PUBLIC FISHING AREAS 



in 1968, eight pond areas were operated under intensive 

 management to provide public fishing tor brook and rain- 

 bow trout adjacent to population centres in southern 

 Ontario. 



The Nine Mile Road Quarry Pond near Cornwall was a 

 most welcome addition to the public fishing areas in 1968. 

 During its first year of operation, it provided an estimated 

 5,707 anglers with 10,227 angler-hours of fishing and a catch 

 of 4,714 brook trout. 



The Mount Pleasant Public Fishing Area continued to be 

 most popular. During its fifth year of operation, it was 

 visited by 35,128 anglers who spent a total of 93,879 angler- 

 hours to catch 30,824 trout, of which 7,547 were rainbow 

 trout and 23,277 were brook trout. 



NETTING CREWS 



The use of impounding gear (trap, pound and hoop nets) is 

 becoming increasingly important in fisheries studies where 

 it is imperative that fish be captured and released unharmed 

 for further study. This type of gear is also gaining favour 

 with commercial fishermen who appreciate the better 

 quality of fish so captured and the ease with which un- 

 wanted or illegal species can be released. Department net- 

 ting crews stationed at Maple and Port Arthur provide (by 

 construction and repair) various types and sizes of impound- 

 ing gear for projects in the field. The netting crews assist 

 district personnel in routine projects and, in specific cases 

 where large nets and special gear are required for deep 

 water fishing, they actually set and operate the equipment. 

 Demonstrations of fishing with impounding gear are also 

 made for the benefit of commercial fishermen. 



Numerous species of live fish were provided for display 

 at the Canadian National Exhibition and the Sportsmen's 

 Show in 1968 by the staff at Maple, and they also partici- 

 pated in the collection of lake trout and yellow pickerel eggs 

 for hatchery purposes. Field staff in the forest districts of 

 Lindsay, Parry Sound and Lake Erie were assisted in specific 

 netting projects. 



In 1968, the Port Arthur staff assisted in the collection of 

 lake trout eggs in the White River district and also partici- 

 pated in fish surveys, fish tagging and fish transfer projects 

 in various districts in northwestern Ontario. Demonstrations 

 on the use of impounding gear for the benefit of commercial 

 fishermen were conducted on Lake of the Woods. 



WATER QUALITY AND PESTICIDE STUDIES 



During 1968, the Department of Lands and Forests, in co- 

 operation with the Ontario Water Resources Commission, 

 continued its efforts to detect and reduce water pollution 



in the province. One of the major programs was a province- 

 wide pesticide monitoring study on 42 selected waters to 

 determine the level of pesticides in various fish species. 



The Department is also attempting to ensure proper gar- 

 bage disposal by winter fishermen. During the winter of 

 1968-9, plastic litter bags were issued to ice fishermen in 

 selected areas to determine if this action would reduce 

 littering. The results were encouraging, and the program 

 will be expanded in the future. 



PROVINCIAL FISH HATCHERIES 



The artificial culture of fish is the oldest and one of the most 

 important methods of increasing fish production for both 

 food and recreational purposes. It is, however, only one of 

 several important management tools in common use by 

 modern fisheries management. However, as with any tool, 

 its improper application negates its potential usefulness. 

 Ontario's long-term policies in this regard are designed to 

 guide us toward the production of hatchery fish on an 

 economical basis, to sustain, improve, and expand our 

 fisheries for public use. 



The evaluation of existing natural fish popLilations and 

 the survival of hatchery reared fish is most important in the 

 determination of suitable waters to be planted. To facilitate 

 this assessment and the recognition of hatchery fish from 

 wild stocks, a policy has been established to mark all 

 hatchery fish for identification purposes. Marking is gener- 

 ally accomplished by the removal of one or more fins. 



Research studies, on the survival of hatchery fish follow- 

 ing air-drop plantings in small inland waters, indicates 

 lower survival compared with those planted at the water 

 surface. Helicopter plantings of hatchery fish are therefore 

 being investigated for those waters on which fixed-wing 

 aircraft are unable to land. 



Fourteen hatcheries in twelve forest districts operated 

 during 1968. North Bay hatchery was closed during the re- 

 construction and renovation of facilities. 



Official openings of the Normandale hatchery in the Lake 

 Erie district and the six large, earthen, splake rearing ponds 

 at Chatsworth, Lake Huron district, were held in June and 

 October, respectively. 



Fifteen Department employees attended the three-week 

 fisheries management course given each year at the Univer- 

 sity of Guelph. This course was designed to upgrade and 

 familiarize our staff with current work in fisheries manage- 

 ment. 



Twelve species of fish were cultured in Provincial hatch- 

 eries during 1968. The culture of maskinonge, largemouth 



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