nate strong year classes. The weak year classes are, of course, felt by the industry, 

 which is dependent almost entirely on each successive year class as it enters the 

 fishery. 



LAKE ONTARIO 



Concern for the future of the whitefish fishery increased during 1963 with a 

 further shift of the fishing effort to the waters south and west of Prince Edward 

 County. The rate of exploitation remains high even with the restriction placed on 

 the fishery in the fall. No strong year classes are coming into the fishery at present. 

 Furthermore, evidence is being accumulated that suggests the population presently 

 being fished is distinct from the traditional Bay of Quinte population. If indeed the 

 Bay of Ouinte stock is separate, it is in poor condition because little fishing has 

 been available there for three or four years. 



The lake trout research program entered its final phase with the first of two 

 large annual plantings of yearlings. Over 100,000 yearlings, flown from the 

 Charlevoix hatchery in Michigan, were planted on Charity Shoal in early May. The 

 transfer technique, using plastic bags containing oxygen, water and high proportion 

 of fish was, in itself, a contribution to fish transport methods which may prove of 

 considerable value where long distances are involved. The planted fish have 

 survived and grown extremely well. It is hoped that enough trout from these two 

 large plantings will survive to maturity to reproduce successfully. If they fail to 

 do so, as has been the case with the much smaller numbers in earlier years, it is 

 expected that we will, at least, learn the identity of the factor or factors which 

 limit their survival. Two very interesting observations have already been made: (1) 

 Fishermen considered the yearling trout more abundant during 1963 than in any 

 former year they can remember, and (2) commercial whitefish gillnets of 41/2 -inch 

 mesh catch large numbers of yearling trout accidentally. 



In connection with the study of the impact of the St. Lawrence Seaway 

 obstructions on the American eel population and industry, some 500 elvers arriving 

 from the sea at the Saunders Generating Station were collected and brought to the 

 Station for tagging and release. Subsequent recapture of these elvers should provide 

 our first information on the length of time these fish spend in fresh water before 

 maturing and returning to the sea. 



The research vessel "NAMAYCUSH" was fitted for trawling during 1963 

 and good progress was made in learning how to handle the gear for smelt and 

 alewives. This gear equips the unit for adequate sampling gear and for work in 

 open Lake Ontario when staff and funds become available. 



Urgent consideration is being given to the possibilities of introducing non- 

 native species of fish to supplement present stocks in Lake Ontario and to add to 

 both sport and commercial fisheries. 



The Harkness Laboratory 



The variety and long-term continuity of the fisheries research program, 

 centered on Lake Opeongo in Algonquin Park, has resulted, not only in many 

 practical management techniques, but also in the accumulation of an excellent 

 background knowledge of a large number of Park lakes and fishes. With this 

 knowledge available, it has been possible to initiate active research programs very 

 quickly because it has been unnecessary to search for the experimental conditions 

 required. Thus our programs dealing with lake trout, smallmouth bass and brook 

 trout have been based, initially at least, at the Harkness Laboratory. 



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