FISHERIES INVENTORY UNIT 



An inventory of Ontario lakes, to determine the present and 

 potential capability of every lake as a fish producing unit, 

 is directed by the Unit, established in 1966. 



Refinement and sophistication of technique and survey 

 gear were prominent features in the 1968 program. 



Standardization of lake survey gear and techniques over 

 21 District field offices, the establishment of duplicate Dis- 

 trict office survey files in Head Office, and the implementa- 

 tion of a data control system were major accomplishments. 



Participation in the ARDA-CLI Sports Fish Capability 

 Study in conjunction with the Federal government resulted 

 in the completion of 11 maps (1:250,000 Topographic 

 series) showing Sports Fish Capability ratings for much of 

 southern Ontario. 



The employment of a helicopter, to work in conjunction 

 with a six-man lake survey crew from a central headquarters, 

 instead of the conventional two-man crew, was tested dur- 

 ing the month of September. The helicopter was also used 

 during March to collect under-the-ice water samples for 

 chemical analysis. 



The search for more efficient and versatile equipment 

 resulted in the purchase of Conductivity Meters, used as an 

 aid in determining water productivity. Continued experi- 

 mental testing of survey gear resulted in the purchase of 



Representation of a typical watershed on a topographic map 

 showing code number and lake and stream classification. 



more efficient Echo Sounders by many Districts, and the 

 increased use of Monofilament gill nets. 



Several projects, such as preliminary investigations into 

 the role that infra red photography may play in plant iden- 

 tification and recording shoreline characteristics; training 

 of fish scale readers and the establishment of facilities 

 throughout the province; searching for an efficient multi- 

 probe water chemistry testing unit; the introduction of a 

 specialized lake survey training course; the computerization 

 of data; and the possibility of using an amphibious four- 

 seat Hovermarine Hovercraft for lake and stream surveys — 

 were either continued or initiated. 



At the year's end, there was reason to believe that scale 

 reading, training courses, and data programming and pro- 

 cessing would be prominent features of the 1969 program. 



STANDARDIZATION OF LAKE SURVEYS 



After a study of District files, information on 7,876 bodies 

 of water have been recorded on summary sheets as of 

 December 31, 1968. Of these 3,488 had been surveyed in 

 some depth, but few surveys met our present, rigid stan- 

 dards. It became obvious that the establishment of minimum 

 survey standards and a uniform method of establishing 

 duplicate records in both District offices and Head Office 

 were essential. The findings of this study resulted in making 

 our 1969 program two-fold in purpose; first, to up-date the 

 survey summary sheets, which did not meet the minimum 

 survey standard requirements of the most important lakes 



A helicopter delivers 14-loot aluminum boat and other gear 

 to lake survey crew. 



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