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AU I ig 12- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 30, 1993 "Scugog's Community Newspapeér of Choice" MNR lays 135 charges Charges to snowmobilers, ATV operators up this year (From page 1) left the area around their hut free of garbage will be let off easy this year. "But, those who just aban- doned their hut and made no ef- fort to take them off will be fined," he said. Leaving a hut on the ice car- ries a fine of $155. The number of huts on the ice this year was down from last year. An official with the MNR also blames the unusual winter weather as a contributing fac- tor. Unpredictable weather and uncertainty over the future of Lake Scugog fishing are the rea- sons for the reduced huts, said Lois Deacon, biologist with the Ministry. The maximum number of huts on the lake at one period this year was 640, down from 804 during the 1991-92 winter fishing season. G™ CERAND OF OPENING With word getting out the ministry was going to be mak- ing changes to the fishing regu- lations, many were reluctant to even put their hut on the ice, she said. | "With the ice conditions vary- ing, many also did not put their hut out for fear of it being frozen in, which was a huge problem this year," she added. As for other charges laid by the officers, snowmobile charg- es were up and fishing infrac- tions down. The conservation offices themselves have authority to lay charges under the Snowmo- bile and ATV Act as well as the Ontario Fisheries Regulations Act. Criminal Code charges are laid by the Durham Regional Police with MNR officer's evi- dence. Charges against snowmobil- ers and ATV owners were up Herbally Yours Health Food er Vitamins Baby Foods Natural Health Books Internal Cleansing Programs (0) Medicinal Teas Herbal Remedies off Weight Loss STORE WIDE Natural Products 143 Perry St., Port Perry, Ont. Beauty Aids Cleaning Products Allergy Sensitive Foods Value of $155.95 Enter our "DRAW" for a SANYO JUICER with any purchase | 985-0861 & Colleen PHOENIX Personal Service and Quality Built QNI5 ONLY from STOCK "forms available whi this season, with officers laying 186 charges. Ninety-five charg- es were laid last year. The charges were broken down as follows: 70 fines for no insurance, eight for no helmet, 24 for no registration or valida- tion sticker, 26 for not possess- ing a trail permit, two for no driver's license and six for fail- ing tochange ownership. "We did check a lot more snowmobiles this year with the leniency on fishing regulations this year. We checked 2,500 snowmobilers over the winter," Mr. McQuay said. Two hundred and nine relat- ed warnings were also issued to snowmobilers and ATV owners. Although conservation offi- cers were forced to be little more lenient over the winter in re- gards to fishing licenses, 32 charges for no license were still laid. - "There was a two-month grace period for those who ap- - plied for their Outdoors Card, and had not received it, which forced us to give more leeway. But, a warning, next year there Wilkhs no leeway," Mr. McQuay said. This grace period may be the reason the number of charges under the Ontario Fisheries Regulations Act reduced dra- matically from 125 last year to 69 this year. Other ch under this act included 20 charges for having too many lines and seven for be- * anactiveline. Four charges were laid under the criminal code. One each for a stolen ATV, stolen snowmo- bile, obstruction of a peace offi- cer and break and enter. Although a survey of er activity was not conducted on thé lake this year, ministry offi- cials did make er diary could be voluntarily filled out by anglers and returned to the ministry. "We are getting a few back at § time and we hope to compare nswers with last year," Mrs. Deacon said. A complete open water creel survey will be conducted this summer, beginning with the opening of walleye season in ay (see separate story). Open water creel to be performed on Lake Scugog By Kelly Lown | Port Perry Star Anglers should take note the Ministry of Natural Resources y visible on Lake Scugog this conservation officers will be hi | ) : summer, as the department will be performing an'open water creel survey, Wo hin Beginning with the opening of walleye season in May and. continuing through Labor Day, MNR officials will be on the lake surveying anglers and collecting data on all species of fish on the lake. I Anglers will be asked to provide information on how long they have been fishing, catch rate, size of fish and general suc- cess on the lake. i Conservation officers will be setting up nets in the lake this year as well. The creel will be performed much like the complete winter creel in 1991 which revealed increased pressure on the lake pnd an alarming number of walleye being harvested from the ake. os This creel, along with other information collected, led to the ministry's decision to shorten the ice fishing season on Lake Scugog beginning this season. The lake is now closed for all species of fish on November 15. Walleye and panfish season will reopen January 1 and close at the end of February. yi The open water creel will be much like the previous winter "It is designed to give us an idea of the pressure on the lake, and to keep a handle on the fisheries," said Lois Deacon, biolo- gist with the ministry. 2 The open water creel also allows the ministry to watch all species of fish, unlike the winter creel which only pertained to walleye, she added. With the new regulations on ice fishing in effect this Novem- ber, the ministry will be keeping a close eye on the fishery for the next several years. ! "A creel will be performed this winter on the lake as well to see if the new regulation is having the desired impact it is in- tended to," Mrs. Deacon told the Port Perry Star. But, it will be watched for the next several years as winter angling tends to vary greatly from year to year, Mrs. Deacon said. 462 PAXTON ST. (ACROSS FROM PORT PERRY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL) WELCOME -- DR. ROBERT BOYKO, ORTHODONTIST PORT PERRY DENTAL OFFICE x | CARE DENTISTRY FOR ADULTS & CHILDREN _ COMPLETE FAMILY DENTAL CARE ® |nsurance Assignment Accepted ® Payment Plans Arranged NEW PATIENTS WELCOME ~® Senior Citizens Discount » Evening Appointments TE 6 1 Dr. Kevin Dunkerley * Dr. Lionel McTague 083-8439 f | - Get Up To Bat! Let the Port Perry Star & Marketplace Classifieds hit you a home run ! TO "Hit a Home Run' call 985-7383. Over 400,000 graduates recommend Young Drivers of Canada 193 QUEEN ST., PORT PERRY, ONT. LIL 1B9 (416) 985-7308 "ALL LINES OF. GENERAL . 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