THE FISHES OF GEORGIAN BAY U 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 39b 



Family acipenseridae. 



Acipenser rubicimdus, LeSueur. 



(Lake sturgeon) 



This species was formerly abundant in Georgian Bay, but in the southern part 

 is now rarely seen. Reported as ascending the Nottawasaga River in May and 

 rivers of the east shore in June. 



Though formerly considered of little or no value, and often in the earlier days 

 of the Georgian Bay fishery taken from the water to be destroyed, the fish now 

 commands a good price and a female which will yield caviare is a veritable prize 

 to the fortunate fisherman. The quantity now taken in Georgian Bay is insig- 

 nificant, the figures for 1909, as given by the Superintendent of Game and Fisheries 

 for Ontario being 6,900 lbs. for Georgian Bay proper, and 14,155 lbs, for the 

 North Channel. 



The experiments carried on for several years in the United States ,looking to 

 the artificial propagation of the sturgeon, yielded most promising results, though 

 difficulty was experienced in obtaining spawn and milt at the same time. In view 

 of the scarcity and increasing value of this fish, the matter of artificial propagation 

 should be taken up at once by the Canadian hatcheries. There are doubtless many 

 small details that would have to be worked out in handling fish of this size, and a 

 suitable river must be found where the fish still ascend in numbers. 



Family lepisosteidae. 



(Garpikes) 



Lepisosteus osseus, Linnaeus. 



(Long-nosed garpike. Bill-fish) , 



Not uncommon in swamps where there is more or less clean sand bottom. 

 Probably not so abundant on any part of the typical Archean shore of Georgian 

 Bay as in its southeastern arm, or elsewhere in sedimentary waters. 



Length up to 5 feet, but the larger specimens in Georgian Bay are about 3. 

 Body greatly elongated, slender, and little compressed. Depth 9.6 to 11.8. Head 

 rounded posteriorly, extended anteriorly into the slender beak-like snout. Length 

 of the head 2.9 to 3.2 in the length of the body; snout 1.3 to 1.4 in head. Eye 

 in head 16.2 to 18.7. General coloration dark olive or greyish above, yellow or 

 white below. Posterior part of the trunk and median fins spotted. Many of the 

 smaller marks on the body give the impression of ink-stains run between the edges 

 of the scales. Dorsal fin with 8 rays; anal with 8 or 9. Body covered with a hard 

 thick armor of ganoid plates, the number of which is 9 to 11, 62 to 64, 9 or 10. 



The fish is usually seen lying in the shallow water over sand bottoms and rising 



