FISHERIES SECTION 



Fisheries Section is responsible tor the application of the 

 principles of full, multiple and public use on a sustained 

 yield basis to the fishery resources of the Province. The ap- 

 plication of these principles involves an understanding of 

 the resources and the organization of programs for their 

 optimum harvest. 



SPORT FISH AND HATCHERIES 



Ontario is blessed with countless lakes, ponds, rivers and 

 streams with great variation in productivity, fish species, 

 ease of access, and in fishing pressure. The management, 

 development and promotion of the sports fishery in these 

 areas are the responsibilities of the Unit. To accomplish 

 these objectives in conjunction with field staff, Unit per- 

 sonnel are involved in the planning and co-ordination of 

 programs to assess the fishery and its degree of utilization 

 by anglers; to determine the effectiveness of fish plantings; 

 to establish angling seasons and regulations and to test their 

 validity; to initiate habitat improvement projects, including 

 lake reclamation and stream improvement; to study fish- 

 eries problems and to evaluate remedial action; to provide 

 public access to natural waters and to acquire and develop 

 public fishing areas; and to dispense information and pro- 

 mote the sports fishery. 



The operation of an extensive system of fish hatcheries is 

 an important part of fish management in Ontario. Produc- 

 tion and distribution of fish stocks, modernization of the 

 hatchery system, and the application of new fish cultural 

 techniques are involved in the program. 



ANGLING REGULATIONS AND SUMMARY 



The trend toward more lengthy open seasons was evident 

 in 1968. Opening date for brook and brown trout fishing 

 was advanced to January 1st in 13 Divisfons in which the 

 opening date had previously been the last Saturday in 

 February. Brook trout angling in these Divisions is predomi- 

 nantly a lake fishery and is maintained to a large degree 

 by the planting of hatchery reared fish. Division 16 (Parry 

 Sound) and Divisions 13 and 14 (Algonquin Provincial Park) 

 were not included in this amendment. 



Division 7 was amended to include the County of Hast- 

 ings, and this change gave the County a lake trout season 

 beginning January 1st. Uniformity in opening dates for lake 

 trout fishing in Haliburton and Hastings Counties, and the 

 northern portion of Peterborough County, was thus 

 achieved. 



The southern boundary of Division 25 in northeastern 

 Ontario was extended southward to the C.N.R. in the Ter- 

 ritorial District of Cochrane. This amendment enlarged Divi- 

 sion 25 considerably and provided an all-year open season 

 on all fish species inhabiting this relatively inaccessible and 

 unexploited area. 



The boundary waters between the Province of Ontario 

 and the Province of Quebec were grouped together in Divi- 

 sion 12, and this constituted the first step in establishing 

 uniform angling regulations for such areas. The waters in 

 question are Lake Timiskaming, the Ottawa River and Lake 

 St. Francis. 



It was also established on a permissive basis that residents 

 of Quebec were deemed to be residents of Ontario when 

 angling in the waters of Division 12. 



The Summary was enlarged by one panel and fold. The 

 map of northern Ontario was enlarged by 1.5 and placed 

 on the reverse side. 



Schedule 19, a new schedule, was established in the On- 

 tario Fishery Regulations with reference to Public Fishing 

 Areas in which the daily catch limit of brook and rainbow 

 trout, in any combination, shall not exceed five fish. In 

 1968, four of these pond areas, i.e. Mount Pleasant, St. 

 Williams, School House and Nine Mile Quarry, were estab- 

 lished as Public Fishing Areas and managed intensively by 

 the Department to provide public fishing for brook trout 

 and rainbow trout. 



LICENCES 



Significant changes were made in the licensing fee struc- 

 ture during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1969. Effective 

 January 1, 1969, a resident angling licence at $3.00 was 

 established for males only, nineteen years of age or over. 

 At much the same time, two current licences, Resident Pro- 

 vincial Park and Resident Provincial Park Organized Camp, 

 were discontinued as of December 31, 1968. Non-resident 

 fees for the seasonal and 3-day licences were increased to 

 S8.50 and $4.00, respectively, for 1969. 



The sales of non-resident seasonal licences increased 

 sharply in 1968 by eight per cent, and the 3-day licences by 

 3.2 per cent. A substantial increase of 13.6 per cent in the 

 total licence revenue was realized. Of this, slightly less than 

 half was due to the sales of resident licences during the 

 last three months of the fiscal year. 



Sales of domestic or sport fishing licences declined in 

 1968 with the exception of the domestic dip-net licence 

 which increased from 425 in 1967 to 826. 



EXTENSION BIOLOGISTS 



The development and utilization of a significant part of the 



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