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| "A Family Tradition for 133 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 2, 1999 - 3 Fishing season was good, but not great: study By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star A survey of anglers on Lake Scugog this winter showed that they were catching larger fish, but not as many as in seasons past. The sampling project conducted by members of the local chapter of the Kawartha Fisheries Association (KFA) reflected a poor spawning season a few years ago, but also bodes well for the future, said president Sandy Beaton. "This was not as great a year as others," said Rev. Beaton, noting that a couple of factors were at work to influence the pickerel catches on Scugog this winter. On one hand, "the size of the walleye was up pre- dictably because five years ago we had a really good crop," he said, not- Ing an average weight of two to three pounds recorded by KFA volun- teers. At the same time, there were fewer fish bit- ing, a reflection of a poor spawning season four years ago, said Rev. Beaton. He said the fluctua- tions are part of the nat- ural rise and fall of the walleye population in the lake. That process is also evident in the number of small perch caught this year. KFA members The man accused of causing a fatal accident while fleeing police near Port Perry last year appeared in court briefly yesterday. . David Doerfler remains in custody pend- ing the start of proceed- ings against him. Mr. Doerfler was arrested and charged shortly after 2 a.m. on Nov. 15. It is alleged that he ran a red light while fleeing Durham Police at the Manchester intersec- tion of Hwys. 12 and 7A, and slammed into a car. Durham Police officers were responding to a call from a woman who said her ex-husband was harassing her. Officers observed a 1997 Ford Ranger pickup matching the description they were given and followed it south on Old Simcoe Rd. to Hwy. 7A, where they westbound. Police allege that in his effort to elude the offi- cers, Mr. Doerfler turned his headlights off and con- bound at speeds in excess of 100 kilometres an hour. The vehicle ran a red Accused in fatal chase appears in an Oshawa court | continued their pursuit . tinued travelling west-, light at the intersection and slammed into the driver's side of a south- bound 1986 Cadillac, killing Mr. Gibbons. The man's wife, Lorna Gibbons, was seriously injured in the accident. An extensive investi- gation was carried out by the province's Special Investigation's Unit (SIU), a body which looks into serious injury or death involving police officers. The three officers involved in the incident were found innocent of any wrongdoing. Mr. Doerfler was ordered to undergo a 30- day psychiatric assess- ment at a Whitby institu- tion late last year. He made his fourth appear- ance in court on Feb. 15. He faces a number of charges, including crimi- nal negligence causing death and criminal negli- gence causing injury, which were laid by the Ontario Provincial Police. Mr. Doerfler is also charged with one count of criminal harassment, one count of possession of a controlled substance, and one count of breach of probation. Police probe vandalism Durham Police were called to two Scugog St. businesses last weekend after vandals broke a num- ber of windows. Police say that some- time between 6 p.m. on Feb. 26 and 7 a.m. on Feb. 27, vandals broke a number of windows at the rear of the Port Perry Veterinarian clinic using steel ball bearings. Numerous bearings were found near the clinic and in a neighbouring back yard. Damage is estimated to be approximately $500. During that same time frame, vandals broke 12 windows at the rear of the Halibut House restaurant, also by throwing steel ball bearings. Two windows were bro- ken. Damage is estimated to be around $1,000. found the numbers up after several seasons of poor perch catches. "This year people were catching a large amount of small perch, which bodes well for the future," said Rev. Beaton. "Those perch will get bigger." He added that good spawning seasons last spring for both walleye and bass will make for great summer time angling in the next few years. The KFA collects data of the fish caught, as well as anecdotal reports from anglers, each winter. They send the informa- tion to the Ministry of Natural Resources for analysis of fish stocks and the general health of Lake Scugog. Bait shop owners here have told The Star in recent weeks that they're hearing from lots of happy anglers who've had success on Scugog. That's good news for a commu- nity which relies on the winter fishery as a tourism draw. The season was also made better by terrific ice conditions throughout the winter. Those ven- turing on the lake were especially cautious about conditions, after the pub- licity caused when four snowmobilers died in open water east of Scugog Island last January. Rev. Beaton agrees with the importance ¢f the fishery to the local economy: "One-third of the anglers out there gt any time are imports." And he understands why they were happy with their excursions onto Scugog. ; "It was good fishing" he said. "It just wasnt like last year's." 3 Sunday (Feb. 28) was the deadline for fishet men to bring their huts in fromthe lake. v © i E = Stop in and see our extensive selection of Bathing Suits, Shorts, Tops, Dresses and Sandals for Men, Women and Kids... EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR VACATION IN THE SUN! SAVE OUR ENTIRE SELECTION OF BATHING SUITS FOR WOMEN by BALTEX AND CHRISTINA FOR KIDS by" CHRISTINA AND SOLARE FOR MEN by BROOKS AND GANT THE BEST BATHING SUIT SELECTION YOU'LL FIND NORTH OF FLORIDA! 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