( oiiimissioncrs. ulio
stall' that thev are convii d Ihat a ininimiim si/r limit for
the mme impo: ta.it foitd lishes is alis'iliitely necessary. Toipiote:
"We. therefore, recommend that certain sizes of (ish should he
sjiccitii'il in the reirulations. helow which no fish can he leirally cap-
tured. We also recoiiimeiid that the leiral mesh of the various nets
slionld he increased. An iiierea.se in the si/e of the mesh of nets
means, of eoiuse. that ipiantities of iiet iiou leL'all.\ in use would
lieeiniie useless unless sutlieieiit notice of a chantre Were L'iven and
time allowed for wearing out the presi lit nets and for ohtainintr a
supply of new nets of lar^'er itiesh. We. therefore, in our [ire.-., nt
recommendations, have adopted the plan of erradiiall,\ imreasins? the
si/e of mesh with a siitlicieet interval of tinu' to allow the fi-hcrmen
to provide tliemsehcs with ih'ts in accordance with the promised new
ret'iilalions. We cannot resist tlie con-lusion that liv u'radiially in
crpasingthe mesh in this way less hardship will he felt hv the tislier
men and tiie fish firms and the averatre size of fish taken will, of
m
( oMMlSSloN <" I ONSI K\ Ml' 'N
HHi.v. 1«. ,..M.rov..,l. Th.. .,u..H,.on Kan lu.n y^;;^;^^ ^l^l
,n„tur.-H..ri.rcMlu..N.i;«s 111. M" lu.M... M„„itnKH,
::;:,-;l:^;;^;,Tz;i,:;\;r:.':.p»:.i.;;.^™..::-:;
::h;t:;:::i::.,s:;:t:;:.f';i:'^;:::t:f;i ::-;:- -^
„r„< mi.liiiiil » nmli" '"I" ■ "'"" "' "
f„r l,«l.l"r> |."r|...-» ,„,,„, ,,„.,„„, „„ll..l .n ll ■■■"li-
,,Mi;:vr;!;,;:;:::;i;::i.:;:s ™;^»PV'';'t:;nr's!;: .: •':
n^^, ;:;l:;^:';;:;:::N:;f.'^';i; -•■«;;::;: j;:,:-,s:
twu pown.ls ih u. li-'Ht »."" '' I",- 1 ■, „„, (•„„„niHsi,m is awMr
.luriMKtl..M.nM-,..l.n).' wii.t.r , .MU-IU . t" _^ ^.^^^^
still l„.l.l in ...M ston.^'. '1' ^^"^^"1"-' ;■ " , ,, .f ,.ff...tual
t„ I... ,H. sal., for ll..'in. Th..,v apiuars t. I ^ . ^
st,.,M.n,. .his .jM-tun. ...• w .,. -s ...
Sr,:ii:r::n:::::::u::i:;:l.-".is^. -"-^"'^••'^t
,,,,,,::;;\;:\;™;ri;;\ "11 ;....., --;-;;t,r=;;^
s,„ali wl,it..tish .■ontwn...s. "'^ "',;; ;'„^; ! l,^ t,' san-tlo' ,
,„,M.t shoul.l .... tin; n.,m-t of »;' ;;',;, ,-., i,,,,, ,..„.ns^
iss,„. of li.-...,s,.s to.- ...-ts o1 OSS ; ^ : \,,. ^;.,,i,,.fi,,, s,„
..H.nmirr on irroiitK s known to Ih " itv>ii ♦!. . inU-..^ nl"
,,,.,,,., „..tssh....H,.ot I..- P.;-^
provii..'.' wIht.' tli.'ic .!- •! !'■
„,, . , . „ ,,, ». ,. ,.xist of xvliit-tisli ./n......ls an.l
,1isti„iruish..l. wl.il.- otl..-.- w,t....ss,.s ' ; ' ;™ ,,., s,.par,
the vari..ns fislii...,' -rounds aii.l n" 'list.... t .... as
'■"^
i<«lll K il S III \t \\l I . II'
uU\</''
jh till' «a> rlaitiit'il liv iitlit'T witiii'SM'M Tln' milx iVjixililf imirx*-
li|i|ii'lll> I'l '"■ •" t*il> ll|Miii the ii|iiiiiiiil III' till- I liN|w'liif 111 l-'i-iii r IS.
Ill- i-ciiiM ri-iiilil> iiHi-iiiaiii lii-liirt- ri-'-'iiiitni-inliiij: IJi-i-iiM-s if ii u mh
will' til tiliow NMuill iiii-slii-ii pH-ki-ri'l iii'ts or ri-l'usr tln-ni. iiint in tliix
vvHV ri'iiiii-i'. <ir riitifi|\ put an i'IhI tu. tin- ili'sti-iiitimi ami slii|'iMiiif
ol' niiihII llliili'r-Mi/»'i| wliitftisll fur wllii-ll tllrl'i' i» ll" ilrinainl
-tiii'g'fin
( 'iilli-i-riliii'.' till- >tll|-i:i-ii|i !i>.||i't'ir> tin- • 'iiiniiilsj«iiihi-rv Iimm-
this til »av :
"111 iiiii' iiitfriiii fi-piifl iif Nnvi'iiilii I' 2ti. 1'"'!'. pakfi- I". \M- fi'
riMiiiiii-iiiii-'l lliat till- i-\piii-t liiiiM till- pi'iiviiii-i- iif .Miiiiiliilia 'if Htiif
t'l'iiii anil iif ravaiti'. whii'li is tlii' pn-pai'i-il ami riiii'd riii' of thi' slur-
(;i-iiii. Ill' pi'oliiliiti'il oil ami aftii' •laiiiiai'.v 1. IIMn. l-'oiu' l'l'aN■lll^ Ii.hI
NM'i^lit witli IIS ill iiiakiiii; this n iiiiiii'iniatiiiii. nan l\ : •] tin-
iiiii|<iiilit<'<i lii'i'liiii' in till' suppls of stiir^i'iiM in tin- laki's iuiij rm't-s
of till' |irii\ iiii'i'. 'I'liis ili'i'lini- is niiU'li ifii-atir tliaii tlir pol'lislii-d
statistii-s iiiilii-ati' : ami. imliril. tin- I'l'tiirns iliiiiiiif tin- last iniii- or
tivi- yi-ars liavt' not imlii-ati-il rati-lii's of stiirtri'oii in Manitolia watirs
pi'iipi'r. Iiilt liavi' imlinli'il lar'.'i' takis of sIih-l'i'om in I In- Ni-lson rivi-r
anil ill till' imrtlii'i'ii wati-rn in Kii'watin. iirvt-r liifoi'i' i-oinirii'i'i-iallv
i-\|iloiti'il. '2 Stiit'ni'on liavr always lii'i-n a slajili' artiili' of fooil
witli IiiiIIhiin. ami in past vrarstlii' Drpartnuiit lias laiii stri'ssnn tlii-
iiiipdrtaiH-i' iif this lish as a soiiri-i' of siisti'iiaiiri' for tin' Imliaii
triiwH. i'S|)i'('iallv tin- northi'i'ii triln's. CI i 'I'lii' iinfi'asi-.l vahii' and
the iiu'ri'asi'd di'inand. I'spi-rially in foi'i'ii;n iiiarkris. for . nxiari' mnl
siiiokt'il stiirt't'on ; ami tlir >;fi'al'> iin-rrascd prirrs i'iins'-i|ni-iit on this
iri'o\viiii_' ili-iiuiini has stiiinilati-d ii di'siri' on tli> (larf of lish tiriiis to
iiiaki- lariii- rati'hi's of stiii't'i Wlii'i-i'Vi'r stiirir'nn oi-iiir in CiniiidH.
flii'i-f has lii'cn, in i lit yrars. i'\ii'\ itTorl iiuidi' to i-iiptiiri' thi'iii.
and. it must lir addi-d. to i'\ti'i'iiiinati' tlii'in, 4 Tlii' ai'timi of tin-
[ntrriiatiniial Kishi-rii's < 'omiiii.ssiiin. whirh. in tin' rodi' of I'l'iriihi
tioiis pii'parrd l)\ tlniii. pmvidi' that stiir>;t'oii tishinsr should hi'
stoppi'i! for four yiars, is of ui'isrlit in this ■■oiiiii'i'tinn.
Limitaiions
Proposal!
Thr I'oll'iwiiiir IS a siiiiniiai'y of tin' iiriin-ipal limitations on
ii>liiii:..' Mi^iri'sti'd h\ till' < 'ommissioin-i's. for .Manitohn wati'i-s:
ll i .\ ronsidi-ralih' di'i-i'i'a.si' in tin' amoiint of int and '-'I'ar
to hi' usi'd liy till' Hsliinp tiijrs;
2' Till' lii.iitatiiin of thi' total aiinuiil siimmir I'atrh of uhiti'lish .
i:!i Till' ih'liiiiitation of tlm ai'i'a to 1 inmi-i'i'ianx tishnl in >irii
Iiii'r ;
i -I ' A strii't ohsi'rvami' of Ihr slnirli'tii'd lishini.' s.-msoii . and
I .'i Coiiliniiii; tlii' main lishiii}: opi-ratimis stricth to lisln riin'ii
risidiiiK ill tilt' I'roviiii'i'.
Afjiiiii. owiiifi t-> thf i:iit!iy n-j)rrS"ntat i- -MS -uHd" 'v t''=^hi-i'!i!!'!i to tin-
C'liiniiiissioMt'rs, thi-y rt'coimnended that fall tishins; fritiii Si'pti'iiilii'r 1st
to Oi'toliiT l.')th lie also hUowihI in the soutlu'rii portion of laki' Winnipi');
(si'i' pp. 20 ami 21 of tlmir Heporf. as it is alh-sri'd that winter tishinsr
CJ' Milt hi' i-ari'ii-d on tlii'fi' to aiiv extent. It was also rlaiiiied that tisher-
•mr*'
,_^ iONJMISSION Of lONSl-inATION
> -'"■ -i»;.,;s:;,ri;»"f." ;Xh!':^,;;';(;;:s'S,'
S r;:rtl;;:::^:s;:,":;rs.rsi;. p,
skift's ...ly slio.iM lu' US.M1 l.v 11... HsluT.M..n. a.ul tl.at a liuns. I
•t;;l.n() lie Irvicil
„ . Tlu. <'..<nn.ission.Ts stat. that, until al...nt Hv ^var^
F°Jh''" An,-ri..an ...upauies l,a,l U..,.,. ..ontn.liin, tlu- mark..t..
Companies ^,,,„i,„,,a Ms!.. Tlu's.. ..Mnpani.-s. it was ass,Tt.Ml .-M
WlMl,. tlu. Vr.ilc.l Stat..s -•..,npa>n..s now a.v s.n.p
,.!,asors. having' .ontnnts ^^^ ' , ■'' ;.;\\'' , . ' ,„ir..nu.Hts of tl
,ular supply of "f ' ;•' •';;;;^ V^ .>o>n tl!.. -ontrol of tlu
l,„s.n..ss.ss....,m..l, '".',„;.,„., ,i,,,.. ,, VV..11 nigh i-np.
,i,,„. ,.n ♦l''V'^''V7V'; ,!',,'' Han .ohsumu... ..ou.plaius
Tlic hii-'l" pn....ot hsh aIm.1i tin ' ' , ,. ,) ,„i,l,ll..n..
aris-s. it must 1... a.hn,tt...l. '''•'?. V'^'' is a « tlu> su.all
''-''■'"■ ''''!;,::^:;:;;;:r;;: .-lsp!rpouu.,pn.Htonwi,
nn--u.u -■'•■•>■ -•''•-';-:.:l':;::i.:v
way
Itei'ii possil)l..
fi-,-. /I'ls a lit
aiv suc'o a .•onv.:iir'M-..
fnrnisliii't;' siipnl'''^ ii''
tianillc llu.
^'"" ^'''' ;th,. tish..nn.MMntlu.irfisuu,,o,,,,
inaMn,ltitu.l..ofwaysta...l.tatn.|^
„|sr iiav.. tlu. n.sp.uisilnhty ot tlu i
f.ii..r. »»*■'■ >''r,;;*'r;ii"- -'*■»■ "'i'^
«... *■ ■"i>^i",-^ '" ''\ r"' ,«iiti.i«.»i»f»fi''»»™
;■:;S■;ll;:^^:;;li:; ■;;::' ;;:"-"'>»•''- "»
■' •"'""'-" ''V »:;\;;::r«::::,sr;:;:.:;M-.;;==«
;:;•;;;*;:^r■^;:;::i;.■:,.f.•|«;»«i»':^l;;;;:;3^!:t
-1
&»->■
[••|SIIKI<li:S t >!■ MANMTOI'.A
«'s and frt't'z-
fort- tin- pro-
Itl (•OllllfC-
t fall fisliiiisr
that no niorp
t t)f si't, that
licciisi' I'ft' of
ivc years a^o.
inarkctiiii: of
•tl-.l. fXIxTtl-ll
^, A (•oniiiit'i'-
an concerns to
lands of Can
ish wonld find
had foruicrlv
:is followed,
iiiply t!ie pur
ch heavy pnr
whereby a re
iMits of the tish
i(.l of the hinrc
ieh iiiipossitilc.
oiiiplaiii'* about
iliddlenien wtm
he small retail
hat the nndillc
fit on whitelish.
not more than
companies whc
<hip them fresh
)tit. It must he
•ect and operate
the tuL's which
liinfi operations
litatini: the tisl:
of the rise an.l
of Imsiness j;en
ns. snppl.v net^
ch tlie iiid\isti\
ir less marjiin "'
ish to the rctiiil
lecomes exeessi\c
iiadian waters h.v
(h.^tcrs. at ll'v
ed States huyns
i,il dealers apiil>
c refused on i'^'
Fisheries
Patrol
^rround that, under the existing system of selliiij; to iidddlemeii. the
fish companies decline to sell to the retail (iuiadian dealers. If
it is possible, by some departmental measures, to carry out an ar
ran^'emeiit whereby the lisli companies shall .sell diieitly to the retail
dealers at the lowest possit)le prices. Canadians may then secure as
clieaj) tisli and as jrood i|uality as do the cnstomci's of the lai'Sfe
I'nited States comjianies.
" I 'iiiler present <M(ndilions ( 'anadians when buyiiif; fish actually
pay a profit to four dilVerent persons, vi/... (1 i the tishcinien (2* the
wholesale fish dealer ( .i ' the jobber or middleman (4i the ri'tail fish
(h'aler."
The iiuitter of more i'i<;id |.a1rol of the lakes is oue that will
re(piire more serious consideration than it has received in the
l)a.st. There have been freipient ;dle^'ations of incompetence
concerning the inspectors, but when the eircmristances under which these
men iiave to work, are consider-ed it is perhai)s not so surprisitiii that this
work has been but imperfectly done. In the first plai-e. the patrol boat
used is too lar^ie ami slow for such work, and <;ives early warniti'.' of its
approach to all persons enfraf^ed in illegal operations. Mesides. the in-
spectors are mostly r«'sidents who receive but small pay for their services,
and can hardly be expected to take the risk of having the ill-will of their
neighbors by forcing pro.secutions. Then. too. the areas to b vered
by tile ins|)ectois are much too extensive for thorough work. In this
rcirard. the Commissioners report as follows:
•"Few peojilc are alile to I'cali/.e the vast extent of the area \\hi( h
the orticers have to cover, and the immense waters which should be
regularly patrolled if proper supervision is to I xercised. The .s<'ale
on which the fishing ojierations is carried on. both in winter and
smuiner. is most extensive, ami it wonld appear that for interests so
vast as the fishcrii'S of .Manitoba and Keewatin. there should be a
division of labour and that one officer should not have to cover such
an immense geographical area as the present conditions rc(piire.
Till ic should be some central inspector's ofllce in the provinci-. . ,tab-
iished where the principal otiicer could be consulted by parties on
fishery Imsiness. He sliould have authority to issue licenses and
save the serious delay whi<-h at jireseiit is so great an obstacle to the
etVective workiiiu' out of the government's poli<-y of protection and
preservation <d' fish. He shoidd make weekly returns to the depart-
lue'it of the licen.scs issiu'd and remit the fees collected, l-'or the
reasons which are ajiiiarent. we do not f'avour the pi'csent system of
a nmiienms staff of poorly paid fishery overseers, and a still more
iiiadcipiately paid stall' of" fishery guardians. The whole territory
should be under the supervision of six or eight active and properly
paid fishery oversee's. who would have their patrols specified by the
prineipal oflRcer or district iu.speetor. "
That there is an ever increasing need of more fish hatcheries
Needed "' '» Manitoba, and. at the same time, a more seientifie operation
of those alreadv in existence there, seems to have been im-
,„ COMMISSION ol (.ONSKKVATION
,. S...I v.TV slroMwMv o„ th.. Co.nnission.rs. Tlu-y ass.-rt tlmt son,, of
H T . 4^ w, ; not .„ operation at all for on. or tw. s..asons. 1 In.
*'"■ . . , ainlv U... ,o nnsn.ana,.Mn..nt in tin- -natt.-r ot l-ro
rnrin.' spawn WhU- wl.it.-«sli whv h.Mnf: tak.-n an.l shipp.'.! -> tin . .
cut mt: spawn. i,.,t,.l„Tics eitlirr n-ci- v.mI nn spawi
lirnl .lurin" tin' spawnni'^' season, (he hat. loins. lUM 1 1 ■
, ' :,. ,.iv. I it in su.l. l.a.1 .on.lition that it was aln.ost .■nt..vl>
: .: ;r 1- L Conunission.... -lain, that th. Selkirk hafluTV .
. ■ In- U.e propagation of whit.tish. whi.-l, ever sn... .1
.-•■» ;'"! '"7 '••■,;:":;;;;: :i;;;,::i;'::;;.™ni'.
i,n:;::;;';;'t :;^, ;:;:...;r". .■•;-■;■ -—
Maiiiti.ha are si;ie!ii,ir!y laeknif.'.
,,„.;„., ,„ ,1,.. ,a,.k of ae..urate inforn.ation. eonsi.lerali
Ki"' h.»'n's^ .-ists as to the hahits an.l n.oven.ents ot Manito
gations
g» n.,, •11,,,. vi.'.ws .,f ..M.erien,.e,l tishennen are '"o«t '•ont,
..^.-. »■■' ;-;;!:;::;:;:;;:.r::;'.Ctr;:-*
""'• •'" ' ■ , ,,„ „|,i,,.|i.k ,.i,.k.r.-l. Mim'o". <^»-'>' ""•' '"'"■' •"
:r,;,t:!::. .:; T<.u....«< *..i «•■ «•-""- - - "
pnitahle ])laee.
K...,„,,in.. extensions of tin.e wl.i.-h the Departnu-nt
Exeensions , ,,..nn.ntlv in.portune.l to n,ake. the Co.n.n.ss.oners .-onun
of Time ,,
lis (oUows:
..Thea..partnn.nt.s.attpne.s,...l,^P^
,„„aif.v tin- .--'Hiations. espeeial. t^^^«' J ^ ^,,,-,,, „„, ur
i.,g seas..).. i:.'.,u.-sts '''•■ PJ ' ' '^J\" ,.ri..us shorta-.e in
,„. ..va, f.nv.. ;-;-, ^^^ ;„::Tm;t' in hel.alf of the fisher
season s .a •• I ..1 Us h. n I ,,,.^i t„ haiuUe as lar^'e,
un.l file tish hnns that thev "'f "';,„„. ,,in suffer seri.Mis
,.,,er .-ateh of «;?'';-';';;;;;''„, :l;;i,e then, t.. make u,
tin- .leti.'ien.-y m th.' '■»*'''■.',',,■,.,, .,,„„.„r. f.>r s.„„.' ivaso
that, .li.nn^ >i s.^is-.n "■;; '^; V , , 'i„ ^^ w ,„a.l.. f.>r h„ in-
other to be espe.ially s.ar.-e._ ..•.,"_. s.^^sluu^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^_ ^^„^^
,,1 (le.slin.ti.v.i oi lie!. 1^ .1 ... . ••■ , , opinio,. N^liel
,„,„„>se ..f the apparent «'•»'•- ♦>,*J;;,. „, j, pVe.-isely the
(isli. for soin.' reason. app<"Hr to l.e s. aT( . . tiih. i
I
ISmivli S oi- MAXITor. \
jl
SOIIll' ot
IIS. This
r of pro-
>• ttif caf-
iin spawn
: I'litircly
itcluT.v is
sini'i' its
.11. Tiifv
•ly liccoiil-
locati'd. it
lllHlll'lull'll
h.^.l. Tlu'
ial)li' asset
wntiTS lit'
iiisidcralil*-
■ Mfiiiitolia
Bst I'ontra-
itctisli tirst
■ till' white-
st prai-tical
mid spawii-
otlitM- COlll-
< advise tlie
some otliiT
lartineiit is
<rs eomiiieiit
teiupimiril>
1 of the fish
I and iirtred
,rta'_'e in tlu'
he fishermen
s lar^e, or "
I' serious loss
make ui> fill
leavs Strang"
ine reason oi
ir an ineieas
1 i)e allowed
on. uheii til'
selv the tim.
tliat tlie.v siioidd lie eoii.>Jerve(l. and the extensions asked lor appear,
therefore, to lie imwisi and iiii necessary from a tish iirnteetion point
of view. Siieli extensions, we have information to siiow, have often
proved of no lieiielit at all to \\\v [larties who askeil for tlieoi. When
an extension is asked ami the season is |enj;tliened it often results
in lishiiiLT operations liein;,' continued after the stormy season has
he'jun. cntailiiij.' i;reat loss id' ;rear. and certainly a waste of con-
siderahle c-iilches of Hsh. The seasons specified in the rcirulations
should, in our opinion, lie very strictly and closely adhered to, hotli
in the interests of the tish suiipl.\- and in the interests <■( the parties
who are eiiLMU'cd in the lisli iodustrv.
New Regu-
lations De-
sirable
"As We have pointed out in the hody cd' our report, the
exisfini; lei^ulations cover not only the province of Maiiitoha.
hut the very different waters of Saskatchewan and Alherta
•liere the conditions are wholly unlike tliosi ot' the Manitoha
Hi' (Fence, ii totally revised set of rejjidations is necessary, ami.
uiiiieislaiid that a new set of resrulations is heinir jirepared
>peciHll\' for the more western provinces, we lie>r to recommend the
foJlowiiiLr series of revised letrulalions f<ir waters which we werecom-
nd.ssioned to invest israte and rejiort upon. It will he noticeil in tiiis
code of rej-'uiations which we susrflt'st. that a niiiiilii'r of provisions
are dropi)e<l altoirether which have loii'; formed part of the Manitoha
resrulations. hut the time has I'ome for a thoroujih rex .ion. and we.
therefore. lie<r to recoiiimend the following provisions as suited to the
present reiiuirenients of the lisheries in (pieslion.
Okner.m,
"(1) Fishing liy means of nets or other apparatus without
license or permit from the Minister of .Marine and Fisheries is pro-
liihited in the waters of Manitoha and the District of Keewafin.
■■(2 I No license shall lie i;rante(| to an\' jierson unless he is a
Uritisli suliject. resident in the Dominion of Canada, and the actual
owner of nets, hoats and fishinsr frear for which the lieen.se is trranted.
Apfilications from i-esidents liviiif; in the immediate locality of the
Waters applied foi- shall have the preference In the frrantinjr of
licenses.
■■i:> Any resident settler, incjudin'j: Imlian. is eliirihle for an
annual tishioij permit to lisii i nt more than une hundrerl ( 10(1 yards
of jrill-nei for domestic use, Imt not t'or sale or liarter. Such permit
shall he issued fi-ci'. and Mshinsr under it shall he pi'rmissiMe at all
times.
■■|4i Xo license shall he transferahle unless hy special permis
sion ohtained from the District Inspe<'tor of Fisheries.
"(.') Every person holding a Hsliint;- license or permit shall, at
the end of the fishing season, make a sworn return id' his total catch
of fish to the fisher\- inspector hy whom llie license or permit wjis
issued.
■'Note. — As there are two important tisliiug seasons, namely,
th- summer fishing season and the fall and winter fishing season.
COMMISSION OK CONSEIU ATION
„u-ans of tags or otl.erw.s.. ";^]« '^ "^^^^ „,, ,,„w. the figure or
i„ Maek on a white ^'''''''''^S' ., 1', ,,.!S,t and the .m>ubers on the
figures to he not h-ss than 6 '' "^'^ , "^jf ^,;„ .vithout raising then.
fron. the water. '!'\;' »' , " t .'etUr^n boxes or on the net reel^
attn.-lunlasto M. v,s.l.h-«l. nth. " ;«' j ,,^^„ .^all he furn.she.l
S" thHli^^tr, "'li;:t^ :r^Ms?riet at t... tin. ot the .ssue
«^^'^;rSt.ore,.tsMiU.n.^^^^^
in whose name the lieense IS .ssue.1. fehern.en. o
'•(8) Kvery person or hrn ; "'^ .",i\,,ak^^
han.UiU fish after ..apture ';>., ♦^ ^ '^ ^".^ Lu^^^ght and winte.
„,. or before Mareh •^^•, ". '■^'•5,iVe m er M\ for suuuuer-eaught M
,an^'ht fish, an.l on or '"^^^j;:,^ ^1' m^^^^^^^ the kinds of fish bought c
dates named above. (i,.,.eral Fishery Regnlatioi
•M'ti Ansiler's permi s / ' 'V,V t. aiwlied to the Manitol
s::i:::^?»it,s:s;r;,s;^si^':in, .,.
in the provinee of Manitoba).
FISHERIES or lihlTIsn (OLIMBIA-
The tislicries of tliis I'roviiicc arc cxi't'cdiiitrlv rich and arc almost
uiiliiiiitcd ill proiiiisc. Altli()iij,'ii the Hshirifr iiidtistrv may he said to In*
now only in its int'aiicy. the frrowfli and dcvclopTiicnt have been truly
reniarkahlc dnrinfi the past few years. To a careful ol)server. however,
this will appear small and insignificant in comparison with that which
may be done alonsr the same line in future years.
The province of British Columbia has a sea washed shore of T.fMW)
miles, with countless islands, bays and tionls forminj; safe and easily ac-
cessible harbours. Along this portion of the Pacific coast, and within the
limits of territorial waters, there are fish and mammals in great abund-
ance, while, apart from this immense salt water fishing area, there are, in
the numerous lakes of the province, no less thati 22(t.0<H) s<|uare miles of
fresh wate»-. ffordiug the finest possi!)le habitation for nuiiiy kinds of
valuable food-fishes.
Very little has been done, comparatively speaking, for the fisheries
of British <"oluml)ia as a whole, and their importance claims the clo.ser
attention of the Government. On the Atlantic such valuable a.ssistance
as the erection and maiutena' " hait-iree/.ing establishments, and the
granting of bounties, ha.s bee. 'ed. It would seeiri that the need
of encouragement is especially ma A on the Pacific, since there the
demand for labour of all kinds is so great and other less precarious em-
ployments are .so inviting. A great deal might be done, by means of
special inducements, towards the upltuilding of the fishing iudiLstry here.
_. , Of all the many branches of the fishing industry in
Fishery British Columbia, the canning and packing of salmon yet
remains facih princeps, and it is to be hoped, and may
with reason be expected, that a continued plenitude of this valuable fish
may be ensured by careful methods of conservation, by artificial propa-
gation on a large scale and by the combined efforts of the Government
and of the cannery men. All who are connected with, or interested in.
the salmon industry fully realize that a plentiful future supply can be
rendered a certainty only by the rigid enforcement of close season regu-
lations, together with the operation of hatcheries on an extensive scale;
for all are aware that unless a sufficient number of fish are permitted
each year to reach the spawning grounds, the time will assuredly come
when the sources of supply will have become depleted. This is particu-
larly nue of the sockeye salmon.
• This article was klndlr contributed by the Attorney General's Department.
Britisli Columbia.
n
roMMlSMON nV O.NSKKVATION
.„. th.- ('an..li«n an.l AnuTU-au mde ot tlu > '^^ ' ,„.,. ,,,„t ..wry
he S..1. ..usin..ss ....uUl not .. I--;;; ' ^ ;,, ,,.., „ uu,
„...a,lv ,„...liti.-.l. if not >'lt'.'^'-tl-- /-'-" ,^^. :.. -iulations nmy be
^.e. tha, a sat.sla.to.-y ...nt ^>J- ^^^ ^ . ! 'on ti.e'.ther si.ie oV the
„aopte.l hy the .annerson "' ' "^ ""^ ' "' „„ ..„a , the savint! of the
,i„,_„l, workin, in u.uson mvan s " " "l'.,,,,,,^,,,,,,,,,,,. .levoutly
sahnon in.lustry. This wouhl. m-leed. h. a
tohe wislied." . ,,. .ippaivot in
A similarly >a.is,a,....ry ou. ..-k lor " ' ^ ,^ ^-n..' a Spe.-ial
,1 .«-• saLnon ..is,..ie,s o,' -'";:;;- ;;•„',! Minster of Marine an.l
H.mt-Katin,MV.nnn.ssu.n was appoint i^.,,,,,li^i,,,,,
K.sheHes at Ottawa .iH. ^^:-;^^;-::^::f:: „..,a of ..oats to he ah
'" ^''" '""■*'""■" . 1 iM.iivi.lnal ..annery. This Connn.ss,..,
lott. > ea.i> -liv.sH.n an.l to -' ' (.^„,„, ,.ff,i,s an.l en.inent
,„„sistea oV n>en thoroughly "'"l" ">^^' ^ ,. ,,,,„i,s of pr.'viou,
,, ,„„,iH...l for the .luty entn.st...l »;' '-■ ,^ then,selv..s-all aliv,
;,L n. this •^ir-^'"V:i;:;tr;;; oftairLave .... far fro,n sati.
t„ the vital n..e.'ss.ty ot a l«"'it.t.on ■ -^^ (Jovernment an.
f„..tory. This faet U., to ;;^;;:^ ^,, ^.f ^L.^nu-nt. of the ahov.
later, t.. th.' appo.ntn,.-nt. ''>/"'; ,,,. ,,„,,, ,■„, a period of year
""■•'*'"•"■•' *•-""-■'''""• ^" T"';;Tant e IHn, and dispute. weU.on.e t.
The eannery n.en. weary ot e. nstan ^« "^^^ ;^ „„iik,ly tl>at tl
^--■-' :' '- p:z R^r;' :;i^" ^^" ^^^ -^^t- ^" -
award of this year s n.vit-Katm ^ ^^.|^. ,,_ ^,^^. ,.,„„„.
v..t it WouUl seen, to .>e the 'ifT'"'; '';;,„,.. ,„., ,.- whieh the st.>e
.ill Letter realue t'-'- P- -^ ^^^ ^f ^^...^e.l mor.. eertain,
-"^^'"-^'"^^"'"f''^: ;.hr.,,uni..ia.th,.Hvekn..
Then. ar... in tlie ^^atels ..t '* ' r^;' ^^,,„,„„, They are .l.stu
of the .....us ■"■f IV"";;;; ;;:;;"i 1, .'r. of the ,enus .«/».... «truet
f,.,.,n the sal...on ot the ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^, ,„., their life history is tota
ally tlu.s.- tish are only sll^h l.v -ffe ,,,,^^. ,^,,,.,„
.,issi,nih.r. and they are <lf>;r-^>.',,^, ',,,,,, j all the sp.-ei.-s f...
aiffen.nee is p.vs.^nted in t'- -^ '^ ^^,,„ „„,,. This , ark.
in l^aeiiie waters .1... ^^^].;^'^^X<^,J to the attention of s.
ehara..teristie. wh.-n tor tl e ^r '--^ .li^.^edited. as they did ..ot t
A„a..tie a,..l Knn.P-< -;^;;:^^;: :^: aifferent from the s.l.„. .c
r:o:t;Xrr;.rw::^te:t of their aWanee and
fine .anniiisr .pudities.
I-ISHF.KIKS OK CRITISH (OLUMIUA 15
Till' fivf 8p»M-it'8 of I'ai-itic salirioii. in the ordtT ot' tln'ir coininercial
iiiiportaiKH'. arc hh follows:
(1 ) The Sdckcyt'. or Uliifliai-k («>iii nrlniiK Inis ttirka).
(2) The SpriiK;. or (^nirinat lO. tschaici/tsilin ).
(3) The Colio. or Silver <0. tiixnlrh ) .
(4i The l)i>ir Siiliiitiii ((K 1,(1,1).
(.")) The IIuiiiii-liHck ( <>. fiffliiisihii ).
Soc'Ki:\i: S.\i,.M(iN. — The sockexc niii in all the iiiainlaml rivers, in
some of the rivers of the west coast of Vancouver island, and in the N'iinp-
kish river iicar I he heiicl of the e:isl coast of that island. The ahinidaiiee
of this fish in the Fraser varies greatly with given years — known to the
oanners as the 'hiv' yeai's" and tiie "poor years." Their niovement
appears to he jrr'eatest ever\ fourth year and the run is poorer in the
years ii;unecliately followintr. The causes which nuiy have led up to this
most I'ciiiarkahle featuri' ha\e >;iveii rise to much spei'ulation. and iininy
theories have liecn advanced to account for them. Xone. however, are
sntllciciitiy siiiisfac|(vi". t., lie generally accepted. The periodicity in the
run if socke\e. whii ii Is so j)ronounee(l in the Kra.ser. has no markecl
eonnterpart in any other river in the Province or on the <-()ast.
'i"hc sockeye weis'hs from three to ten pounds, though s|)eciniens
weighing seventeen pounds are i ordcd. The adults in salt water are
free from sjjots, their hacks aie a idear hlue and helow the lateral line the
coloni- is an imma'-nlate white. In form and colour, they are considered
the ino.st heantiful of their fandly and the flesh is of a deep and unfailing
red.
They enter the Fraser I'ivcr as early as April, hut are not taken till
July 1st and their I'apturc is. hy rcirulation. i-onfined to nets of oL, inch
mesli The main run in the Fraser is looked for towards the latter |)art
of July and is at its heit'lit durinir the first ten da \ s of August.
The spawning period of the sockeye extends from August, in the
heiidwaters. to as late as Octoiier and Xovemlier in the waters nearest
the sea. the spawning taking place in lake-f< or in lake-feeding streams
Very little is known of the life of the vDung. or the length of time
they live in fresh waters liefoi'c seeking .salt water, hut the results of
ohservations of late would fend to show that the .seaward migration iloes
not take place wiieii the fish are of any one sjx'cial age. since fry and
year!; isrs have been noticed at the same time making their wa.\- towards
flic sea. Nothing is kjiown of their fi'eding-grounds in salt water, as they
are nevei- found in tiie havs and iidets whicii distinguish the coast and
where tlic .spring and colio are so cmiunn. It i,s rhougiiT that their feed-
ing-ground must he in the open sea.
Si'RiNd oi! QriNN \T Sai-von. -This class ranks second it
importance
COMMISSION Ol- CONSERVATION
only, salmon use.l lor .ann.ng. Tlu- s, - a » ^^^^^^^^,^ ^.^^
of fro.n oi^ht..... to thirty pou.uls u. »" ,\ '^^^ ^.„,...,. Tl... hea.l in
weiKhin. .ix.y to one ''"-''•'■^ ,f ;';:^J " , a k i of a .lark .re.n or
rather point.-.l. a-ul of a nu-tal .<■ 1« tn . t . . a K ^^^^^^^.^^^^ .^
l,U,i.„ :.olor; wlnl.. l.-low th.- l«t.-l '- ' J^ /;,. ,he spawning-
b,c.onH.s al.nost Ma.k ; I.hu- it is olt... M...ku.
grounds as -'l.la.k salmon." j^.^^^ „f
It is the ,uost powerfully-swimmn., <^«'; « « \ ^ ^r^, ,,,,..rHhe.l
t,e Provin... usually ^o--^-«^; * j;;::^" .^i tlmovin, streau.s,
that it enters. It seems to P-'f; f -p", , ....^^ of the flesh is
apparently avoi.lin, the ^"•;!'- *; V:^"^ n.es Inmst white. Tins un-
fLu a <leep red to a very h^ht 1""'^-- » ;" ,,,. ,,.,, g,„,r„lly used
certainty of eolour is n.ainly "-'•""''''' '"V^'l^ers before a-eept-
for eannin.. AH sp.pnens - ™ ;* jlllfl:!.! tlsh usually being
ing them fr.mi the hshenmm. the ixtum» . i
''*'^''*'"'^- , ., . Kraser earlv in the spring and the run oon-
The .,ui..nat enters »": \ "^^ *; "^^ ■„,, ,,. the fall there is no pro-
tinues more or less intermittent u..til .n...
nouneed run. .^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^,^^^ ^^.^,^,,, „f ,Ue
Couo Salmon.- This spe. i. s is ■ ,^.,^,,,,, faetor in cannimi
Proviiiee and of recent years has heeom^^^u^^^ ._^ ..^_ ^,,,
operations. The bulk of the ^^'^:^l'';;2 three to ei^ht pounds.
Eastern markets. Its average --^^JZ . o our. it is very silvery,
though heavier speeimens are ""»;" "" ".^ ; /.^^.^ ,pots on the head and
greenish on the dorsal ««P''^\'*"^\"''^;' J^^ L.ce in the rivers on the
Ls. In August ^^^^^:f:^:r^:Z^^Z^. m tl. rraser.
north-west coast, and m hiptember ^^
..jr::^^!^;:::--:"-:-^^^^^^ -
close to the sea. ascending ^\' "^^^i^^ Colour, the fins bein. bla-.k;
streams. In the sea. they are <^-^^^^ „,,,,, ,ith lateral lines of
but during the spawning season h>'-^^^^^^^ ■ ^,^,^^ ,,, ,;,,,
blaek. There is more or less ^™ J'^^^ ^^ ^^ aistortion. while the
The heads of the males '""^-f . ^^^ '" .Tsfrom this latter eharaeter-
teeth in front become -^ ^^ t^f;,,;!,, ,.,ne. Tntil a few years
istie that the species has ''''";*;; "J;^^. ^^jy,. but they are now cap
ago these fish were not considered of any
J
I'lSHI'.klKS Ol IIKITISH (Ol.l'MlilA
tui'od in (fF! lit iiiirnloM's l)y tho JapHtii-Hf who dry -salt thciii for (■xj)ort to
tlu' Oric'it.
Hi'Mi'uxcK Salmon.- This is th*- sinalicNt of the sprcics of Naliiion
found in Mritish Colunihiti Wiitcrs. aviTUKini; in wci^lit froin thrci- to six
ponnds. In cohxir, it is tiiuish aliovf and silvtTv lit-iow. whih' tin- liafk
and tiiil ail' covered with oltlonR hhick Hpott*. In the fall, the maU'S are
so <.'r''Jitl\' distorted as to nive tiieni their popular name. These tisli nin
in ahundaiii-e in the "hi^j years," and then otdy every second yar after,
eoiiiin); in with the last of the sockeye run. They are hut little valued,
tlion^'li a considerahh- demand has sprung uj) duriuK the last few years.
With till' development of the markets for cheai) lishery products, a de-
mand has come for all the varieties of salmon, with the residt that the
tifihinK season is now extended to cover the runs of all five s|)ecies. This
lenjjtheiiiMtf of the season is of marked lienefit to the regular salmon
fishermen, and witli thi' development of the other fisheries, it is eou-
Kdently lielieved that these hardy irien imiy find ready employment
during' the entite year.
TiiK, Aktikk lAi, Piioi'ACATioN OK SALMON. — The following salinon
liat<'heries are in operation in Hritisli Coluinhia:
lion Ac-cord, Fraser river.
reml)erton, Lillooet district.
(Iranite ereek, Shuswap lake.
Harrison lake.
Hahine lake.
Stuart laki'.
Lakelse lake, Skeeiia district.
Oweekayno lake. Rivers inlet.
Nimpkisli liver, V;incouvcr island.
and
Seton lake, Lillooet distriet.
The total numher of these institutions does not hy any measis meet
the retpiireinents, and the necessity for many more is recognized by all
who are familiar with tlie situation. The rection of other establish-
ments of the kind, however, is now under consideration, and it may be
expected that before very long a larger nmnber will be in oi),'ration at the
different |)oints where spawning salmon are to be obtained each year in
vast numbers.
Hatcheries for game fish, too, especially in the t'jjper Columbia
region, are greatly needed. The vast amount of good that is aceomplish-
ed by hatcheries towards preventing tiie depletion of the salmon supply
and the building up of this industry can raly be comprehended by a
careful studv of the results obtained elsewhere.
<»
COMMISSION or (ONSKKV.VnoN
(„, Knra salmon -Irift -i.t or ».Mll-n..t J.- o,.. . *•).
(h) For a salmon .Irajf-srin.- li-'Oinr. *..>.
(,l) For a sal.n.m trap-uH Ii.'O.h.-. =i<2... aNo a
and fiab taken.
T,..,uni^u,oM.ntis,,ro,nn..i«..«.^an.-..inKN.n,^
""^""^ tion, for tl-y a.v less ov.T.ro.vn an.. J^' ;; ,, ^^.,^,,
of 2r,0 11.S. is oxc-ptional for th lintis ,s,,.M.ially oT Unse
hetwoen Ciu.-u Charlott.. -"7' ^ ^l^ ^ , " ' t on. tin... vvritahly
Spit and "ft" tin- wst sli..r.. ..t Hanks isl.in.i.
ov..r..rowd..d with "">*""»• ^„„„. „,,„,„., ,,„ pounds.
Vory lar^'.- hsl, ^u■vr ott.-n tako. ^ ,^^^,.,,^,^
,.„, „.. ^,„.„a «,.,.,„„.» ,» o, V ;;"*,;;; »,■;:,„ .„ ,.,„
are ..•a.twl "" ■"'•■■"' ""•"■ ,,„,„.,.,„„„, I,.- .-..nvi.t.. mov-
:rri:T:t;:;i:;:\:;;rn: '.•.;■::>:. > '■-' «- - - •
the fish congn-gat.. in largo numbers. ,,,,.ti.any
The metho., ..f fishing with >^^^^:^:^L^..^ men
of Boston and Gloucester. j,,.
[rir.^s»::;;;"' >:; : -. -'■■ ■■' -«' ■•;- „^„„
Atlantic shores of Canada.
Tl,is srr.ll tish-ahont the si/.. ..f a smelt -<vcurs in great
Oulachon , "" \!Z Vu- Nans river in the north t.. the Fraser
"'"""'""'■'■ Lm enrlv Mar.'h to the middle of Apr.l.
river in the south. ap,,caru. - rrom ' -^ J;^, ,^.,,,, .^e Naas-are
The s..hools entenng the ,, ' ? f ;j;^ ^„^, /...u^.s. fron, an early
v.ry larg..: they .-row.l ,n so tl"'kl> that ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^
period, have heen a.-.-uston.e. t.. '"'f ; "/^J^^^..^; of nails inserted
i ISIII'KIIS Ml hl-'ITISIl - ol.lMr.l \ v>
liy ilrawintr this iiripli-iiM'iit i|iiii-ki\ tliriMit(li tii<' lii-iiw Mrlmol ni' UnIi thi'
Indiiiii iinpHlcH d );rt'iit iiiiirilu-r, wliii-li lu' Hliii''.fM otT into IiIh ronoi'. in m
very short tiniv he I'lin nliinin a hDathuul in this primitive iiiariiiir Siiipr»>
art' iiNt-d ill soiih' localities, as also arc miiimII iih-nIii'iI ifiJIiicts.
The tissues of the oiiln<'hoii are teeiiiiiut with oil — so niiieli w) that
it is called the "eaii<lle fish." for liy simply iiisertiii^ a piei'e of pitch
throiiKli the centre of it when dried, it may he used as a 'Hiidli' or torch,
the pit<'h hiirniii); like the wiek of n well -tiileil lain]).
The Indians are accustoined to press out the oil into vati*. It is
(freatlN esteemed hy them, althoiiirh it (|uickly turns rancid and is very
offen-sive in odour, ft is suined hy them in the -ame way. and to
the Man e extent, as butter is with more eivili/i il folk
Herring
The siiperaliundaiice of herriii); on the coast of Mritish
Columhia has lieeii reco(rni/ed from earl> times, hut. a.s the
local denuind was insitiniticanf . no herrini; Hshery can he said to have
e.xisted until about thirty years ago. At intervals, and in a desultor.\
way. various parties engrailed in the herriiiL' industry and iinantities were
t'onverted into oil ami (iuaiio. Within the last ten yearn, however, the
value of this fishery resource has heeii slowly n-alized.
Herring occur practically all along tlie coa.st as far as Ma.ika.
though ill sheltered areas, like the waters near Nanaimo. I'cluelet. Hark-
ley sound. Virago sound, and (^ueeii Charlotte islainls. the schools appear
to form solid phalanxes. At Nanaimo. they are plentiful from early in
November to the New Year, vast schools appearing in Pebruar.v while
even as late as June immense quantities have Vteeii seen moving out in the
strait of Georgia.
There are many methods of putting up herring, but the giviitest
demand is for the salted article in pickle, and there is no reason why the
Province should not put U]) as largi- a pack of the best herring as Scot-
lan<l, which produces ahnuall.\ '?r)n,00(1 to :!.')!>, 000 tmis, valued, when
pickled and iva<ly for market, at no less than $.'),000,0(MI to $(),000.(Miil.
It will thus be seen that while the fisheries of Nanaimo are *till in
their infancy, the possibilities of the herring industry are laii/e and.
|)roperly conserved and exploited, it will liecome a valuable -.ource of
revenue to the whole district.
Sturgton
The sturgeon fishery of the Province was negl.Mted until
recent years, but in IH07 the Fraser river inspector reported
tliaT "the sturgeon lislicr; lias l-ecotrie a very iiiiportaiit iitdnstn' — t\w-
more important as it affords winter em|>loynient to a large number of
resident fishermen who wou!d otherwise spend their time in an idle or
t
M
4,
,„ COMMISSION or .ONSEKVATION
|50.(H)0. the fW. »>.'inK .Ir.-^^'Ml hikI «ii«>«<i to
It is.loulitful if thestuwoiihuh
t\w north.Tly riv.-rs of \u<- I'rovi-
that iiiiy tiHli-y ImM L.'.-n •!• ''"i ' '
m»y !«• fo'iii'l i" ""' '■'^'•''" ''"" '
from til.' wH to th.' fr.'Hli wat.T • i
nii.MU* of April, or .-v.n ...s .•ar ^
wcro nciMiHtoin.-.l to tiikc tliciti i '"
bnitPcHiooks. om-n.'tH w.Tt' lie. ■
yonrs ngo, aii.l for thrpf or fi>ur y -
fighinR. Ill f«.t. so rfiimru'rHli
of fiHhpriiifii iiiitiie«liii1elv ftiRa:
years the «ateh fell to one-fifth oj
I'l I
iii- am
iv iiuiutHTM. every fre<|iifiit.Ml
I'isoii the Frawr rivr alone
I ,rh .•onniier.ial value. Tlu'y
.„, tlm of the year, hut mitrrate
\ 1 the early sprini? ahout the
l,i lary. Thf Imlians forim-rly
, ... irawlN .vith lonif lii'«'»* '""'
jliHiiii' on «}< v.Tiiiiient hoiii.
,,. .1.111 III HturL'eoii
I , . „\e that a larffe Uody
(,„. n-sult that in three
I ikon ii xhort time hcf.tre.
r ,1, ... ,iin..i 1 ■ in.i»iM> nonndM of stur-
At the present tun,- not .mop th.a. ...
geon are taken annnally-or ah.n.t t-- tl •• - ' ' ^^ '^ V^,,,.., ,iver
Wa river eafh. Vast nun.hen, , . s-naH ttsh are ^ ^e ^
Mhnon tishernun un.l this leads ro th- hehet hal « th t a
of the pr....u, ''•'•"^■'7,«^^i:-:- ::,r i::^..;;;. t the m.
n:';;;;.:!;:;o:;f;r;he!;::.:f^.:sai «... a-a .o. eam.
iiigs ean be made.
ley sound and ad.iaocnt inlets.
"-» •-r":*;,:.T:;,,::t,,;:\.::r:,,i:;.:;.;.t.,.-
, . i„>vv is M British Colunil.ian fish has lousr h^on
as...Ttained. On... kn,.vvM. h..^^e^. r. the liru ^^^
be prepan.d as ;. paste to .oM>l>"t- •'> "'arkets nh. h I
nli<>:! l>v the Mediterranean.
Th.re are two varieties of smelt eonunon in ^^^;;^^
S»*'» the n.,u n:. Ihahirhlln,^ an.l the /7.//>.-m. ..k.s- ,.m f.o>..s. They
are both in hrisk local demand.
^
FtSHl ,UF.S or UklTISH ini.lMlUN it
TIhth in prHiti'iillv 11" tnit' cod indiistrv in tin' Province,
Ce%A
thoiiKh tin- (itlipr H|)t'<'if»4 of thin k«'Iiuh iihoiiiiii. TIum inny
be iliii" tci tli»' I'hi'J t(i 't thf tnif-ciid di>i'» ii<>f ixi'iir in f«nfti'ii-nt iiniintitirH
to juKtit'\ liiriTf oufl.ivH on jtN rxplnitHtion. 'I'lif Mliori'H nml lixliinif l>;inl<H
•"iirthcr iiKiMi in Miiskti. Iiowrvcr. yield it in tiliundiini'i-, lirintfin^ in
lar(?f NinnK 'i nun ■•> annnidiy to tliow ••tiKfitri'il in tin- indnntry
Ah lonK ii(ro iim IHHO. tin- Httt-ntion of the (JovcrniniMif was cHllt'd fo
thi' prcsi-nci- of thin food tinli und rnrn who wi-ri' I'lspcrtih jr iind n'| ortinir
on tin- ri-M.nrict. m (lie Mrilinh .nd Kiniku lici'iinic \rr\ .'ontiil.nt tluit tin-
I'Hi'itii' I'od HnIi is th <.finif as that laniflil in tin- Atlantic, ami saw no
rt'aHon why. in tin , ,Mirs«' of tinii'. and with lari' and afti-ntion, it slionid
not lu'coiiie aH valnalih' and important on this side ol thi' contirif.. .,<
fhi> .VfWiciumI id fish in the Kast Th" i-ca:. Ui that this i-ntcrpci.." jji ,
so far not hcin cxti'iisivciy entered upon is prol'ahl\ dui' to hn'k id' investi-
KHtion
Ut'foi.' the end Jishei-.\ an lie developed in Mritish ( nluiiihia. infor-
mation is tii'eevviir\ and the .Marine Miolonieal >>tati(." will have no task
mor»' itiiportaiit than that of Hseertainin^ where the trin^-eod ahoimds,
the iiHtiire of \tn f<M)d. niijrratioti and spawnitii; halnfs.
Ttiis didieioiis and niiich-sonnht after fish ahoinids in
Cod or^Skill ' ' '"•'■^'"'''" ^^'"t'tx •••' Hie I'rovinee. especially aloiiir the
western shores of the t^ueen Charlotte islands. It favours
deep water, espeeiall.v depths of tC in "0 to 'Ml fathoms, tlioui;h if is also
found at 20 to 2.'ill fathoms. It is jcver caiiirht in the siirfai-e waters and
avoids shallows.
It is caught mostly in the winter luonths. The hlacx cod is a deliei-
i)«s food-tisli, of rirm and flaky texture, hein*; white in ecdoiir and ri<h in
flavour. Owinj; to its rich oil\ nature, it is far more apiieti/iii); tlniii Mic
drier and tinner tnu'-cod On the talde it hears a distinct f
to a larife whiting; — that is, the true European whiting— m tisli wholly
differing from the inferior so-called whitinjrtd" the western water..
It is eanj/lit with very l.in^ lines, each carrying 120 t<< lot) hooks
H.xed on snoods at rejrular intervals, (ircat care has to lie exerisod
in takiiiL' the fish off the hooks as it is ver\ tender-mouthed.
Investi^'ation is ahsolntel.v essential in the case nf this spcci.s also.
The determination of the sfiawnim,' season, he nature and location of the
spawn and fry are importunt factors in the tramiiiffof regulations t" pre-
serve and devidop this industry.
Minor A nniiihc!' of ediMe fishes ahoinid alonsr the rocky shores
arieiie;. ^^f jj^^ Province whiid) arc used ehietiy to supply the lo( a!
markets. The eultus eod is the principal of these niinur fiah : it weijrhs
from four to ten pounds and is caiisrht hv means of hiiltcd hooks ,iiid li.\'
it^
( «
I.
f
(OMMISSION (.1- (ONSr.UX NIK'N
""'X. ..V no so,..s .n British Col-nni.i.. tl... .isl. that is sol., as ...-h
l;;;;'NViUvrv s,nall. s..l.lo„. .....•.-.lin, a r"..n.l ...• so ,n vv,..«M.
I)„,.in.' tlw ..ast f..w v.-ars. .-tTorts lunv b.vn .na.U- to
eonvPrsant w,tl> tl. ''■ " J" ' ,^, ,,.,.„,„„ „,■ ,,,..,„ i, ,.ot as yet
fd at various points. Init wliai niuni.u .
ilefiiiitflv known. ,„P,o ^
„.;.. 1 «•>() lobsters wen- sl.ippe.l. in the spnnfr ot lOOH to
waters, hu-e - -at. s - ' ^^_^ ^^^^^^^^^.^ j.^^^^,,^, ,,, ,,. ,„ „
;l^;;:;:';::;;i:: ':;..;;;.::. '^-■> ^' ^>->' ''^''''-'
ph„-es on the -oast. ^,^^, ^^,,^„
Shiinuents or Kastern oyst..rs hay L. u "
oys- .,., !...., ., -^-'if^t^:;;:;'::: '-r ;;C-a in
wore ronn.l to he perfeetly health.^ " ^^^^ ,, ,,„,, ,„., inlets on
,„.,ir new snrroun.lin.s. /''- H^; :,':,... ver island and there is
th.. eoast or the n.a.nlat.d and also .'rou 1 . .^.,,,„,„„.,„ ,,, ..„n-
,•;„. ,,s frrowth an.l development are eon-
I'lSIll'.UIKS Ol- IIUITISH t 1)1.1 Mi'.IA
M
liavf Ih'i'Ii ui-i-iist(mu'(l in Hastcrii waters and wliii-li arc I'sscntial to the
raising of tiic tcnipcnitnrc for suci-cssl'iil |)r<>pa<;ation. arc lackiiifr. Ncvcr-
tiiclcss, the liusincss of plantitii; the yonnfr oyster and Miarl<etiMf: tlie fully
deveh)])e(l prodiii't is fonnd hy tiiose eii<?aKed in it to l)e very prolitahle.
Tlu' same ditlleiilty with retrard to the propaf^ation of tlie hihster may l)e
fonnd to exist, hnt this lias yet 1o he fully determined.
A prolitahle husiness is carried on in the cidtivation of the native
oyster which is smaller than, ami inferior to. the Kastern variety.
Crabs
Very line i-rahs al'e to he (ihtaine<l in lai'jrc ipiantities
alonj,' the coast of the Province, and there is a hrisk local
demand for them. This industry is hy no means exjiloited to the full,
however, as the Indians, liy whom the hulk of the crah-tishinj; is done, are
oeeupied with the salmon fisliinfr throuf.'hont the summer and fall.
Tlie denuind for crahs in the local markets far exceeds the supply
and this, despite the fact that they arc to l>e found in sucli abundance.
Saanicli arm and the [..atroon at Ks<|uimalt are teeudn<r with crahs and
often, in the summer, pleasure parties ;ro out for the express purpose of
catching them. A iiundred or so thus taken in an afternoon is no uncom-
mon thing.
Some idea can thus l)e ohtaiiicd of tiie numhers that are to lie caught
by practical fishermen when novices are able, for the pure pleasure
attaelied to the capture, to take them in such >■ ubers.
Prawns
As in the (-asc of crabs, very little attention is give to the
systematic capture of prawns, in spite of the con.stant local
demand for them. All that are otfered by fish dealers are ipiickly bought
np : for the prawns tliat are taken in provincial waters an- of exce))tional
quality.
.Most of the prawn fishing is done around N'ancouvi'r: ver\ little is
done ofV Vancouver island, though this is not liei'ansc the.x- do not exist
tiiere, Imt simply because fishermen cannot he found to umiertake their
capture. Nearly all the prawns sold by the lisii dealers in Victoria are
cither obtained from Vancouver or Seattle, and it is only occasionally
that fishermen bring them in. When they do. their c'atcli is readily taken
oflf tlieir lumds by the local dealers.
' ^1 Among the nniiiy fishery resources of the Province that
] are not apjjreciated at their real value is that of the <dam
a industry. There is an unlimited market for tliese shell-fish in the I'nited
; >^tates, botli in a canned anil a tresli conditinn,
The existence of vast clam-shell beds at numerous points along the
British Columbian coast — indeed, wherever Indian communities have
if
[I
^^ COMMISSION OK CONSFRVATION
.Htahlislu.! tlu.„.s..lv..s-s..ous how nuK-h the native population relied
"•'"'^;:;:::::;;;;.; iii'nritish rolun.hia is ,,..>. n.n.ar.ahle: proanet^.
areas s.oeke.l with -Inn.s of various spee.es oeeur P;-» ^ ' . !* /^
points. There are several estahlislnnents for ean.ung then., loeatul at
diffe.'ent points in the I'rovii.ee.
The fee for a elam li8l.i..g Hee.ise is !|!i.<H».
„ has h,..^' hee.. known that the ahalone oee..rs plentitnlly
A""'""^' in eeHai.i areas off the Hritisl. (•olu...l.ia.. shores, .-spee.allN
»- ' ; ""■ ""; ; i, ; ■ llu,lf„l iri,l™.c.„, coveri,,,
rni;;':„ ;;: i:;l'ir;:t ::•':; ■ '•-•'•"■> '-■ ""-' ""•"'■
.nnkei-s eiiri(>sitv deale.-s and oth.'rs.
""^The following is a list of the n.o.-e .n.portant spee.es of .UW
,noU»sra fo....d in British Columbia waters.
. , , , , „ . Native oyster,
awrca /»/•,./.. Carpe..ter ^
I'cctcn ca,ni„.s,(,ouh\ ^_^^^^^^
Prchn hnslal„s >.hy [n^Mop.
P,cti II nihidiis, Ili.Kls M.is-sel
Myliliis ,alifoniia,nis, ("o..rad Mussel
Mylilus nhilis, Lm„. "^^^^^j^;
Caiiliiiiii riii-his, Mai-ty.. ^^^^^^
Siuiiloiiiiis nlfiaiiloii". l'><"s'> f^,^^^^^
Mai'iinn iiKiiiiiinln Clam.
Mamma ii(i'<iil<i, t'oi.i'ad ^,^^^^^
IU.ritl,a,riis.la,rnunn\ R^.or eWi.n.
Sili,,i,a iialnla, D.xon ^ ^^^^
Trisus iiiitlalli, Conrad _ Soft-shell ela.n.
Mya arenaria, I.mne Hard-shell ela.a.
Paphia si a mi 11(11. * on.'aa
Paiiopaia lu inmsa, (iould
P< nitrUa iiiiiila, Conrad
Poiililhi iiviiiih", tio.dd
Ziii>luua (lahbi, Tryon ■ .^j^^j^
Piirpiisn criapata, Chemn
Piirpii la liiiKi, Mai-tyn ■ • '
Purpura Sa.riii>la, \'al
KISHKKIKS OF HKITISH COLLMHIA -i5
Littoriiia sifkaiia, Phil Periwinkle.
Liltoriim sciitulatc, Gould Periwinkle.
Acmava pi rsoiiala, Kst-h
Acmara patina, Kscii
Acuiara prlfn, Escli
Acmai a inifra, K.sdi
Ifaliiili.'i h'anilsrluilhaiia, Jonas Abaloric tii- Kar-nlit'll.
Cihihjiis (Cruptorhitiiii, Knihrrina and others)
Ortitpiis piiiictafus, Gabb Cuttlefish.
."^.laiiy species of wliali'S oci iir oflf tlie coa.st of British
Columbia. In fact sperm whales are occasionally captured,
some of which liave been ffifjantic specimens exceeding a liuridrcd feet in
length. In former years, the sdiools of wliales were of no value to tlie
Province, hut the action of the Dominion (ioverinnent, by its encourage-
ment of whale factories on modern principles, will create a larfre and
remunerative industry all aloii}; the coast.
One of these Pacific whales will yield, on an average. 50 to 80 barrels
of oil and 41^ to o tons of dried g\iano; a!id furnishes numerous other
products when treated by the most recent mechanical and chemical
methods. Oil fertilizer, leather, glue, catwied "beef" (prepared whale-
fi.sh put up in beef cans) and even condensed milk from the female whale
are among the products yielded by these itioiistrous creatures.
The companies opei'ating make tremendous profits since, by the
latest improved methoils, it is pos.sible to take the large and very numer-
ous inferior whales that were formerly neglected; wliile the adoption of
mechanical reduction processes secures the utilization not only of the
blubber and wiialebone, but also of the flesh, blood, massive viscera, etc..
formerly cast away, to be devoured by voracious sharks, seals, and other
such irdmbitants of the deep.
Inland '''''•' f"'!""' h\kvs of Hritish Columbia, while l)eing emin-
Lakes ently suited to the production of food tisli of many kitids.
Fisheries |^^ ^^.^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ present tune, supply them in any large (pianti-
ties. with the exception of trouts. For some time, however, the tJoveni-
ment has been consitlering the introduction of the true whitefish (Citre-
'imuis chipdfnrmin) of the Great hikes, into this Province, The native
whitefish exists i'l most of the Rritish Columbia lakes, notably Atlin lake,
but it .seldom attains a weight exceeding two pounds, and is not as
good a mercantile commodity as the whitefish that is indigenous to
llie Eastern lakes. There seems to be no reason, moreover, why the
latter f^sh should not thrive in tlie lakes of this Province, the most access-
ible waters for the planting of it being the Kootenay, Okanagan. Shuswap
and TIarri.son lakes. The whitefish has prospered wonderfully in lake
I'
1" -n
4„ COMMTSSION OF CONSERVATION
Manitoba a.ul its int.o.iuetion should he attended with like success in
British Coluiiihia.
If experinieats in this direction prove to he successful, the commence-
ment of a larjjc i«dus(v> will have been made, since not only wiH there
be a great market .n British Columbia, but also in the North West.
Injurious The principal natural caus.s of destruction to the fish
Fishes ^,,. j,„. i3rovincc, and the salmon in particular, are the dog-
fish and the l>air-seal. Bolh of these pests exist in great numbers, the
seals ,..owding the estuaries of the rivers and causing treuu-ndous havoc
anu.H- the in.M.M.inf: salmon. In sonu- years especmlly. the loss ol hsh
du.. 10 the depred-timis of seals is very extensive. The danger attendn.g
the wholesah- slHM.ting of these n.aratulers in the Eraser estuary how-
ever renders their externdnation extremely difficult, but ,t ,s to be hoped
that'soMK- s.l,enM. M.ay be .h'viscd that may l>rove etfectiv. n. thts dire.'-
tioii.
The dogfish, too. are responsible for i large amount of destruction
anmng the fish. and. u.ifortunately. there has so far been no syste.nat.c
eff,.rt tnade to lessen the destructive depredations ot this voracums out-
law. Establislunents such as exist on the Atla.ttic. for the reduet.on of
dogfish, are urgently lu-eded.
Other .-anses of destruction among fish, such as the dumping of mill
refuse i.ito streams and lakes, are being overcome as -onstant supcrv.smn
[s ..xercised by Covcrnn.ent officials, the offenders ben.g dealt w,th ac-
cordingly.
The swarms of trout whi,-h follow up tlm spawni.ig saln.on are a
souree of great trm.hlc to hatchery officials for they ravenously devour
vast quantities of sabnon eggs, thereby working great havoc ,n the
hateherv streams.
Then- an- sn n.anv eauses of destruction an.ong the eggs and fry of
salnmn that everything possible should be done to lessen tl.e .U.tru,-t,on
.•idie such str.nnons efforts are being n.a.h- to P-^''-, ' ^^j^^" ^ , ^
dnstrv bv n.eans ..f hatcheries. The trout ts a very useful an 1 x. 1
fish ii. its proper phfc. but its prese.-e is by no n,eans to be desu.d
where salmon are spawning.
Sv,MoN--It seems to have be.m the ,'eneral opinion in
,1,.. nast that the s,>ort of sahnm, fishing it. this "•"»<•"•>;;•«;;
,„, ,vortl, trving. but of late years it has been dis. over-d t at
tbis is ernu.eous and pc.ple have been con.ing >-- ^[[""'f ,;;;;:
'v^rhl to fish. It .nay be true that the sabnm, ge.u.rall.v yll ""* "^ "
h flv but under .ertain .•onditions of the water, the sn.all speces eallcd
British
Columbia
Game Fish
"ISIIKKIIS Ol- iiUITlSH lOl.lMlllA
47
the I'oho liHs Ih'cii kimwii to rise freely, and tlicre are several authentic
eases of spring salmon liaviiifr lieen cauKiit in lil<e manner.
However, even if the fish eaiinot he eansrht witli the fly. there is no
(loulit that they «ill jrive troixl sport to those wiio like troUinsr. Tlie eoho.
tiiouirh ranginj,' in weight only up to about ten pounds, is a most lively
fish, and hy the use of a rod and light taekle gives exeellent sport hefore
he is gaffed.
Canipliell river has. at present, the name of being the l)est for game
fishing, thdiigh there are many other places as good in the Province. The
fishing there l)egiiis in July. .\t first, otdy the colic, are to be caught and
they come in great numbers. .M out the end of July, however, the big
tyec sidiiion appear: tliey average about 4.'> poniicls and have been caught
on a rod u|) to 72 pounds.
The best salmon fishing is obtained from Jamniry to April. At this
time of tile year, flic spring salmon arc to be I'fiught ami tlicy arc then in
the pink of condition and afford excellent sprirt, though the catch may
not be as large as it is pos.sible to make later on in the year. The man
who has time then to go to Port Simp.son will t)e well rewarded.
l{arkle.\ sound also has good fishing: while within cas\ reach of
Vancouver, good spring fishing can be had at Pender harbour and
Seehelt,
During Septcmlx r and Octolier the cohos run in great numbers in
Vancouver and Victoria harbours and six or seven fish in an afternoon's
fishing is (piite ; common occurrence. A few spring salmon are also
caught al this time.
Trout
Attempts have been made to give a list of the lakes and
streams of the Province to be reconunended for fishing, but
this is (|uite hopeless as it is difficult to discrimiimte. .\s with everythini;
else, there are favorite loi'alities. but in respect t<) trout alone, nearh
every part of the Province luis its attractions. On Vancouver island, one
of the best trout streams that is easy of access is the Oyster river, a short
distance north of Comox. The Campbell river .stands out p oniinently
also as a good trout stream. Closer to Victoria. Shawnigan lake and
Cowichan river and lake afford excellent fishing. On the mainland, good
lishingcan be obtained at Frederic arm. while from Seehelt the streams at
the head of the narrows and Salmon arm can be reached. Close to \'an
couver. Capilano and Seymour creeks will still give a few splendid fish
The Sipiamish can also l)e rcarhcd ni a short time from the same place
Ooing farther into the interior. Vale and IIo|)e have good streams, ami
Sevoiias. whcit the water is in ciuiditinii. wiii furnish exccljeni spnrl.
Taking the whole country into consideration, it is difticidt to beat the
Kootenay f(»r Irout since almost every stream there has good fishing and
some of them contain ennrmous charr.
18 COMMISSION or CONSKinATlON
In uortlitTii waters, nearly all the streanm have ({uautities of gray-
ling, rangin}; from one to two pouiulH in weight. They rise readily to
the fly, and, while hardly to be compared with the trout for sport, are
well worth i'atiliin<r. Near Atlin the fishing is exeellent, and at Taku.
which is just aeross the lake from the town, a basket of fifty fish would
not be considered any very large catch.
There are several large cold-storage plants in operation
in the Province which greatly facilitate the handling of
salmon and halibut. Three of these establishments are situated on the
Skeena river, being operated in conjunction w^ith canneries. There are
also two on the Fraser river, one of these — owned by the British Colum-
bia Packers' Association — being an especially large, up-to-date and well-
equipped establishment.
Revenue ^''"^ following shows the revenue and expenditure of the
and Uovernmciit of Hritish Columbia in respect of fisheries for the
Expenditure ^,^^^ ^^^jj^^g ^^^^^^ gj^^ ^g^Q.
Revenue
Licenses issued, —
12 trap at $25 $ 300.00
75 cannery or fish-packing at $100 7,500.00
4,708 fishing at $5 28,540. 00
Total revenue $31,340.00
ExPENorruRE
Total expenditure $21,728.03
.r
Salm<
Cod
Lobi
Her
Hal
Wt
Mg
Se
H
PRODUCTION OF CHIEF COMMERCIAL FIS:
< KiKureH K'ven in pou
Kill') of KiHh
.. ,, , I'rinir I'jlward
Nova Si-otiii N' " lirmi.-wick Inland
i,;iirl>ec
Salmon
Cod
Lobsters
Herring
Halibut
Whitefish
Mackerel
Smelts.
Haddoel
Pickerel
Trout
Sardine^
Hake
Pikf
Claras, Quahauns, Srallop-^
Pollock
Oysters. .
Eels. . .
.Mewives
646,3()<l
1, -.27, 090
4,120
994,602
56,150.971
>-. 400,200
2.175,000
18.276,900
11. 900. 422
;<.yss,560
2.440,898
1,046,420
;{(•>, 27.S,Wil
:?7.40,'>.620
2,434,719
4 .507,910
1. ■.;.">'.», 7 11!
ii;j,."><X)
1,370
151,725
2.000
27,780
10,(K)7,51O
4:51.400
308,000
1,329,800
7IS,;{o4
7.2f>S,(KX)
S.57,o50
263,400
21.289,042
3,07.'>.:)00
103.700
199,700
....
ti;{ , ixx)
77,625
1
1 1SS,212
201.300
25,9<>0
154,750
j
^T *>fi7 0(H»
6,000
'; 9,897,29:^
2,291.515
941.110
35,400
1,334,200
73,000
;j,.55.S,4()(l
9,477,501)
343,20<»
12. 583. SOI)
2,643,000
3,868,000
24,000
2,703,800
590.200
636. SO')
110,000
567,400
1,970,000
3,O90.O<»)
100,000
CIAL FISH. BY PROVINCES, IN 19M
ven in pounds)
OiitHnci
Mitnitoliu
Sukatcbcwuii
Alberta and
Yukon
9, 388, MS
3,124,972
.5,162,912
2,345,296
! 34,102
5,750,400
4,500
3,067,100
183,000
110,000
SIS.OOO
138, S74
4,679,235 i J62,100 1,930,000 1,104,308
77,330
68,750
618,341
British
Columbia
Total
66,480,070 eO,79S,7SS
1,082,700 86,085,771
19,466,300
68, 449,700 148,664,408
21,706,(100 31), 232, 308
! 12,406,423
12,076,710
314,700 9,422,904
24,727,942
9,273,627
212,6(0 6,118,984
63,273,900
13,165,318
6,918,737
1,386,600 18,887,000
12,120,800
792, OtX) 7,707,000
1,938,502
6,166,000
.A^MHiMM
MMMlM
PRODDCTION OF PRINCIPAL COMMERCIAL FISH IK CANADA,
(Figures given in pounds)
U86-1MB
Salmon .
Cod.
Lobsters. .
Herrinp
Halibut
Whitcfish.
Mackerel
Smflts
Haddock .
Pickerel .
Trout .
•Sardine*. ,
Hake
Pike.
Clams, yuahaufi mid
Scallops
Pollock.
Oysters.
Eels
Alewi vcs
1<<VT
!n7,;:i0.:)(>i
jr.'.".r»,(Ws
1,735.017
.'?,'.1,s,'<,.5(iO
120,690,134
.').'.! V2,rj.-)S
il;f7,2(Ml
i;,4oti,-ii'i
L-".'.072,5(V)
•■>.('>7I ,01)7
I .02-2, Ci-H)
b
r;..-i29,tHMl
1 1 . 120.-J(K)
-'.7.'!7.75.=)
7,IU7.(i!KI
ISSfi
12,l)31,JSl
IDS, 141. :{()()
:'.:i.7.")S, 121
n
1,.'')()3,S72
fi,s09,22;t
:iO,4.jS.492
7,2n?t,sss
21 ..<47,4()0
2.r.24,7v-,
.■)..5as,41:i
.;0.S13,5(M)
l,l!M,74;i
1 .4.(S,GiU
b
7.!»U4..")(Hi
;2,.';si,o.Ki
;.107.2U('i
<;. 777,411(1
1SS7
10,273.(i(i5
107,S88,000
l!t.4S,">.6S7
a
1,711,519
<),840,S.5f)
20.430,641
r..923.41S
21.r.(K>,3lK)
2, 412, .549
.'>.293.,t65
2t'..f)«17,00()
•i,o:i4,4f>;>
1 .lf)l,9(i!t
lil.2!IO,2i)0
12, 272, (Kill
2.s30..5i»,^
ti .")4it.4()()
IHSS
15,242,192
105,n8",7(K)
22,173,77,5
a
1,368,80.*;
10, 189, 8.56
13,155,363
3,723,772
23,718,300
3,484,416
5,717,460
8,470,83.'!
12,267,057
1,500,878
b
12,107,100
11,246,800
6,108,945
5.71.T.O(K1
1880
25,773,839
90,456,000
21,131,233
143,934,881
1,903,115
9,806,422
13,186,112
5,011,058
12,566,200
3,264,601
5,941,893
11,902,000
11,950,889}
1,743,444
b
7,719,600
12,609,800
2,798,473
7,494,oOO
1890
24,688,994
85,773,400
25,055,984
97,569,806
1,525,130
11,176,582
20,302,764
4,735,517
13,301,700
3,142,189
6,651,866
6
9,501,054
1,601,702
b
6,838,700
11,335,200
2,902,851
S. 553, 200
li9\
1892
20,254,511
84,983,800
26,910,167
92,697,450
2,719,697
11,763,841
28,018,181
6,552,101
15,017,000
2,000,679
6,030,243
b
12,524,575
1,811, 357
b
8,124,800
12,206,400
1,699,496
S,fi23,4(K)
17,712,029
88,018,400
24,549,408
84,768,615
3,430,809
23,776,763
19,145,130
4,719,103
16,757,800
3,803,190
7,315,219
b
11,736,217
9,682,670
b
7,429,400
11,100,000
1,884,056
7,530..S0O
1803
37,803,050
1,078,078
28,360,213
82,641,704
2,840,610
21,300,280
15,764,407
8,283,481
13,323,400
3,848,304
6,604,630
20,426,800
10,842,339
8,737,606
6
8,052,700
10,216,000
2,692,960
9,456,200
1804
:tO,337,S95
93,060,400
28,463,693
113,014,821
3,481,270
14,864,170
12,420,472
8.087,070
14,217,490
7,610,425
7,026,883
27,366,600
10,320,700
3,070,484
b
8,875,800
9,026,400
2,646,060
12,694,000 i
1S95
34,553,127
80,806,300
27,093,592
123,001,608
3,077,350
14, 249,. 399
9,170,036
0,022,157
12,306,800
7,678,411
7,134,116
37,617,800
7,300,331
3,502,075
4,004,400c
5,050,700
9,534,600
2,906,070
9.621.600
1896
35,900,015
81,129,800
28,882,638
131,304,426
3,672,626
13,374,000
0,080,072
9,970,805
13,628,200
6,897,810
6,050,086
17,306.200
9,550,667
3,604,790
3,058,200c
8,878,100
9,714,800
2,504,135
10,523,200
1807
66,270,101
97,616,700
36,313,6.54
112.925,772
3,177,138
11.268,889
6,410,058
8,563,380
27,706,315
7,463,137
6,544,527
31,661,000
13,808,830
3,883,383
b
18,8So,tJ00
8,044,400
2,477,683
9,483,000
ISOS
31,042,125
71,669,700
45,568,004
92,863,858
3,897,765
10,670,651
7,656,742
8,403,839
20,411,123
5,737,277
7,147,065
36,367,000
14,850,707
3,653,081
420,200c
7,235,400
10,731,200
2,176,305
7,971,200
1890
45,003,208
03,600,700
26,055,110
122,060,036
3,780,605
11,024,178
8,266,669
8,833,200
20,420,828
6,416,994
8,887,606
46,670,400
24,136,032
5,838,437
b
12,154,300
8,102,000
2,013,665
6,765,400
1000
40,435,009
90,081.700
29,462,190
95,132,848
6,190,120
12,460,258
18,104,772
0,500,105
17,050,925
6,065,829
6,816,030
23,031,600
20,816,861
3,178,688
b
10,812,500
8,384,000
2,260,781
8,100,600
'1 Inforni.'ilioii L'ivcii in numlwrH of lisli,
b No retiinis inidp for then- years.
r ''lam'^ 'iiiK .
iini [uniri'l-. :inil cannot I here' re be reckoucii in teriii- of weight.
ISO!
1902
|f principal COMMBRCIAL pish in CANADA, IMS-IMB
(Figures jtiven in pounds)
r
73,707,656
47,431, 358H
H96
1897
1898
IMS
1000
1901
1902
1900
1904
1906 j
1906
190,- !
1908
1909
100,781,200
100,520,600 H
,'.,999,015
55,270,191
31,042,125
45,003,208
40,436,999
73,707,686
47,431,358
i
9Df ^0o ,«toH
44,394,890
84,830,030
54,822,666
49,670,087
44,793,018
69,796,768
Salmon
26,476,104
23,553,521 H
1,129,H()()
97,616,700
71,669.700
93,590,700
90,081,700
100,781,200
100,520,600
83,929,800
80,832,086
76,066,700
69,666,79.'.
76,625,200
75,827,100
86,085,771
Cod
90,268,06S
87,348,099 H
S,S82,63S
36,313,0.54
45.568,994
25,955,110
29,462,190
26,476,104
23,553,521
21,456,858
21,867,088
25.899,024.
20,241,764
18,409,510
20,748,797
19,466,300
Lobetere
6,790,711
9,962,917 H
fl, 304, 426
112,925,772
92,863,858
122.060,036
96,132,848
99,268,068
87,348,099
88,983,215
88,826,454
96,000,920
109,017,847
98,465,857 i
130,046,624
148,554,408
Hening
13,843,945
14,415,220 H
:j, 672, 625
3,177,138
3,897,765
3,789,605
6,190,129
6,790,711
9,962,917
11,430,128
14,486,145
10,618,062
15,665,410
15,578,986 '
19,214,013
23,232,308
Halibut
16.459,015
9,600,376 H
3,374,000
11.268,889
10,670,651
11,024,178
12,486,258
13,843.945
14,415,220
14,034,420
16,488,740
14,548,310
12,293,710
8,853,660
10, .358, 734
12,405,423
Whitefish. . .
9,717,479
9,170.240^1
9.980,972
6,419,058
7,656,742
8,266,669
18,194,772
16,459,015
9,600,376
18,562,526
8.302,306
11,015,868
15,320,025
11,344.740
16,113,940
12,076,710
Mackerel
22,704,669
17,783,7S3^H
9,970,805
8,563,389
8,403,8.39
8,833,260
9,500,105
9,717,479
9,170,240
9,616,075
.S, 971, 676
8,662,950
8,459,006
10,470,324
7,501,906
9,422,904
Smelus
8,902,082
10,197,015^
13,628,200
27.706,315
20,411,123
20,420,828
17,959,925
22,704,669
17,783,783
17,573,383
18,687,000
24,195.184
21,521,366
22,769,735
20, 5:), 219
24, 727, 942
Hwidoek
6,946,360
6,543,05a ■
*6, 897, 810
7,453,137
5.737,277
6,416,994
6,055,829
8.902,082
10,197,915
10,233,340
10,757,640
10,966.825
9, 924,770
7, 689,. «r2
6,298,011
9,276,627
Pickeml
49,171,200
34,422,300 H
f>,9.')0,986
5,544.527
7,147,965
8,887,606
8,816.030
6,946,380
8,543,053
7,669,927
8,215,796
8,288.878
8,(B7,177
6,944,218
7,211,246
6,118,984
Trout
11,772,182
10,188,765 H
I7,3'i6,200
31,661,000
36,367,000
45,670,400
23,031,600
49,171 300
34.422,300
39,047,900
67,079,200
72,423,200
49,480,200
58,300,000
62,181,600
53,273,90^
Sardines
6,427,685
6,599,5:il) H
9.550,667
13,898,830
14,859,707
24,136,632
20,816,Hfll
11,772,182
10,188,765
10,17*,iytl
44,398,333
17,483,106
12,763,800
18.498,395
18,530,273
13.166,318
Hake
6
''1
3,594.790
3.883,383
3,653,981
5,838,437
3,171, 888
6,427,685
6,599,530
6,325,425
6.963,900
6,337,860
5,625,500
5,677,7:J0
r.,539,72t)
6,918,737
Pike
CUma, Quahaugs
and
11,357,900
12,529,100 H
3.958.200c
»
429,200f
»
*
b
6
I 6
b
b
6
b
1
137,901,400
18,887,000
ScaUopiT
8,824,400
7,458,400 H
S. 878, 100
18.865,600
7,235,400
12,1.t4,300
10,812,500
U, 857.900
12,529,100
12.509,600
11,787,900
16.151,600
14,.S66,200
13,772,500
11,320 ,UK.>
12,120,500
PoUook
2,268,470
1,997,908 H
9.714,800
8,944,400
10 731,200
8,102,600
8,3M,(IW)
S, 824, 400
7,458.400
7,151,400
7,597,48«
6,889,800
6,471,000
1 5,459,800
7,005,400
7,707.000
Ojt/tan
6,971,400
0.312,800 H
2,504,135
2,477,683
2,175,305
2,013,665
2,269,7«1
2,288,470
1,997,908
2,248,450
2,417,900
2,386,560
2,403,410
i 2,173,600
2,088,395
1,938.502
E«h
I
1(>.,V23,200
9,4.S3,f)(Hl
7,971 .200
6.765,400
8.100,600
6.971.400
9,312.800
fi. 682, 200
7.780,800
6,082,000
6,311,600
5,978,400
5.688,010
5.166,000
.\lewive6
--
"i
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11