Page 37 Division of Fish and Wildlife 



An important characteristic of the commercial fishery is the fluctuation in the 

 total catch of many species. The most significant example is the production of blue 

 pickerel in Lake Erie, which dropped from a four year high in 1949, by 1,165,549 lbs. 

 or 11.8% in 1950. This downward trend will probably continue for at least another 

 year in Lake Erie. A decrease of 564,940 lbs. of herring was due to a poor production 

 in Lake Superior during the fall fishing. The net decrease of nearly ^-million pounds 

 of whitefish can be attributed largely to a decrease in the Lake Erie production, of 

 1,229,967 lbs. or 33.9%. The production of whitefish in Lake Huron, Georgian Bay, 

 and the North Channel showed a significant increase over 1949, continuing a trend 

 noted in the previous year, and doing much to place this fishery in a more favourable 

 economic position. 



Lake trout production showed a considerable increase of 151,707 lbs. due 

 largely to larger catches in northern inland lakes and in Lake Superior, and to minor 

 increases in the North Channel, and Lake Huron. The Lake Huron production rose 

 from 3,207 in 1949 to 10,601 lbs. in 1950, an insignificant amount as compared to 

 the 1936 production of over two million pounds but nevertheless representing a 

 favourable trend. 



The production of Goldeyes showed a very significant increase of 34,268 lbs. 

 to a total of 84,068 lbs. This increase resulted from a greater fishing pressure in a 

 few of the lakes in the far north-western part of the Province and the total production 

 of this Canadian fish delicacy has risen from 28,232 lbs. in 1948 and 49,800 lbs. in 

 1949 to over 84,000 lbs. in 1950. 



Yellow pickerel and saugers increased in production, largely in Lake Erie and 

 somewhat offset the reduction in blue pickerel yields. 



The production of carp, and of coarse fish both increased and. although the 

 money returns per pound of fish are small, these fishes form an important part of the 

 fishery. Some species such as ling are frequently unable to be marketed but their 

 annual removal as a weed crop is considered desirable in the management of the 

 fishery. 



The body of water showing the most important increase in production was 

 Georgian Bay, where the harvest of commercial fish nearly doubled, from 1,563.404 

 lbs. in 1949 to 2,794,118 lbs. in 1950, due largely to increased catches of whitefish 

 (over a million pounds) as well as herring and tullibee. 



In Lake Ontario 213,400 lbs. more commercial species were harvested than 

 in 1949. As also in Georgian Bay, whitefish showed the most important change over 

 1949 with a production of 418,929 in 1950 as compared to 218,564 in the previous 

 year. 



An increase of 118.237 lbs. in production in the waters of the North Channel 

 was also due largely to improved whitefish production. 



The number of men employed in the indu.stry was slightly reduced, while the 

 amounts of gear remained relatively the same. The slight decrease noted in gill net 

 yardage was offset by the increased number of pound nets in use. 



Total value of equipment was $690,726 higher in 1950 than in 1949. Higher 

 costs of replacing fishing gear and of new equipment has increased the value placed 

 upon nets and boats, as well as upon shore installations in the industry. 



