Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-02-28
Canadian Government at Last
Falls into Line and Ends an
International Struggle Which
Has Been in Progress for
Many Years.

The most important piece Of news to
anglers in the northern part Of Lake
Champlain received in years was received
Friday by Roy L. Patrick, president Of
the Vermont Fish and Game League. from
Commissioner H. NJ. Smith Of the bureau
Of fisheries. Washington. d. c.. to the
effect that the Canadian government had
approved the regulation prohibiting all net
fishing in Misslsquoi bay from March to
April 10. The passing Of the regulation
ends struggle which has been in progress
for many years and means much to the
fishing in most of the lake.
The Vermont laws have long prohibited
net fishing when the fish are spawning.
but a piece Of Lake Champlain extends
into Canada and licenses were freely is
sued there which allowed fishermen to get
all the fish during the spawning season
| which they could take away. Missisquoi
bay Is one of the best spawning grounds
| in the lake and as a result bass and pike
went in there by the millions, to be
gobbled up by the Canadians while the
Vermont fishermen looked on sadly. To
| make matters worse there is United
States fish hatchery only a mile from the
line and the fish which the government
Matched went into Canadian waters to be
| caught
Fishing with the nets got so soft that il
became business. H. n. Rowley in
vestigated conditions and spent a week
there at one time. He has seen as many
as 45 barrels Of fish shipped away from
| the Canadian shore. much Of 1t to the
United States. The licenses were usually
issued for a period Of from four to six
weeks. and Mr.. Rowley saw two men
who cleaned up s.. 200 between them in that
time. One woman. after paying her help.
was $500 to the good. The nets were drawn
through holes in the ice and some Of these
were SO near the line there IL no question
but that they took fish from the United
| States side.
By prohibiting the use of nets during
| the spawning season a great deal will be
done toward increasing the fish supply in
the lake. Pike are great travellers and go
a big distance and because of this tho
fishing will be bettered over a wide range.
| The only thing which kept pike and bass
In the lake at all under the old system
was the constant supply Of the fish
hatcheres. Had it not been for that the
Canadians would have completely depleted
| the stock.
| Mr.. Patrick, D. A. Loomis Of the Cham.
plain Transportation company and State
Fish and Game Commissioner Linus
Leavens are mainly responsible for the
new regulation. They recently attended 4
joint meeting of the hsh commissions Of
United States and Canada and presented
the facts of the case in q convincing man.
ner. They were told then that some remedy
would be found for conditions and the
regulation Is the result. Following is Conn
missioner Smiths letter:
Department Of Commerce,
! Bureau Of Fisheries,
Washington, d. c., Feb 20. 1918,
Mr.. r. L. Patrick,
Pres. Vermont Fish and Game League,
| Burlington. Vt.
Dear Sir; think you will be gratified
to learn that have just received a tele.
gram from w. A. Found, superintendent
of fisheries of Canada, dated Ottawa. Feb
ruary 10. advising me that the Canadian
government has approved the regulation
prohibiting all net fishing in Missisquoi
| bay.
Very truly yours.
| II. NJ. SMITH,
Commissioner.