in mink showed that the disease continues to affect about 42 per cent of the mink 

 in Parry Sound District. The study was expanded in an effort to define the northern 

 limits of its occurrence in central Ontario. Research on the effects of this parasite 

 on the quality of mink pelts has to date failed to show any clear-cut relationship. 

 A manual of the common diseases and parasites of wildlife in Ontario was 

 prepared for the use of field staffs and others concerned with wildlife management 

 and utilization. It is now being processed and will be issued in the coming year. 



Miscellaneous 



Development of radio transmitter tags for marking wildlife as a means of 

 studying movements and habits was continued. Rehable transmitting and receiving 

 systems are now aiding the research on red foxes and timber wolves. 



FISHERIES RESEARCH 



Great Lakes Fisheries 

 LAKE SUPERIOR 



The terms of the Federal Provincial Agreement for Ontario Fisheries include 

 Federal responsibility for the general research program on Lake Superior and for 

 the sea lamprey control experiment. The Fisheries Research Board of Canada 

 conducts both of these programs. Familiarity with the progress of their work is 

 maintained by the Fisheries Section through minor participation in the programs 

 and by membership on various committees which plan and review the research. 



The sea lamprey control experiment on Lake Superior continued with the 

 second round of treatment in all known lamprey producing streams, in an attempt 

 to further reduce the lamprey population. An 80 per cent reduction of sea lamprey 

 numbers was achieved in 1962, and maintained in the spring of 1963 following 

 the first round of treatments. Second treatments are expected to be completed in 

 1964, and their effectiveness will be assessed in 1965. In the meantime, in antici- 

 pation of success, the lamprey producing streams of Lake Huron and of Lake 

 Ontario are being surveyed in preparation for treatment, in subsequent years. 



The general research program was concentrated on lake trout. The response 

 of the trout to the reduction of sea lamprey numbers was encouraging, particularly 

 in the central part of the lake where predation is now very light. Consideration is 

 being given to increasing the lake trout quota to allow an extended but controlled 

 harvest in this area. The research program also includes assessment of the success 

 of the lake trout plantings which the Province makes as its contribution to the 

 international lake trout rehabilitation program. 



During 1963, one new research unit was added to study walleyes, another 

 of the game species of major importance across the province. Recruitment of 

 suitable staff to undertake this research was a long task, reflecting the increasing 

 competition for scientists by other research agencies and by the ever more numerous 

 universities. Since our scientific staff are fully qualified as university staff, we must 

 expect to lose some of them to the attractive surroundings and salaries offered 

 by these institutions. Plans for research on lake productivity, as a means of 

 developing a water classification system for Ontario, have matured and now await 

 only staff and funds. 



Attendance at the Federal-Provincial Conference on Fisheries Development 

 provided a unique opportunity to view the fisheries problems of other provinces. 



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